And still, she got cancer.

Karen first suspected something was wrong in April 2005, as she was training to run in the Twin Cities marathon. “I simply wasn’t feeling well,” she says. “I was unusually tired and noticed some unexplained weight loss.”

Her research – and intuition – led her to suspect ovarian cancer. When tests proved inconclusive, Robert Junnila, MD, PhD, performed laparoscopic surgery to take a closer look. He found cancer in both ovaries.

“Life can change on a dime,” Karen says. She had both ovaries removed the following week and spent the next five months undergoing eight rounds of chemotherapy.

She’s thankful she was in good shape before going into this fight. “If your body is strong, you can work with your mind,” Karen says. During the ensuing weeks and months, she would sometimes have to push herself to keep exercising.

Valuable input
Karen always valued taking good care of herself and, at times, found it frustrating not to be in control. Thankfully, doctors at Park Nicollet Frauenshuh Cancer Center view patients as important members of the treatment team. 

They also valued her input after treatment. Karen is one of about a dozen patients who participate on a patient advisory board. When she first joined the board, Park Nicollet was seeking patient input for the design and construction of its new Frauenshuh Cancer Center, which celebrated its grand opening Aug. 1, 2009.

Karen was one of several people who helped inspire the patient-centered concept, where all the services are brought to the patient. She also provided input for the treatment rooms. “When patients receive chemotherapy, it sometimes takes a few hours. Now they have this comfort zone, where they can sit in a heated chair and watch TV,” she says.

Today, Karen is a part-time volunteer at Frauenshuh Cancer Center and escorts patients to their rooms. “I always explain that I’m a cancer survivor, so they can see there’s hope.”

Finding motivation
Despite the center’s new comforts, Karen is well aware of the physical and emotional struggles patients with cancer face. Right after she was diagnosed, she learned her son and daughter-in-law were expecting their second child. “I remember thinking how sad it would be if I couldn’t be part of this child’s life,” she recalls. She tapped into that fear for motivation.

Karen kept up with her workouts – lifting weights, walking and even a little running. She found strength from her daughter’s visits. “My daughter was living in California, and she flew home every three weeks to be with me for my chemotherapy,” she says. “I actually looked forward to treatments because of her visits.” Plus, she received support from her husband, son, sisters and other family members and friends.

She also found strength from her clients who participated in her Wellness Workouts. “Even during chemotherapy – with my scarf on – I would lead exercise classes,” Karen says. “People asked me how I could do it. But, really, I found strength and inspiration from them. They were coping with arthritis, hip surgeries and other challenges. If they could do it, so could I.”

To learn more about the Frauenshuh Cancer Center, visit parknicollet.com/cancer.