Kim Carlos

July 22, 2002

Hi Whirly Girls,

Lorri Stanislav suggested that I write to you and share my friend Kim Carlos' story.

I've known Kim since college, we are now 31.  She was diagnosed in late January with breast cancer.  She has no family history and is not considered high risk.  She found the lump during her monthly self breast exam, which she has done ever since a friend of hers with no family history was diagnosed at the age of 24. Although she caught it early, the cancer isaggressive and the tumor was large (slightly smaller than a golf ball).  She is currently undergoing chemo-therapy--4 treatments over 12 weeks, and will then have the breast removed/reconstructive surgery. 

Although the experience must be completely shocking and frightening, Kim is completely positive---with only momentary lapses of thinking about her 2-year old son and the fact that he won't remember his Mom if by some chance she does not beat this.  She is using her experience to educate others, young women in particular, about breast cancer and the importance of self-exams.  If it can happen to her, it can happen to any one of us.  She isn't waiting until she can claim to be a "survivor"...she thinks her message is more impactful if she delivers it while she is living the experience.  So she shares candid and emotional journal entries discussing the everyday details of living with cancer and through chemotherapy.  She proudly displays her bald head...she was recently chosen for Ingram's 40 under 40 award, and debated only about whether to wear a hat or go completely bald--wearing a wig for posterity didn't occur to her.  She uses her law degree for public service, currently heading up the Prospect Corridor Initiative to redevelop one of the most impoverished areas of Kansas City--and now she's using the connections she's made along the way to get the "early detection is key!" message out and advocate for breast cancer research and health care reform for breast cancer issues.

Having breast cancer as a young woman presents a unique set of challenges like the fact that once you beat it, you have a lot of time to worry about it recurring.  And there are also a few unanswered questions like how chemotherapy and everything your body goes through affects fertility (Kim and her husband Scott had planned to have more children).  There are few resources for young women living through this experience, and Kim plans to do her part to change that....blazing a trail for those who come after her to follow.

I really can't say enough about how remarkable Kim is.  Her eyes actually sparkle when she talks about this new mission in life that she's been handed.  She has turned the whole experience into a positive--which can't be easy to do when you don't really physically feel that great.  I think she's completely deserving of a Whirly Girl award.

Warm regards,

Michelle Groner