In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, Catawba Valley Health System (CVHS) is sharing stories that highlight the importance of breast cancer awareness, early detection and support throughout the cancer journey. For Meghan Bergman, a single mom of three boys and a nurse of 18 years, a breast cancer diagnosis changed her life forever. Today, as the wellness nurse educator in CVHS’s HealthFirst Department, she hopes sharing her experience will encourage other women to prioritize their health and never lose hope.
At the time of her diagnosis, Meghan worked PRN as a wellness nurse for the HealthFirst Center and PRN in Infection Control. On March 23, 2023, she was diagnosed with stage 3, left-sided invasive ductal carcinoma that was estrogen receptor-positive and progesterone receptor-positive (ER-positive and PR-positive) and HER2-negative. Cancer was also found in her lymph nodes.
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Her diagnosis came just two weeks before her scheduled mammogram on CVHS’s mobile mammography unit, the Pink Bus.
Meghan discovered a lump herself and initially considered waiting until her upcoming appointment to have it checked. However, her experience working in health care told her not to wait. Instead, she made an appointment with her primary care provider, who helped her quickly connect with Catawba Valley Imaging Center for a diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound and biopsies.
“I am so thankful I didn’t wait those two extra weeks,” Meghan said. “Everything happened so fast, and I had already started chemo by the time I would have just been getting my mammogram.”
A challenging journey, surrounded by care
Meghan’s treatment journey was extensive. She began with two types of chemotherapy before undergoing a bilateral mastectomy on Oct. 9, 2023. During the procedure, 11 lymph nodes were removed from her left side and three from her right. Her surgical margins were clear, meaning no additional surgery was needed at that time to remove remaining cancer.
She then underwent radiation therapy from November 2023 through February 2024, followed by additional surgeries and ongoing treatment. Her journey has included a total hysterectomy, reconstructive surgery and continued monitoring to help manage her health and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Throughout her treatment, Meghan chose to receive her chemotherapy at Catawba Valley Medical Center’s Infusion Center, where she experienced firsthand the compassion her colleagues provide to patients every day. She also received care at Catawba Valley Imaging Center, Carolina Oncology and Messino Cancer Center, where she continues to receive oncology care. She received proton radiation therapy at Thompson Proton Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, and underwent surgeries at both Catawba Valley Medical Center and Atrium Health in Winston-Salem.
Today, Meghan continues to attend regular scans and appointments and takes medication as part of her ongoing treatment plan. She recently completed more than two years of taking a chemotherapy pill twice daily and continues to take a hormone-blocking medication daily as part of her 10-year treatment plan. She also receives regular infusions to help strengthen her bones and undergoes ongoing testing to monitor her health. In addition, she participates in occupational and lymphedema therapy to help address the effects of radiation and multiple surgeries.
Her journey has required tremendous strength, patience and perseverance, but she has never had to face it entirely alone.
“My primary care provider was a huge support to me and helped me navigate everything, especially those first few really hard months when I was diagnosed,” Meghan said.
The breast cancer navigators at Catawba Valley Medical Center also made a meaningful difference, visiting her during her weekly chemotherapy treatments. Friends and colleagues from Catawba Valley Medical Center sat with her during long infusions, while the staff at Catawba Valley Imaging Center supported her through what she describes as the lowest and scariest time of her life.
Meghan also found comfort in the cancer support group through Catawba Valley Medical Center. Being surrounded by others who understood what she was experiencing gave her a sense of connection she had not experienced before her diagnosis. Three years later, she continues to attend.
“It was the first time I was around other cancer patients,” she said. “Everyone should go to it if you are diagnosed with any type of cancer!”
Finding hope in faith, family and friendship
One of Meghan’s greatest challenges was helping her three young boys understand what was happening. At the time of her diagnosis, her sons were just 3, 6 and 8 years old.
“Most days I could not even understand what was going on with my diagnosis or wrap my head around it,” she said.
Balancing chemotherapy with work while trying to be present for her children made an already overwhelming experience even more difficult. She took time off for radiation and surgeries, but continuing to work during chemotherapy presented its own challenges.
Through it all, her faith remained her greatest source of strength.
“My faith and my relationship with Jesus. That is definitely FIRST and what helped me stay hopeful,” Meghan said. “He has been with me every step of the way. He is my rock and stayed close to me. I was never alone.”
Her word for 2023 was hope, a word that took on an especially powerful meaning as she navigated the uncertainty of cancer treatment.
Her boys were another constant source of motivation. They reminded her why she was fighting, while her friends, whom she considers family, continued to show up when she needed them most.
Even when the road ahead felt uncertain, Meghan held on to the people and beliefs that helped carry her forward.
A new perspective on life
Today, Meghan describes herself as a survivor and a walking miracle. Despite being told that her type of cancer would not respond to chemotherapy, she saw her tumors shrink during treatment.
“God is so good and He healed me,” she said. “I feel very proud of how far I’ve come with God’s help.”
Her experience has changed how she approaches everyday life. Rather than constantly worrying about tomorrow, Meghan has learned to embrace the present and make the most of the time she has with her family.
“I now live. Actually live,” she said. “Spend the money, take the trip, take the pictures and make memories. Laugh. Live now.”
For Meghan, that means putting down her phone, being present with her boys and finding joy in the moments that might once have seemed ordinary. She worries less about what might happen tomorrow and focuses more on making memories with the people she loves.
It also means sharing her story in hopes that someone else might benefit from her experience.
A message every woman should hear
If Meghan could share one message with other women, it would be simple: know your body, perform your breast self-exams and do not put off recommended breast cancer screenings.
Looking back, she wishes she had performed self-exams regularly and discovered her lump sooner.
“It was very easy to feel,” she said. “I just wish I would have done my self-exams. It doesn’t take but a few minutes.”
She encourages women to schedule their mammograms and take changes in their bodies seriously. Her experience is a powerful reminder that finding a lump should prompt a timely medical evaluation, even when a routine screening is just around the corner.
For anyone who has recently received a breast cancer diagnosis, Meghan also offers a message of compassion. She understands how overwhelming those first days and weeks can feel, and she encourages patients to lean on someone they trust.
“Please reach out to me. If not me, at least reach out to one person,” she said. “Just to have that one person to sit with you, to let you cry, scream, whatever.”
She wants patients to know that every emotion is valid. It is OK to cry, to feel angry and to be overwhelmed. There is no single right way to navigate a cancer diagnosis, and no one should feel they have to do it alone.
“The diagnosis is very heavy, extremely overwhelming, everything moves so fast, it is the hardest thing you will ever endure,” Meghan said. “But you will move forward, you will endure. You will. One minute at a time.”
Through her experience, Meghan has gained a renewed appreciation for life, a deeper understanding of the challenges patients face and an even greater desire to help others. As a nurse, a mother and a breast cancer survivor, she hopes her story encourages women to prioritize their health, seek support when they need it and hold on to hope through even the most difficult moments.
This October, Meghan’s story serves as a reminder that breast cancer awareness is about more than a month on the calendar. It is about knowing your body, taking action when something feels wrong, keeping up with recommended screenings and supporting those facing a diagnosis.
Her message is one she lives every day: take care of yourself, cherish the people you love and never underestimate the power of support, faith and one small step forward.
