—Continued on page 10
A week later, the
Rennebaums found them-
selves at Kootenai Clinic for a
consultation with Marcus Torgenson, M.D.,
general surgeon.
“It all happened so quickly,” Becky said. “Actually,
we were surprised we were referred right off the bat to
a surgeon instead of an oncologist. But in retrospect,
Kootenai knew what they were doing.”
Dr. Torgenson examined Becky before sending her
back to Kootenai Imaging for an ultrasound-guided bi-
opsy. Three days later, while she helped her 4-year-old
granddaughter hunt for pumpkins during her family’s
annual October trip to Green Bluff, Becky received a
call from Dr. Torgenson on her cellphone.
“The biopsy was positive,” Becky said. “I had breast
cancer.”
N E X T S T E P S
“Breast cancer happens to other people, not to me!”
Becky said. “It wasn’t until the biopsy came back that
it struck me that this is real. Fritz and I said, ‘Well,
okay. This is something we’ve got to deal with.’ I was
determined to hit this disease and its effects with all
the power I could gather.’”
The couple met with Dr. Torgenson to discuss the
next steps.
“Dr. Torgenson was very thorough in answering our
questions and explaining our options,” Becky said.
“He did everything possible to ease our minds.”
He put them in touch with Jodi Schmidt, R.N., a
patient care coordinator in Kootenai Clinic’s Cancer
Services, who helped the Rennebaums navigate each
step of Becky’s treatment at Kootenai.
The couple also had an initial consultation
with Kimberly Morley, M.D., an oncologist.
“We trusted that we were in good hands at
Kootenai,” Becky said. “We relied on everyone’s
expertise and the knowledge they shared with us.”
The Kootenai Health Breast Cancer Tumor Board
also got involved in Becky’s care. The board brings
together oncologists, surgeons (including a plastic
and reconstructive surgeon), pathologists, nurse
navigators, radiologists and Kootenai Cancer
Center staff twice a month to discuss each active
breast cancer case at Kootenai.
“This board is a critical component of
breast cancer care at Kootenai Health,”
Dr. Torgenson said. “It provides an invalu-
able opportunity for multiple specialists to
share perspectives and offer recommen-
dations, all in the name of giving breast
cancer patients the best possible care.”
“After considering other options, it was
a game changer for me when I found out
that my case would be taken before the
tumor board for review,” Becky said. “To
know that such a group, composed of all these
experts, would make recommendations for my
care was amazing!”
Becky said
she’s grateful
her husband,
Fritz, has been
by her side for
every doctor
appointment.
Photos by Jennifer Haas/
Jennifer Haas Photography
KH . ORG
9
CANCER SERVICES
