CLEAR CONFIDENCE

good support team, and count their husbands, friends and family among their most significant advocates.

Carie’s story

Harris was diagnosed with invasive ductal cancer (stage 2) at the end of August 2013. She was just 46 years old, with no family history. Harris was in the prime of life and incredibly active, with plenty of time spent with her husband, Micah, three children, and two grandchildren.

Harris discovered the lump in her breast during a shower, but didn’t see her doctor for a month.

“I don’t know why it took me that long, especially with my medical background,” she said. “But my intuition told me it was cancer.”

Once she received the news, she “felt quiet.”

“A nurse held my hand, and said, ‘It’s OK – I’m a survivor, too.’”

Once Harris got to her car, she broke down in tears. With the support of her oncologist, Dr. Basem Goueli at

St. Luke’s, Harris underwent a double mastectomy with reconstruction. This was a fortuitous decision, as two weeks later, it was discovered she had cancer in her other breast, as well.

Harris underwent four months of chemo and 28 days of radiation. She was on multiple medications, one of which gave her blood clots, and another that caused neuropathy in her toes and fingers. Other complications also required Harris to undergo a complete hysterectomy.

During Harris’ double mastectomy, her surgeon removed 31 lymph nodes, and four tested positive for cancer. Due to the number of lymph nodes removed, Harris now has lymphedema and wears compression sleeves 23 hours a day.

Another medicine she continues to take is hard on her joints and bones, so knee supports are required. Despite the pain and complications, Harris continued working throughout her illness.

In total, she has had 15 surgeries, yet today, at six years cancer-free, she is doing great.

“Every day I get up is a good day,” Harris said. “I’m blessed and I’m healthy.”

Harris gives back by chairing the Circle of Hope ladies’ golf fundraiser, which is held annually at Ridgeview Country Club.

“It’s gratifying to be able to give back and help others with this disease,” she said.

Kimberly’s story

Overlie was diagnosed September 2017 with stage 1 Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), which is considered rare and one of the most difficult types of breast cancers to treat. She was just 47 years old at the time, and had just finished her third half-marathon.

Overlie and her husband have an active life, including five children and one grandchild, and they had just signed a contract to build a new home. But, Overlie’s intuition also told her something was awry.

“During my half-marathon training, something just felt off. I didn’t have my usual stamina. I figured I was just tired, getting through my doctoral internship. But I passed out at the finish line of

Grandma’s half-marathon, and knew something was wrong.”

Overlie had her annual physical in July 2017, which included a breast exam, and there were no noted lumps or bumps. She followed up with a mammogram in August, and was called two hours later to schedule a biopsy and ultrasound. A two-centimeter mass was discovered.

At the advice of her oncologist, Dr. Lloyd Ketchum at Essentia, Overlie completed 20 rounds of chemotherapy. She finished chemo in February, and on March 2, she had bilateral mastectomies and sentinel node removal at the Mayo Clinic.

It was determined she had residual disease, so she completed another six months of oral chemotherapy, finishing in September 2018. Although the chemo made Overlie incredibly ill, she continued working as much as she could during her treatment. In October 2018, she had what was hopefully her last surgery, to replace her tissue expanders with permanent breast implants.

While today Overlie is for the most part feeling well, her particular type of breast cancer has a recurrence rate of about

Continued on page 12

When your feet hurt, life’s pleasures become painful. If you have pain in your heels or the balls of your feet, get relief from the experts at Northern Foot & Ankle Associates It’s time to strut your stuff, pain-free.

• Referrals usually not necessary

• Most types of insurance accepted

Come see one of our ABPS board-certified podiatrists:

DR. STACEY NIPP, D.P.M.

DR. ROBERT NIPP, D.P.M.

DR. CURT KRISTENSEN, D.P.M