As a registered nurse cancer navigator with ThedaCare, Lisa Wright dedicates herself to caring for the needs of people recently diagnosed with cancer. When she works with patients, it’s all about them: their unique experience, questions and emotions.
“We aim to provide individualized care,” she says. “Every person is different and every diagnosis is a bit different. We try to meet them where they are and walk with them.”
When Wright received her own cancer diagnosis, first in 2021 and again in 2025, she found herself on the other side. Her experience with breast cancer led her to become an even greater advocate for people living with cancer.
For that reason and many more, Wright and her sister, Sarah, are the honorary survivors for the 2026 American Cancer Society Sole Burner 5K Run-Walk, taking place in May 9 in Appleton. For 42 years, thousands of Sole Burner participants and volunteers have come together to raise over $7.2 million to save lives from cancer. Money raised from the annual event helps fund local programs and services as well as critical cancer research.
“I’m an oncology nurse and a quiet survivor,” Wright says. “Although I’m still in disbelief about the whole thing, I believe that God puts opportunities in your path for a reason. I am motivated to speak to give a voice to those who continue to survive and to those who have unfortunately lost their battle.”
‘What I Was Born to Do’
Cancer touches countless families — Wright’s more than many. The oldest of three kids, Wright grew up in Wisconsin Rapids, the sibling to brother, Paul, and sister, Sarah.
At just 10 years old, Sarah underwent surgery to remove a non-cancerous brain tumor. Years later, she would be diagnosed with breast cancer. Paul survived testicular cancer, and Wright’s father has chronic leukemia.
Though Wright was always drawn to health care, she didn’t set out to work in oncology. Originally, she wanted to become a pediatrician, but then fate intervened.
“My mom suggested nursing, to which I admit I rolled my eyes,” Wright recalls. “But the night before I registered for college classes, I had a dream I was a nurse and helped someone simply by holding their hand. So, the next day, I declared a major in nursing.”
Wright graduated with her nursing degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2000. Again, a chance opportunity set her on the path of working in cancer care. She had been set to complete her required internship at a children’s hospital, but the opportunity fell through.
“My professor had to find me an alternative,” Wright says. “She told me there was an opportunity in oncology at [then called] Appleton Medical Center, so I took it and found out what I was born to do.”
Committed to Compassionate Care
Wright became a cancer navigator in 2016. In her role with ThedaCare Cancer Care, she works with patients shortly after they receive a cancer diagnosis. She provides resources and support as people need or wish.
People’s feelings upon getting diagnosed can run the gamut and include many emotions all at once. Wright tries to meet them wherever they are.
“I definitely encourage them to advocate for themselves,” Wright says. “If you can be as knowledgeable about your diagnosis as possible, it allows you to be a good consumer of your health care.”
Wright says her vocation has helped shape her outlook on life.
“Through this work, I was fortunate to learn at an early age to appreciate every day because life can change in an instant,” she says.
That perspective would serve her well for what was to come.
‘Never Thought it Would be Me’
Wright’s first breast cancer diagnosis came in 2021. At just 42 years old, she learned she had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) breast cancer in her left breast. With DCIS, the cancer cells are confined inside a milk duct in the breast.
“I knew the statistics. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime,” Wright says. “Like most though, with no family history, I never thought it would be me.”
After researching her options, Wright chose to undergo a left mastectomy with reconstruction. Because DCIS does not spread, she didn’t need additional treatment.
Following her surgery, Wright continued with mammograms and monitoring. Whenever she would receive her mammogram results for her right breast, the report would also note her dense breast tissue. This is a common finding, affecting about 50% of women in their 40s, Wright says. She didn’t think much of it at the time.
Double Diagnosis
When someone has a first-degree relative with cancer, siblings become eligible to start cancer screening 10 years before that relative’s age of diagnosis, Wright says. That meant her sister, Sarah, began having mammograms at 32. In January 2025, Sarah texted Wright saying her mammogram showed calcifications and wondered what that meant.
“Big sister knew it would likely require further work-up, which it did,” Wright says. “Sarah was eventually told she had DCIS breast cancer.”
Soon, another shock came. Because Wright had been diagnosed with DCIS before age 50, her breast surgeon recommended she begin having breast MRIs as an additional screening.
“Thankfully I did that because the MRI revealed a 1-centimeter mass that was invisible on mammogram just three months before,” Wright says.
Both sisters underwent surgery in spring 2025. For Sarah, a mom of two young kids, this was especially challenging. At the same time, surgery was successful in removing the cancer for both women.
“There is still more to do,” Wright says. “Sarah’s reconstruction is coming up later this spring. I am working through five years of hormone suppression. This does come with side effects but hopefully does the job to prevent breast cancer recurrence.”
Advocating for Others
At the same time Wright and her family were going through their own challenges, Wright saw the opportunity to effect positive change for other women.
Wright had been learning more about Gail’s Law, both through her work and her personal experience. Gail Zeamer was a wife, mother and Neenah resident who was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2016 despite having regular mammograms. At the time, Zeamer didn’t know she was at increased risk for breast cancer and missed diagnosis due to her dense breast tissue.
Zeamer advocated for and helped pass 2017 Wisconsin Act 201. This requires facilities that perform mammograms to notify patients about dense breast tissue and the increased difficulty it brings to detecting breast cancer.
The fight didn’t stop there. Throughout her treatment, Zeamer continued to advocate for supplemental screenings — such as MRI and ultrasound — for people with dense breasts or who are at an increased risk of breast cancer. Tragically, Zeamer died in June 2024 at the age of 56.
Wright and others carried on Zeamer’s work after her passing. For Wright, that included contacting her district’s assemblyperson to advocate for passage of the expanded Gail’s Law. He contacted her personally with his promise to support the law. In October, Wright also traveled to Madison to testify before lawmakers.
“While I was there, I noticed that about 20 members of American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network walked into the chamber to show support and solidarity,” she says. “It was very impactful. The experience left me feeling empowered and grateful on many levels.”
In March, Gov. Tony Evers signed the bipartisan Gail’s Law.
‘Working on My Comeback’
After a tough year, Wright and her sister, Sarah, are both working on their comebacks. Wright says she’s honored to stand alongside Sarah as the honorary survivors of this year’s Sole Burner.
Throughout her career, Wright has seen firsthand the power of people’s generosity. Funds raised from the Sole Burner go toward supporting critical needs like transportation and hotel stays for people undergoing treatment, as well as research.
“Both times, I was diagnosed at an early stage, and that was only through research,” Wright says.
She knows the community she holds dear will step up in a big way once again this year.
“I’d like to thank this community and my colleagues at ThedaCare for embracing me and my family,” she says. “I know that good will come out of this adverse situation, and we will all be better for it. We can’t seem to stop cancer from happening, but we do have control over how we react when it does happen.”
