Our individual stories from sisters with Stage IV and Metastatic breast cancer

Karen Lenhart

My breast cancer story started in 1991 at the age of 30 when I was diagnosed stage III with a lump 7cm. I had a right mastectomy, a year of chemotherapy and six weeks or radiation followed by three years of Tamoxifen. I thought I was “cured”, I lived a good life for 12 years.

In September of 2002 I began noticing changes in my left breast. A little dimpling, an inverted nipple. The knowledge in my head knew that it was breast cancer again, but I was in denial. In the middle of a messy and abusive marriage, I was too busy trying to keep my life together.

I waited until I could barely walk. In April of 2003 when I was having a hard time breathing, I finally went to the Emergency Room. I always wondered why being 41 was so hard!!
The thought of cancer back again never dawned on me in reality!
It was a Sunday morning and my Pastor said,” Karen if he (my husband) doesn’t take you to the hospital, then I will”. I was admitted and was so anemic that I had to have 4 blood transfusions before they would discharge me. I was diagnosed right away at stage IV with mets to my bone marrow, back, spine and hips. This cancer was a new primary and not connected biologically to the previous cancer, so I have had cancer twice.

I immediately started Taxol chemotherapy and Aredia to make my bones stronger. In May of 2003 I woke up one morning and could not lift my head. I talked in a whisper and I was scared to death! During the night I must have turned my neck or whatever and the mets in my bones compressed and crunched the C4-7 vertebrae in my neck. I had an emergency MRI and then started radiation to help this. The radiation got me better movement and I still wear a neck collar today because I am basically walking around with a broken neck! Thankfully I am able to drive and have a lot of mobility in my neck. My oncologist is wonderful, she and I made the decision to then take a “chemo break” and try Femara. This did not work for me as I developed skin mets on my left breast, we then switched to Aromasin and that did not help either. During this time period, my abusive husband took this diagnosis as a license to be unfaithful, as he had in the past. He told me to my face that he did not want to be my caretaker. He told me that I could not fulfill my wifely duty (sex). He was so obnoxious that I could not get healthy with him around. I knew that I had to live for my son, from my previous marriage. With my parents help, I kicked him out and got divorced. I had a great chemo break until May 2004 when on a yearly Petscan liver mets were discovered. I started Taxotere and the liver mets shrunk very nicely. I am now on Xeloda, a chemotherapy pill that has reduced my tumor markers to 37.2!!! I am very happy and live a full life as a single mom to an 11 yr old son. Today, in October 2004 I feel great. I know that I am fully capable to be a single mom and a daughter to my aging parents.

Cancer has changed who I am. There are some things in life due to my back mets and neck that I will never be able to do again, like bicycle riding with my son. I have limited energy. I cannot see the moon at night unless I am sitting down, when standing I cannot get my head to that position to see the night sky. I have great faith in God and know that without Him, I would not be where I am today. Cancer has transformed me into a new person. I like her very much!

The knowledge that many women may face breast cancer mets is the reality. I want them to know that they can live vibrant and productive lives! Have HOPE above all else!