PREECEVILLE — Battling and surviving cancer is a huge emotional and physical mountain to climb, and Natasha Tonn (Fey) of Preeceville never thought at the age of 24 years old that she would be faced by that mountain.
Tonn discovered a lump in one of her breasts and in May went to her family doctor who was sent her to a specialist in Saskatoon for an MRI. The family was given the devastating and shocking news that Natasha had stage three breast cancer on June 16.
“The news was overwhelmingly devasting that left me emotionally wrecked,” said Tonn. “I have since accepted what I can not change and being positive with realistic views and some major support from family, friends and from individuals I don’t even really know.
Her first round of chemotherapy was terrible, known as the Red Devil for its harsh, aggressive results.
“I have never been that sick, it was awful,” she said. I am halfway through my 16 treatments, and they have gotten better, but still make me very tired."
Every week, she travels to Saskatoon for treatments with sometimes having to spend the night in a hotel with early morning appointments. It has been very financially, emotionally, and physically draining.
During her treatments, she wears a cold cap on her head to help prevent her hair from falling out and cold packs on her hands and feet to prevent swelling and loss of feeling in her extremities.
“The good news is that the doctors can no longer feel any lumps but the next step after chemo is surgery in December or January. The surgery will remove what is left, and I am optimistic that further surgery will not be necessary. After all this, I will be put on a hormone blocker for five to 10 years. My newlywed husband, Noah, and I had wanted to start a family but in order to do that we had to undergo IVF treatments to freeze my eggs, which we are hopeful in the future will aid us in having a family."
Her father the late Cameron Fey of Invermay had been diagnosed with cancer twice and she saw firsthand what he had gone through, but nothing really prepared her for her experience. He died in June 2023. Her mother is Tracey Fey.
Natasha grew up and attended Invermay School and graduated 2019, and was working as an LPN in the Preeceville and Canora Hospitals.
“Through my nursing experience, I better understood what was happening, and I remain positive with realistic views. Life is too short, focus on living it to the fullest each day. Each step, each breath is a blessing, do not take it for granted,” she said.
A benefit will be held for Natasha (Fey) and Noah Tonn to help support them during Natasha’s fight against breast cancer. This benefit will raise money to help support the young couple as they navigate this difficult time. The benefit is being held Nov. 1 in Preeceville and is currently sold out.
