Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Nashville community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, at swimacrossamerica.org/nashville.
When Sarah Wiseman was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2022, it came as a complete shock. Though her mother had been diagnosed with the same cancer in her 60s, Sarah’s genetic marker testing had come back negative. It was a routine mammogram that led to her breast cancer diagnosis.
“I had a routine mammogram that was concerning, which led to further diagnostic testing—an ultrasound and a biopsy,” Sarah explained.
“I had a seed inserted via biopsy, then underwent a partial mastectomy/lumpectomy and lymph node removal during surgery. One lymph node tested positive for metastasis. After healing from surgery, I received radiation treatment on my lymph nodes and left breast — 20 treatments in total. I’m grateful to have had access to a tumor test that evaluated the effectiveness of chemotherapy on my specific tumor. The results came back below the threshold for needing chemo!”
Sarah Wiseman, a member of the SAA-Nashville committee, was declared in remission from breast cancer in 2023.
This year, Sarah celebrates her remission and looks forward to swimming in the 4th Annual Swim Across America – Nashville. Funds raised from the event support Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), where Sarah received treatment.
Sarah swam as a child but really fell into the sport watching her children swim on club teams and in college. Once she got the all-clear from her doctors, Sarah knew exactly how to get her strength back while doing something she loved.
“After I healed from my surgeries, I couldn’t wait to swim. I joined the local Masters team, and thanks to my friend Chris McPherson, I was introduced to Swim Across America,” said Sarah.
Chris McPherson, along with Alyssa Corb and Laurin Bobo, is a co-event director for SAA-Nashville.
“This community event is a wonderful way for me to give back to the doctors, nurses, and caregivers who took such great care of me during treatment,” Sarah said.
Swim Across America’s guiding principle is that money raised locally stays local — something that resonated deeply with Sarah. She takes great pride in supporting an organization that directly benefits her community, especially given her firsthand experience with how much cancer treatment has evolved.
Members of the SAA-Nashville committee and researchers from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center present the fundraising total at the 2024 SAA-Nashville community pool swim.
“In the past, having a positive lymph node would have meant automatic chemotherapy. Today, I am closely monitored by my medical oncologist and surgical oncologist at Vanderbilt Breast Center. And I’m proud to be raising funds for others in our community—people who will be treated at VICC, just like I was,” said Sarah. “I am a beneficiary of the incredible advances in cancer treatment. My mother didn’t have access to these options during her fight. She really struggled, and I believe newer-generation treatments made my journey much easier.”
Now in remission, Sarah is grateful that Swim Across America allows her to support two of her greatest passions: swimming and the cancer care team at VICC.
“I just feel incredibly blessed to have received the life-saving treatment I did,” Sarah shared. “Swimming has had the best impact on my health, and since my cancer diagnosis, I’ve embraced a much healthier lifestyle. I love that SAA allows me to give back through two of my favorite things: swimming and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.”
If you’re inspired to support Sarah and team Wisemans Wack Cancer, give here.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Nashville community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, at swimacrossamerica.org/nashville.
For the third year in a row, swimmer Bryan Stroinski, is participating in the Swim Across America – Nashville community charity swim with his team “Bryan’s Battlin’ Blue Waves.” Bryan and his teammates are swimming in honor of one of Bryan’s best friends Zac Cain, who sadly lost his battle with colorectal cancer at just 19 years of age.
“When I first heard about Swim Across America, I knew that it combined two of my main interests – swimming and cancer research,” said Bryan.
“I feel like everyone is impacted by cancer in some way, and that is true for me as well. Ten years ago I lost one of my best friends, Zac Cain, to colorectal cancer. Zac was diagnosed during his senior year of high school in 2012, during our swim season together. I had swam with Zac for many years previously and we developed a great friendship.”
Bryan Stroinski and his friend, Zac Cain, who battled colorectal cancer while in high school.
“Zac was always someone that anyone could go to for anything. He was a great training partner, teammate, and overall amazing friend. Zac was a phenomenal swimmer who had planned on swimming Division 1 with sights set on the Olympics. Zac was still competing at his highest level right up until his diagnosis, so losing someone so young to cancer was hard – and it was a complete shock to all of us who knew him.”
Bryan is swimming in this year’s SAA-Nashville charity swim to honor 10 years since Zac’s passing.
Bryan shared that Zac had been in and out of remission from his diagnosis in 2012 until his passing in March 2014. During this time, Zac had also been a participant in a couple clinical trials for cancer research drugs.
“Because of Zac’s illness and participation in clinical trials, I feel a strong personal connection to Swim Across America’s mission,” said Bryan.
“Funding for clinical trials is so important in cancer research and having that be the main goal for Swim Across America makes me want to support the organization in any way I can. Swim Across America’s mission to unite communities and support those affected by cancer resonates deeply with me and my family, as we believe in the power of collective action to drive positive change in the fight against this disease.”
Bryan and his team at the 2023 Swim Across America – Nashville community charity swim.
“My participation this year is important because it is the 10 year anniversary of Zac’s passing, as well as the one year anniversary of my Mom’s death. While I did not lose my Mom to cancer, she always knew how important Swim Across America and Zac were to me. I always feel my Mom’s continued support in anything I do, so my motivation to support Swim Across America this year is higher than ever, and I am excited to see what the Nashville Community can do for Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center.”
To support Bryan and his team, Bryan’s Battlin’ Blue Waves, click here.
Swim Across America 