Minneapolis singer-songwriter to perform benefit for breast cancer survivors

[KATY TESSMAN, "TREASURE TROVE"] I've been longing for more intention

All this access is causing contention

CATHY WURZER: The music of our next guest is our Minnesota Music Minute for the day. This is Katy Tessman with a new song called "Treasure Trove."

KATY TESSMAN: (SINGING) Slow it down

And drinking your affection

In this world, I've come and go

We have found

CATHY WURZER: Lovely, lovely piece of music. Katy Tessman is celebrating 15 years of being cancer-free this year. That's 15 years since a double mastectomy on her 40th birthday. To celebrate this milestone, the singer-songwriters performing at the Ice House in Minneapolis and raising money for cancer survivors like her and Katy is on the line right now. Katy Tessman, it's my honor to have you on the show. Thank you.

KATY TESSMAN: Thank you. It's an honor to be here.

CATHY WURZER: That was a beautiful song. Tell me about it.

KATY TESSMAN: Thank you. I am part of a songwriting challenge group, and the prompt word was "opulence." And I don't have a whole lot of riches in my life, not even like a diamond ring. But I am wealthy in love. And it was around Mother's Day, and I was feeling a lot of love for my mom and love from my two sons. And "Treasure Trove" came from that.

CATHY WURZER: I bet it's made even sweeter by you being cancer-free. I mean, 15 years, that is amazing. Amazing. Congratulations.

KATY TESSMAN: Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Ever since going into the operating room on my 40th birthday for a double mastectomy, I have decided to celebrate every year of life after cancer with intention and gratitude. And this year is kind of a big event for me. 15 years, it feels really good.

CATHY WURZER: I am not a huge fan of using war and battle language when talking about living with disease. So how did the journey change you?

KATY TESSMAN: I think I've been able to take each moment as it comes and look at it as a blessing, as a gift, as a moment to cherish and be thankful. My boys were ages six and three at the time of my diagnosis. And so watching them get through the journey was amazing. I'm so proud of them. And--

CATHY WURZER: So young.

KATY TESSMAN: I'm just sort of-- yeah, yes. I'm choosing to seize the day with optimism and also seizing the day, whether it's going for a 6-mile hike or choosing to stay on the couch and watch a movie.

CATHY WURZER: Did you find yourself waking up to your life? So many people sleepwalk through their lives until you get a diagnosis such as you received or something else just slaps you upside the head. So do you find you're more awake now, if that makes sense?

KATY TESSMAN: Absolutely. Absolutely. Yes. Yes. And I've realized that I am worth it. The things that I want to do, the things that I want to experience, I should be able to because I'm worth it.

CATHY WURZER: Doctors say folks who are in complete remission for five or more years, they're cancer-free and are cured. But can you ever relax? Is there a little worry that sometimes sneaks in?

KATY TESSMAN: Absolutely. It's a part of my shadow. It's always there. It never will go away, the worry that cancer will come back and it could be a different cancer. When I turned 50 and I had my first colonoscopy, oh, my goodness, I was so anxious because it was my very first mammogram where cancer showed up.

CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh.

KATY TESSMAN: So, yeah, yeah.

CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh. I can't even imagine getting your first mammogram and then being told you have cancer. I mean, what a shock.

KATY TESSMAN: Right. I've never had one since because I got all the breast tissue removed. I called that the grandma plan. I want to live as long as to be a grandma. So yeah.

CATHY WURZER: I'm going to cheer you on. I think you're on the road, let's put it that way. I'm wondering, there are other survivors listening. I know they are, or maybe even folks who are newly diagnosed. And gosh, when you said that, my heart just stopped when you mentioned how you found out. What do you want them to know? I mean, what are the things that you found out that were the most valuable pieces of knowledge or wisdom that you want these individuals to know?

KATY TESSMAN: Listen to your body, get checked out based on what your body is telling you and what your mind is saying, what you need to do. Trust your doctors. If you don't, get a different doctor. I think the medical team at Methodist was wonderful. And they took really good care of me and they continue to with my well checkups and other future cancer screenings.

Yeah. It's part of being human, needing to get poked and prodded and checked out. And that reminds me that I am alive. So the gray hair that grows in, it's like, yay, I have hair. And the wrinkles and the scars that are getting deeper, it also means I'm living longer. And that is a wonderful feeling growing old.

CATHY WURZER: Each scar, each wrinkle, it tells a story. They all tell stories. That's what I think, anyway. Yeah. I want to know about this show. I mean could celebrate 20 years, but you're doing 15. So tell me about it.

KATY TESSMAN: I am doing 15. Yes, well, I just had a resurgence of creativity, writing songs and a drive to perform and share my music. And last year, I released an album. It's called Fly. And this year I am doing a fundraiser because it's my birthday month, it's breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I've got this great show at the Ice House, so why not pay it forward to Gilda's Club Minnesota, a wonderful organization.

Yes, yes, they are amazing. They offer programs and services for free to people that are facing cancer as well as for their caregivers and their family members. The clubhouse located in Minnetonka feels like a home. It's got a really wonderful kitchen. And it's got different rooms. And in the children's room, it has a copy of my book, Our Mama is a Beautiful Garden. And it's just such a great organization-- Gilda's Club Minnesota.

CATHY WURZER: Yeah, they do such good work. I'm glad that you found them as a resource. What were the other resources that got you through that helped you navigate this journey?

KATY TESSMAN: Angel Foundation gave me a gift, a financial gift that helped me get through some of the tight money months. I participated in music therapy at the Frauenshuh Cancer Center. Now, this was 15 years ago. And the music therapy was just starting. And now the music therapy department is much larger. And that was a wonderful experience. It really helped with my healing, with the guided imagery and using music.

CATHY WURZER: Were you a musician prior to being diagnosed?

KATY TESSMAN: Yes. Before I was a mom, I was a performing singer-songwriter for about a decade. And then when my boys came, things slowed down. And then during my cancer battle, journey, awful time, I shut music off because music makes you feel things. And I had to be strong.

And then I realized music is going to help me heal. And Wonder Woman knows what she needs to help her out. And so I realized I needed to let music come back in. And now I've got all this music flowing through me. And I'm so excited to share it with people.

CATHY WURZER: Oh, I'm captivated by your story, truly. So what do you have planned on stage if you could give us a sneak peek?

KATY TESSMAN: Yes, absolutely. Laura Hugo will be opening the show. She writes beautiful songs about love and grief and community. And then I will be joined with my band about 7:45. We'll be playing for over an hour. I've got a full band. Kelly Lima on drums. We've got Matt Patrick on bass, Oliver Osland on keyboards. And then my son, Louis Tessman Stanek on lead guitar.

And then I'll have special guests join me on my songs Katy Vernon, Matthew French, Michael Koppelman, and Ted Hajnasiewicz.

CATHY WURZER: Wow, that is an all-star cast.

KATY TESSMAN: Well, it is a celebration of living life and the healing power of music. And it is so wonderful to be joined by all of my friends. And my whole family is going to be present at the show. They were a big part of my whole healing process.

CATHY WURZER: I'm sure. Katy, thank you for sharing your story. I hope you have a wonderful, wonderful celebration coming up.

KATY TESSMAN: Thank you. It's open to everybody, all ages. The Ice House is a great venue. Thank you, Cathy, so much.

CATHY WURZER: Appreciate it. Katy Tessman is a singer songwriter. Her show is this Friday at the Ice House in Minneapolis. Tickets are $15 on the Ice House website or $20 at the door.