The village of Butternut, Wisconsin, offers a slower pace of life, surrounded by nature and people who know your name. For Katie Weinberger and her husband, Bob, it’s always been home.
“We both grew up in the area,” says Weinberger. “We moved away for college and then came back to raise our kids.”
Planting their roots here was important to the couple. Their children, Macy and Ian, are close to grandparents, great-grandparents and extended family. Weinberger’s childhood best friend, Becca Seifert-Lynch, lives down the street with her family.
As a clinic director who oversees six Marshfield Clinic locations, Weinberger spends her days thinking about healthcare. So, when she turned 40, she knew it was time for her first mammogram.
“That was on February 7 of 2024, and it was all clear,” said Weinberger.
Exactly one year later, she had her second mammogram. When it came back inconclusive, her doctors scheduled a follow-up mammogram and biopsy. That’s when they discovered Weinberger had breast cancer.
“So early detection was certainly key,” said Weinberger. “Now I encourage everyone to keep their screenings and ensure that they’re done in a timely manner.”
Building a support system
As soon as word got out, Weinberger’s friends and family showed up in huge ways. People set up meal trains, sent cards and texts, and even paid for a house cleaner.
Weinberger also turned to her best friend and her grandmother – two of her closest confidants who also happened to be breast cancer survivors themselves. Both received their care from Marshfield Clinic and were now in remission.
“I remember the phone call from Becca when she was diagnosed and how I was able to be there for her,” says Weinberger. “She was one of the first calls I made because I knew she completely understood what it’s like.”
Photo by Elizabeth Olson
Weinberger’s grandmother, Rosie, had cancer over 20 years ago. And while treatment methods have changed since, emotionally processing the diagnosis with a survivor was still incredibly helpful for Weinberger.
“I think God took me a little too literally,” said Weinberger. “I’ve always wanted to be like my grandma, but I didn’t mean the cancer part!”
Facing cancer head on
With her support system firmly in place, Weinberger felt confident tackling treatment.
As a longtime employee of Marshfield Clinic, she was familiar with what the healthcare system says about their care. As a patient, she got to see it in action.
“One thing that really stands out to me is how much my care team was relying on me to guide the care,” said Weinberger.
After seeing her options, Weinberger decided to have a double mastectomy with reconstruction.
For some of her care, the Weinbergers needed to travel to Marshfield, Wisconsin, which was about two hours from their home. Her care team did all they could to make that drive worth it, including coordinating appointments to happen on the same day.
And when Weinberger needed to be in the hospital for a few days, her husband stayed at Cattails Place, a nearby lodging option for family members of people going through cancer treatments.
“I appreciate that about Marshfield Clinic,” said Weinberger. “It’s not just my journey. It’s our journey as a family.”
Today, Weinberger has been cancer-free for 16 months. She’ll continue getting follow-up care annually, but now she’s able to reflect on cancer as part of her past.
Weinberger’s success is thanks to two things: the care she needed was near the place she lived.
“The care at Marshfield is second to none,” said Weinberger. “And the outpouring of love and support that I got from the community really makes my heart smile.”
Find out more about caring for your breast health at Marshfield Clinic.
Learn more
- Breast cancer basics you need to know
- Mentor supports women with breast cancer going on 10 years
- Mobile mammography brings convenience, care to northern MN
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Posted In Cancer, Cancer Screenings, Cancer Treatments, Marshfield, Rural Health, Sanford Stories, Thought Leadership
