Karen's Cancer Treatment & Recovery
Donation protected
#karenstrong
I have set up this page to help our beautiful and courageous friend, Karen Smith.
On April 23 2015 Karen was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC means that the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth - estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2 gene are not present in the cancerous tumor. Since the tumor cells lack the necessary receptors, common hormone treatments are ineffective. TNBC occurs in about 10-20% of breast cancers and aggressive treatment is extremely important. Unfortunately this type of cancer is also more likely to spread and recur so it is important to catch it early and be aggressive.
Thank goodness Karen found her lump early by self-exam and was able to have her double-mastectomy a little more than 3 weeks after diagnosis on May 19th. Amazingly fast!!
After a successful double-mastectomy and chemo port implant, chemotherapy began in Tallahassee on June 15th and will continue for four months. She will get a 3-week break in the middle of chemo for her 41st birthday and hopes to be having some respite time at the beach during the first week of August.
Karen has a smile on her face and knows that whenever her hair falls out, it is a sign that the cancer is being attacked and removed. However the side effects of this "red-devil" chemo, as the docs call it, are many... weakened immune system, fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, spinning head, pain in the joints and in her skull. She will continue to have many lab tests, medicines, scans, tests, IVs, and several doctors visits weekly, but we all know that Karen is a fighter and has an amazing spirit. We continue to pray for her daily.
Because there was a lymph node affected with cancer as well, she will need six weeks of radiation every day after chemo is complete. This will reduce the risk of a reoccurrence. Nine months after that (around September 2016) she will undergo three surgeries and 8 fills/visits in between for reconstruction at Moffitt in Tampa.
If you don't know Karen personally, I encourage you to get to know her a bit through this page. She and I both will be able to update it throughout her journey.
Karen is a very active and outgoing person. Her happy spirit has touched many of us! She loves to spend time with her 3 children, family and many friends. She loves the beach, cooking, sunsets, teaching spinning class and running long races. Most of us know how determined she is and dedicated to placing in the top! She is a familiar face and loves living in her Tallahassee neighborhood, Southwood, calling it home since 2004.
A Chipley girl, who grew up in the panhandle as a daughter of a Special Education teacher, Karen graduated high school as Salutatorian with 20 hours of college credit and received her Masters degree from FSU in counseling.
Karen served at the Ronald McDonald house as night manager for 6 years and on the Board of Directors another 6 years, starting the Red Shoe Society and the Tallahassee Red Shoe Run to raise money for families with children in medical crisis. She has worked at the YMCA for 13 years teaching spinning classes and knows well the spirit, mind, body connection. She is an inspiration and a motivator to others. Several years ago she organized a team for the annual breast cancer walk "Team Bubbles". You can join her team in Southwood this October!
More recently Karen worked in the Florida Senate as committee staff, volunteered full time on the Governor's inaugural events, and worked in the Governor's press office, rising at 4am every day for two years to prep his news brief. Currently Karen is working full-time for the state, handling transportation safety communications "Don't drink and drive, Don't text and drive, Buckle Up!"
Being a stay-at-home mom for 12 years was incredibly rewarding and Karen was able to be a Southwood Girl Scout leader and Den mom for Cub Scouts. Her kids are her inspiration to get well. Bailey is a senior and preparing for college, interested in politics and lobbying. Ashton is a freshman in high school and proving a strong statewide and nationally ranked runner. Grayton is a very happy, athletic, honor student in the 4th grade. The kids alternate living with, both Karen and their Dad, George, who also lives in Southwood.
The fact that so many people have reached out to Karen to offer their kind words and prayer's is a testament to the kind of person she is. She has such a caring and giving heart but now it is our turn to care for her. There are many ways we can help: encouraging words, visits, help with rides for the kids to activities, dinners during rough days of chemo (usually the 3rd-5th days after), monetary donation for expenses and recover, sick leave hours from state employees, points for hotel stays, and many others.
Karen was so touched to receive a shipment of local organic foods from Red Hills Organic Market. Little things like this are incredibly helpful. Her focus now is healthy meals, organic foods, no sugar or alcohol, no dairy, rest, recovery, & of course her kids.
She hopes to be back on her feet soon and raise awareness for breast cancer while continuing with Ronald McDonald House charities, knowing that even more difficult that cancer is childhood illness.
At age 29 Karen beat thyroid cancer. She will be a two-time survivor! She told me recently that when she got thyroid cancer she learned how STRONG she is, but with breast cancer she is learning how LOVED she is.
With all of our love, support, prayers and donations, we will stand together with Karen to beat breast cancer
Thank you for Caring for Karen!
Please consider making a donation to help her FIGHT!
