After receiving the news that she had breast cancer, Wendy DeWeerd faced her diagnosis head-on. Now, she’s stepping up to encourage others diagnosed with breast cancer to participate in clinical trials and fundraising for Komen through her local Race for the Cure.
An Unexpected Lump
Wendy never expected to receive a breast cancer diagnosis. Then she discovered a ping pong ball-sized lump in her left breast while getting ready for a night out with her family.
Although the discovery surprised her, Wendy – who is a registered nurse – wasn’t immediately concerned. “I have always been told that tumors are often found closer to the armpit,” she said. “This was closer to the middle of my chest, so my first instinct was that it was a benign breast condition.”
Trusting Her Gut and Making Appointments
Despite her initial thought that the lump wasn’t a cause for concern, Wendy still took action. The following Monday, she called her doctor’s office to schedule an appointment for a diagnostic mammogram and breast ultrasound. After reviewing the results, her doctor ordered a biopsy.
“It was at that point that the fact that I could have breast cancer became real,” she said.
The News it Was Breast Cancer and What Came Next
As Wendy was getting ready to go to the gym that weekend, she received an alert on her phone. The results of her biopsy were available through her patient portal.
“There it was in writing,” she said. “I had breast cancer.”
Wendy immediately got to work and scheduled follow-up appointments, scans and tests. Those tests confirmed her diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Her treatment began with chemotherapy, followed by a lumpectomy and radiation therapy.
Her friends and family – including husband Jeff and mom Jenny – were often by her side during chemo sessions.
“Initially, my friends were lined up to go to treatment with me, but Jeff decided he was going to be there with me at every appointment,” Wendy said. “He’s been my rock.”
Joining a Breast Cancer Clinical Trial
After residual cancer cells were found in two of her lymph nodes, Wendy learned her treatment plan would require additional chemotherapy. It was at this point that she learned about the ASCENT-05, a phase III clinical trial for people with early-stage TNBC and residual disease after surgery.
At first, Wendy was hesitant to join a clinical trial.
“Participating in a clinical trial is something I can do to help contribute to science and help other people who are going through breast cancer.”
Wendy DeWeerd
“My doctors offered to enroll me in a lot of trials early on, but at the time, I was like a deer in the headlights,” she said. “I thought I was going to get a placebo, but I learned that with cancer, no one gets a placebo. You either get the standard of what’s already approved for your cancer or the trial drug. It all makes sense to me now that I am at the end of my treatment, but at first, I was scared to death and just wanted them to give me what works.”
Wendy was randomly assigned the standard treatment plan – eight cycles of oral chemotherapy in conjunction with a monthly immunotherapy injection.
Now that the initial fear of the unexpected has passed, Wendy hopes sharing her clinical trial experience will encourage others to be open to joining future trials.
A Different Kind of Birthday Celebration
Wendy finished her final chemotherapy cycle in June 2026, just a few weeks after she participated in the Komen Columbus Race for the Cure for the second year in a row.
“I never would have thought that I would still be fighting breast cancer a year later,” she said. “But after the awesome experience I had at the 2025 Race, I knew this was going to be something I commit to every year.”
Instead of the annual girls’ trip Wendy and her friends usually take to celebrate her birthday, they now register and fundraise as team Wendy Strong for the Columbus Race. This year, she added a few more friends to her team roster, including her mom.
“My drive is that I want to be able to help contribute to everything,” Wendy said. “I want to do my part to end breast cancer forever.”
Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their healthcare provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
