It was a typical June day in 2001, when Karen Sharpless, performing a self-exam, felt a lump on her breast. The next nine months would be anything but typical.
Sharpless, 1981 Auburn graduate with a master's degree in public speaking and communication and long-time employee of the University before retirement, spoke about that day.
"I was very lucky that I found my own cancer," Karen said. "When I found it, I called my doctor in Montgomery and said, 'I am on my way over there because I have a lump.'"
A needle biopsy followed, and the doctors told Karen there was something harmful in her that needed to come out.
"They immediately scheduled me for a lumpectomy, which isn't taking your breast off, but taking the lump out," Karen said.
Through the radiation, doctors also gave good news, saying the cancer had not spread into her lymph nodes. According to the Susan G. Komen organization, which is dedicated to research of breast cancer, patients whose cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes have a much higher rate of survival.
The doctors then started chemotherapy after giving Karen some time to recover from the surgery.
After the first round of chemotherapy, the treatment hit Karen hard.
"We were in Montgomery, and there was a shop that I always went to, so I said, 'Since we are already here, might as well go there to look at some dresses,'" Karen said.
While trying on her second dress, Karen simply said, "I need to go."
"We got back on the interstate, and I was so ill," Karen said. "I wasn't expecting it to be as tough as it was."
The battle got worse, and a few hospital stays were necessary because of her low cell count, but Karen said it was friends and family who helped during this difficult time.
"The things that get you through it are the friends and family that you have," Karen said. "People are so kind-hearted. They have so much concern for you. People brought food over to the house every night. That was such a gift."
Karen said people need a gatekeeper as well.
"You need someone to be able to say to people who are wanting to visit that you might not be up to it that day," Karen said. "I was lucky to have a great friend like Debbie Shaw to help manage my care."
Shaw, colon cancer survivor, said she could relate to Karen's situation.
"I could empathize with her, being a cancer survivor myself," Shaw said. "I wanted her to know that she had a lot of support in the community and that many people loved her."
The amount of support, according to Shaw, ranged from people bringing food to going along with Karen to the hospital when she was getting treatment.
Karen has been married for 26 years to Ken Sharpless, who she describes as "wonderful and (her) rock." They have two kids; Michael, who just left the Marines after years of service; and Painter, junior in business at Auburn.
Working in different positions at Auburn from speaking to high school kids about attending Auburn to raising money as a development officer in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Karen was dedicated to her career.
"I think the toughest part for her was taking the time off from doing something that she loved," Painter said. "She's always worked."
At such a young age, Painter said he wasn't aware of the gravity of his mother's situation.
"My dad did a great job of shielding me from what she was going through," Painter said.
The day Karen and her friends and family were waiting for came in April 2002, when doctors said she was cancer-free.
"That is what everyone wants to hear," Karen said. "That was wonderful. It had been a long haul."
A big proponent for regular self-exams, Karen also urges women to get a yearly mammogram.
"I have a mammogram every year," Karen said. "My routine of self-exams may have helped save my life."
Karen said she now donates a lot of time to breast cancer awareness.
Now retired and working part-time at the Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, Karen said she has a message for people who are currently in her past situation.
"You don't always feel good when you are going through it, but you can do this," Karen said.
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