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Tammy is a member of the MFU Women’s Committee.
Mark and his grandaugther on the ranch.
Tammy has chronicled both her journey with breast cancer and ranching fearlessly on the 12MT Ranch Facebook page.
They have learned about breeding techniques, soil health, branding, and the role of cover crops for fall and winter grazing. Some tasks like branding are a family affair, but Mark and Tammy are the heart and soul of the operation. They both expected their lives would change with the transition, but neither one could have imagined what would come next. Tammy has undergone mammograms for years. In 2006/2007, doctors detected a lump in her right breast. Fast forward to July 2020, and the lump had grown by two millimeters. The growth prompted doctors to schedule a biopsy. In March of this year, Tammy was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. In 2021 it is estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. "When I got the diagnosis, it was a shock; it was a hit," said Tammy. "By the time I had the results, I had worked through and already processed a lot. Literally, within an hour of finding out I had breast cancer, I contacted a provider friend. I was resolute in what I was going to do. I was called back for so many ultrasounds that I told Mark if it happens, I am having a mastectomy."
were met with a barrage of appointments and preparation for surgery. “I had the mindset that when my doctors told me to worry, I would worry. I didn’t lay awake at night worrying. I had faith in my providers.”
generation to have this, and it is our dream to make that happen.”
Eighty-five percent of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. This was true in Tammy’s case. She underwent genetic testing after her brother was diagnosed with cancer. Tammy’s brother would lose his battle with cancer this year, which was devastating to the family. Tammy’s process from diagnosis to treatment happened very quickly. “Once you have a diagnosis and treatment, they like to have it all occur within a six-week window.” The following weeks
Tammy has chronicled both her journey with breast cancer and ranching fearlessly on the 12MT Ranch Facebook page.”The parallels of Tammy had the mastectomy in Bozeman. the ranch and the cancer are certainly there. The recovery took about six weeks. In mid- I didn’t worry as much about cancer because September, Tammy underwent a successful when you build a ranch from the ground up, reconstruction and is back on the ranch you have a whole lot of things to think about recovering. To her relief, cancer has not and do.” spread to her lymph nodes. And fortunately, she is not a candidate for chemotherapy at this Tammy has an oncologist at Sletten Cancer time. She will be on a five-year treatment of Institute in Havre and has been very impressed hormone blockers to prevent reoccurrence. with the level of care. She says one key to her recovery was communicating with all her Mark and Tammy moved forward during the providers through the online patient portal. diagnosis and treatment, busy with ranch “Access to rural healthcare can be challenging, life learning by trial and error. NRCS has but no matter your zip code, make your health helped them learn about soil health and a few a priority. October is National Breast Cancer practices to implement to enhance the soil Awareness Month. As much as mammograms with rotational grazing and cover crops. They are a pain in the rear for every woman, it’s the incorporated corn into the grazing rotation whole reason I am here.” and learned it’s best to mix the cover crop with hay and native forage.”We are first-time, first- ”The parallels of the ranch and year, first-generation ranchers. I recommend the cancer are certainly there. seeking out mentors in the industry and building a relationship with your veterinarian. I didn’t worry as much about Seek, listen and use their advice for herd cancer because when you build health. Those relationships are invaluable. a ranch from the ground up, you Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
have a whole lot of things to think about and do.”
Mark works sun up to sun down, building the property’s infrastructure. Tammy continues -Tammy to recover from surgery and manages the day-to-day administrative duties until she can be working the land with Mark. They have their sights set on passing down the ranch to their daughters.“You always want the next 6
Copenhaver
