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This year the Wisconsin Relay For Life events are going virtual, including the Relay For Life of Green County event, which was scheduled for July in Monroe.

On Saturday, August 1, we will 'gather' as one state to celebrate using the American Cancer Society-Wisconsin Facebook page and provide hope to those fighting cancer to prove that 'Hope Lives Here.'

Lisa Martin of New Glarus will serve as Relay For Life of Green County's Honorary Survivor. She is a graduate of Juda High School, wife of Chad and mother to Kaylin and Lana, and is a quality manager at Cleaver Brooks in Monroe.

Her journey with cancer started in 2019.

"2019 was going to be the best year yet with many memories to be made," said Martin. "I started a new job at Cleaver Brooks and instantly fit in with the team and Chad came home from his deployment overseas."

Several months went by as the family got back to a normal routine.

"Then on May 24, I found a lump on my right breast," said Martin. "At this point, the word cancer popped in my head, but didn't stay there. There was no way, not me, I'm too young."

Martin called her primary doctor and they asked her to come in. During the appointment, they discussed family history and the fact that there was no known history of breast cancer in her family.

Her doctor recommended additional tests.

"On June 7, I was scheduled for a mammogram and ultrasound," said Martin. "The next thing I know the radiologist and two nurses are walking in the room. My heart begins beating very fast. He begins asking me of family history of breast cancer. I explain, there is none. He began talking about the margins and the blood flow through the mass and the last words I remember were, 'Lisa, I'm very concerned.'"

Martin said that is when reality hit, and she realized that it wasn't going to be the year she thought it was and her life was about to change quickly.

"We proceeded with a biopsy, which confirmed grade 3 ER/PR positive infiltrating ductal carcinoma," said Martin. "After the biopsy our life consisted of doctor appointments and we learned a lot very quickly."

On June 19, Martin and her doctors discussed different options.

"I learned that not everyone has to go through chemo," said Martin. "After discussions and weighing the odds, we leaned towards the lumpectomy and getting prepared for the procedure, but on June 27, we got MRI results back and it indicated six more cancer masses. There was no choice but to do a mastectomy."

Two weeks later, Martin received the results from her genetic testing and her doctors learned that she was BRCA positive. Plans change again, and she was scheduled for a double mastectomy.

"On July 12, I was scheduled for a double mastectomy but equally as important lymph node testing," explained Martin. "This is the day it hit me. I remember the endless thoughts and prayer messages and my family standing around my bed. This is when I realized this is real. I have breast cancer and I'm scared."

After the surgery, Martin recalls asking her husband the results of the lymph node testing.

"Once again, another smack in the face," said Martin. "They tested positive meaning that the cancer had spread into my lymphatic system. This meant that I was going to have to go through chemo."

Martin's doctors also learned that not only were the six masses cancer and her lymph nodes positive for cancer, but they also found intralymphatic spread.

On August 13, Martin had her first chemo treatment.

"My emotions ran extremely high and I was so scared," recalls Martin. "I hear the words, 'In about two weeks your hair will begin to fall out in chunks.' This was all I could focus on."

Martin went through eight rounds of chemo, which were administered every two weeks.

"To this day, I still gag when I think of chewing on ice chips while they administered the chemo drug known as the 'red devil,' said Martin. "The days that followed the chemo treatments were rough. I was sick, and it would take about a week to recover."

On August 27, Martin's hair was coming out in chunks.

"It was the day that my husband shaved my head," added Martin.

The next step was radiation, which started on December 19 and it was scheduled every day for six weeks.

"The worst part about this was the drive to Madison for a 10-minute appointment," said Martin. "I got really sick during this process and had to postpone some treatments, but I managed to finish it, and rang the bell on the last day."

On February 11, Martin met with her oncologist and he says the word, time, "Time will tell us when you are cancer free."

Martin attended counseling sessions to learn to watch for signs and symptoms that she needed to be concerned about.

"Even though I was happy treatments were done, I knew that this was never going to go away," added Martin. "After having cancer, does a person ever reach a state of mind that says, 'I don't have cancer anymore and it is never coming back?' With every ache, pain, or something different going on in my body, the first thought, 'Is this the cancer?'"

Martin added that since the last treatment, she has had a couple scares but thankfully, the biopsies came back negative.

Because Martin carries the BRCA gene, it puts her at higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.

"Even though I'm young, the doctors thought it best to remove my ovaries, fallopian tubes, and start a long-term medicine to stop by body from producing estrogen, which my type of cancer feeds off of."

On May 22, she had the first of two procedures.

"This journey was not easy, and it put me through emotions that I never knew I had," said Martin. "It has changed mine and my family's life. It has taken a lot of things from me BUT it will never define me."

Martin said that she choose to work through this process because her work was a place for her to go that didn't focus around the fact she had cancer.

"This place and the people kept me smiling throughout the roughest of days," said Martin. "I have the best support system from family, friends, my work family, community, my hometown Juda, and people that I have never met. We are truly blessed."

Martin wants to thank her caregivers: "There are never enough words to explain how thankful we are for you. You have touched our lives in ways that can never be truly explained. To my caregivers and supporters, you guys got me through this. I will forever be thankful and grateful for everything you have done. Thank you for everything you have done to help my family. There are too many of you to mention but there is one person that I need to mention. To my husband, Chad. You saw me at my worst and best throughout this process. It wasn't my life that changed it was OUR life that changed. You spent many times right by my side as I struggled, holding my hand, wiping my tears, holding me and comforting me. You not only took care of me, but you never missed a beat with our girls. You are an amazing husband and father. You are our rock and we are very lucky to share this beautiful life with you by our side. I love you."

Martin added that if there is one thing others should realize is the importance of self-checking.

"This is something I didn't do because I thought something like this would never happen to me," said Martin. "Unfortunately, mammograms are not given until the age of 40. Please encourage and stress the importance of self-checks at a young age."

She also wants others to know that even though the treatment process is extremely difficult, it is ok to smile.

"Smile and enjoy the good days you do have," said Martin. "There were days I forced myself to get out and I am thankful that I did. We spent so much time caught up in the appointments and daily events that go along with having this terrible disease that it is so easy to forget to be ourselves and enjoy moments."

From 8:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., on August 1, the Relay For Life of Green County will have a walk- and drive-by luminaria event at the Jaycee Park in Brodhead showcasing the luminaria bags that people have purchased in memory or honor of loved ones.

Luminaria bags also can be purchased online and donations can be made to teams, team members, or to the event using the website or forms posted on the website. The deadline for luminaria orders is Saturday, July 25, in order to complete the online presentation.

For more information about Relay For Life of Green County, please contact Jo Ann Steuri at (608) 728-2980.