BDO: What was your thought process after you found the cancer?
Karen: My mindset was that I was told I only had five years to live after being diagnosed. I was of the mindset that I was happy that I was persistent in getting the test, but I was concerned that five years was such a short time. I proactively changed my diet, I did exercise more—not that I never did, I just did it more. But more importantly, I felt as though that even if one doctor tells you one diagnosis, that’s not 100% and I had faith that I was not going to die from breast cancer. So I continued to have healthy habits, I never smoked and I didn’t think drink at any extent. I just tried to improve on the health things that I did know. I learned that there is no definitive thing that we can do that’s being recommended. You just have to have a healthy body to survive your cancer. It doesn’t stop you from getting it. But you can do better with your diagnosis if your body is in general good health.
BDO: How did you stay encouraged when you were fighting against breast cancer?
Karen: Well first and foremost, prayer is very powerful. Along with prayer, I feel as though your knowledge of the disease helps to strengthen you to fight because it gives you that control and that direction. Without knowledge you don’t have any sense of where you’re going with this disease. The sisterhood of surrounding yourself with positive people and that’s what I felt Sisters Network would do for myself and for others.