In June 2021, Karen was outside doing yard work, when she took a break to catch her breath and have some water. She began to cough and to her horror coughed up blood. It was a Friday evening, but she knew she needed to contact her doctor immediately. He sent her to get a chest X-ray the next day, and a few hours later she received a devastating call. They had found a large tumor on her right lung. After a series of tests and biopsies, one of which collapsed her lung and caused her to be hospitalized, her doctor confirmed the diagnosis. “Within a few days I went from thinking I was healthy to sitting in an oncologist’s office, being diagnosed with stage III lung cancer,” Karen said.
Karen was referred to a thoracic surgeon Karen was referred to a thoracic surgeon and the first thing her doctor told her is because of the research done and the advancements made for the treatment of lung cancer, she had a way better chance of beating this than she would have five years prior. He believed the tumor was too large for them to remove, so they would need to manage the cancer with treatments. “It was invading my major arteries and up against my esophagus, which was devastating,” Karen said. She went through six weeks of radiation, five days a week. Additionally, she had chemotherapy every Friday. About halfway through the sessions, her radiologist showed her that the tumor had shrunk dramatically, the treatments were working.
Once all the treatments were complete, the surgeon was able to completely remove the top lobe of her right lung and the tumor with it. “My surgery was painful, and recovery was hard. I was in the ICU for six days and then went home for four weeks of recovery,” Karen explained.
A few months after her surgery, in March 2022, Karen’s doctor suggested immunotherapy, to ensure that the cancer didn’t return. Immunotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses the power of the body’s own immune system to prevent, control, and eliminate cancer. Unfortunately, immunotherapy attacks healthy organs and after eight months of treatment, she had to stop because it had attacked her lungs and caused thyroid problems.
In the summer of 2023, smoke from wildfires caused the air quality in Karen’s town to worsen, and she began to have severe breathing problems. The doctors confirmed that the cancer was still in remission, but Karen had developed COPD. Karen was sent to pulmonary rehab for 12 weeks. There she learned how to manage her breathing so that she could perform everyday tasks, and was educated about maintenance and rescue inhalers, as well as other COPD medication.
“I am so thankful for the treatments that saved my life and allowed me to be here to speak to you today, however, my life will never be what it was before I was diagnosed.”
Advocating for Lung Health
While Karen was recovering from her surgery, her daughter heard about a LUNG FORCE Walk in her area. She decided to start a group and walk in Karen’s honor. Karen was touched by the number of family and friends who donated and decided to do the walk as well. They enjoyed the event so much that when it came around the next year, Karen decided to volunteer not just at the walk but also at the Fight For Air Climb, an annual event held in Detroit. Additionally, Karen has raised lung cancer awareness by sharing her story widely by participating in several interviews with multiple news stations.
“It’s such a great community to be a part of. Everyone is so supportive,” Karen explained. “No matter what you’re facing, I want others to know that you can beat it. It was the scariest, hardest thing I’ve ever been through, but I fought hard and now I am four years cancer free!”
Last year, Karen took her voice to LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day in Washington DC as Michigan's LUNG FORCE Hero. She spoke with Congress members from her home state of Michigan. She found the experience uplifting and was happy she was able to help create change so more people could be lung cancer survivors. “I fully appreciate everyone who has advocated before me and fought for research funding, that is the reason that I am alive, and I am so grateful.”
Learn more about getting involved with LUNG FORCE.
Blog last updated: September 30, 2025