#karenstrong
#caringforkaren
I have set up this page to help our beautiful and courageous friend, Karen Smith.
On April 23 2015 Karen was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC means that the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth - estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2 gene are not present in the cancerous tumor. Since the tumor cells lack the necessary receptors, common hormone treatments are ineffective. TNBC occurs in about 10-20% of breast cancers and aggressive treatment is extremely important. Unfortunately this type of cancer is also more likely to spread and recur so it is important to catch it early and be aggressive.
Thank goodness Karen found her lump early by self-exam and was able to have her double-mastectomy a little more than 3 weeks after diagnosis on May 19th. Amazingly fast!!
After a successful double-mastectomy and chemo port implant, chemotherapy began in Tallahassee on June 15th and will continue for four months. She will get a 3-week break in the middle of chemo for her 41st birthday and hopes to be having some respite time at the beach during the first week of August.
Karen has a smile on her face and knows that whenever her hair falls out, it is a sign that the cancer is being attacked and removed. However the side effects of this "red-devil" chemo, as the docs call it, are many... weakened immune system, fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, spinning head, pain in the joints and in her skull. She will continue to have many lab tests, medicines, scans, tests, IVs, and several doctors visits weekly, but we all know that Karen is a fighter and has an amazing spirit. We continue to pray for her daily.
Because there was a lymph node affected with cancer as well, she will need six weeks of radiation every day after chemo is complete. This will reduce the risk of a reoccurrence. Nine months after that (around September 2016) she will undergo three surgeries and 8 fills/visits in between for reconstruction at Moffitt in Tampa.
If you don't know Karen personally, I encourage you to get to know her a bit through this page. She and I both will be able to update it throughout her journey.
Karen is a very active and outgoing person. Her happy spirit has touched many of us! She loves to spend time with her 3 children, family and many friends. She loves the beach, cooking, sunsets, teaching spinning class and running long races. Most of us know how determined she is and dedicated to placing in the top! She is a familiar face and loves living in her Tallahassee neighborhood, Southwood, calling it home since 2004.
A Chipley girl, who grew up in the panhandle as a daughter of a Special Education teacher, Karen graduated high school as Salutatorian with 20 hours of college credit and received her Masters degree from FSU in counseling.
Karen served at the Ronald McDonald house as night manager for 6 years and on the Board of Directors another 6 years, starting the Red Shoe Society and the Tallahassee Red Shoe Run to raise money for families with children in medical crisis. She has worked at the YMCA for 13 years teaching spinning classes and knows well the spirit, mind, body connection. She is an inspiration and a motivator to others. Several years ago she organized a team for the annual breast cancer walk "Team Bubbles". You can join her team in Southwood this October!
More recently Karen worked in the Florida Senate as committee staff, volunteered full time on the Governor's inaugural events, and worked in the Governor's press office, rising at 4am every day for two years to prep his news brief. Currently Karen is working full-time for the state, handling transportation safety communications "Don't drink and drive, Don't text and drive, Buckle Up!"
Being a stay-at-home mom for 12 years was incredibly rewarding and Karen was able to be a Southwood Girl Scout leader and Den mom for Cub Scouts. Her kids are her inspiration to get well. Bailey is a senior and preparing for college, interested in politics and lobbying. Ashton is a freshman in high school and proving a strong statewide and nationally ranked runner. Grayton is a very happy, athletic, honor student in the 4th grade. The kids alternate living with, both Karen and their Dad, George, who also lives in Southwood.
The fact that so many people have reached out to Karen to offer their kind words and prayer's is a testament to the kind of person she is. She has such a caring and giving heart but now it is our turn to care for her. There are many ways we can help: encouraging words, visits, help with rides for the kids to activities, dinners during rough days of chemo (usually the 3rd-5th days after), monetary donation for expenses and recover, sick leave hours from state employees, points for hotel stays, and many others.
Karen was so touched to receive a shipment of local organic foods from Red Hills Organic Market. Little things like this are incredibly helpful. Her focus now is healthy meals, organic foods, no sugar or alcohol, no dairy, rest, recovery, & of course her kids.
She hopes to be back on her feet soon and raise awareness for breast cancer while continuing with Ronald McDonald House charities, knowing that even more difficult that cancer is childhood illness.
At age 29 Karen beat thyroid cancer. She will be a two-time survivor! She told me recently that when she got thyroid cancer she learned how STRONG she is, but with breast cancer she is learning how LOVED she is.
With all of our love, support, prayers and donations, we will stand together with Karen to beat breast cancer
Thank you for Caring for Karen!
Please consider making a donation to help her FIGHT!
#karenstrong
#caringforkaren
Organizer and beneficiary
April Bell
Organizer
Fort Worth, TX
Karen Smith
Beneficiary