Kromrey Middle School music teacher Darlayne Coughlin has been living with breast cancer since earlier this year, and she’s sharing her journey during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
She received her diagnosis after an appointment at an MCPASD Wellness Clinic, where her doctor recommended getting a mammogram. An ultrasound and three biopsies followed.
“Just after finishing teaching sixth grade band, I received the call with my diagnosis,” Coughlin said. “I was told I had invasive ductal carcinoma and would receive a call from the nurse navigator the following day with information about next steps. Many phone calls and appointments later, we had a plan for treatment.”
First, Coughlin underwent a double mastectomy, using a method called DIEP Flap reconstruction, in a surgery that lasted 12 hours.
“UW Hospital has some of the best microsurgeons in the world, and I was lucky to have my surgery there at the end of April,” Coughlin said.
Her recovery involved weekly physical therapy appointments, focusing on her arms, shoulders and abdominal muscles. For the next step in her treatment plan, Coughlin’s oncologist recommended chemotherapy.
“I am extremely lucky that the parent of a couple of Kromrey band students is a radiation oncologist,” Coughlin said. “They went out of their way to give me their opinion and thoroughly explain why radiation was a good idea. Since one of my five tumors was very close to my skin and I had some lymph node involvement, chemotherapy would help to target those areas.”
Coughlin was one of the first patients at SSM to use the Paxman Scalp Cooling System. It uses a special cap to cool the scalp during chemotherapy treatments and prevent hair loss.
“A summer filled with chemo treatments was not what I had envisioned for 2025,” Coughlin said. “But I was thankful it was summertime, and I could be outside and still enjoy the company of other people when I accompanied my children to their various summer activities like Middleton Gators.”
Days after undergoing her second chemotherapy treatment, Coughlin led a three-day professional development session for music educators through the Wisconsin Music Educators Association. She is also an instructor with Middleton High School’s marching band, and she worked with the band throughout the summer.
Coughlin recently finished 28 rounds of radiation treatment. She has also started hormone therapy and takes several medications to suppress the hormones that feed the cancer cells.
Coughlin has drawn inspiration from her mother-in-law, Janet Coughlin, a former music teacher at Northside Elementary School, who has beaten breast cancer twice. In addition, Coughlin said her music co-teacher Kimberly Reynolds at Kromrey Middle School has been especially supportive.
“She has been nothing short of amazing, willing to cover for me whenever necessary,” Coughlin said. “She took on conducting all of the sixth- and eighth-grade band students for me for our concerts at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.”
Coughlin also appreciated the support from MCPASD Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue as well as the Pink Out Day that Kromrey Middle School staff hosted before her surgery in April. Her support squad also includes Kromrey Middle School teacher Courtney Madigan and Pope Farm Elementary School teacher Abby Kieffer, who was Coughlin’s student when she attended Kromrey Middle School.
“The cards and words of encouragement and support with meals for my family have also been a great help,” Coughlin said. “I would also like to add a shoutout to the teachers of my own kids who are in the District, one in seventh grade at Kromrey and one in fourth grade at Northside. Staff has been so supportive with my children – checking in with them and providing resources to help them process – for which I have been eternally grateful!”
Coughlin has been open about her cancer journey with her middle school band students.
“As music teachers, we teach and work with our students for many years in a row,” Coughlin said. “We grow to know our students quite well and they know us really well too. I've shared tears of anger, fear, and frustration. My brain just doesn't work as well as it did before cancer; I just have to ask for a lot of grace and assure everyone I am doing my best.”
Coughlin offered advice for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, encouraging women to speak with their doctor if anything feels off or different with their health – and insist their doctors follow up on it. Coughlin recommends women undergo genetic testing to find out what their risk percentage is or if they carry a breast cancer gene.
“Please be on top of getting yourself checked,” Coughlin said. “I know the recommended age is 40 but really, it's important to do self exams monthly before that!”