Sister Saturdays – Karen Unger
Karen Unger is a breast cancer thriver hailing from Squamish, British Columbia. She is a woman of many talents who leads a “very interesting” life, as she puts it—having worked as a cruise ship photographer, snowcat driver, snowmobile guide, and everything in between, and currently working part-time at Valhalla Pure Outfitters. Karen also happens to be an incredibly insightful, kind, and beautiful woman who has had many challenges with cancer, even prior to her own. But we still find her laughing and enjoying even the small things. Her joy can light up a room! She has a gentle kind of strength, and at a recent Chasing Sunshine Wellness Retreat in Wyoming, she opened up and shared with us and we got to see all the colors of who she really is—on and off her snowboard!
What is your current treatment plan?
I am currently on Zolodex injections monthly, and I was on daily Exemestaine, but I was suffering from really bad joint pain so I’m temporarily on hold for daily pills until I see my oncologist. They are planning on screening me every six months for the next seven years or so, because I was late stage 3 and I had so many side effects.
What is the hardest part of all this?
Losing my sense of who I am. Cancer starts to define you after a while, and you live your life according to it’s schedule. You are at the mercy of treatments and your body’s reaction. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, and it’s a blow. Then you come out the other end and you aren’t sure about a lot of things. People tell you that you are really going to appreciate life after and live it to the absolute fullest and not take anything for granted. But what if you already lived your life that way and now after treatment you have low energy and pain? I have already lost my whole family one at a time, and so I haven’t taken much for granted in a very long time. So now what? Also, filtering all the information that I heard. Suddenly everyone I know turned into a cancer professional and some people were adamant that I do what they were suggesting – whether it be crystal beds, reiki, tapping, vitamin injections, THC, a certain diet, meditation, acupuncture, colon cleanses, (the list goes on forever). It was a lot of information, and my head was spinning.
What is the easiest part of all this?
The love and support I have received from both friends and strangers. Maybe that’s a little hard at first actually, but opening my heart to receiving was very important and makes things a lot easier.
Do you remember the day you were diagnosed?
How could I forget? It was the day I got my upper braces put on at UBC. My family doctor who is also somewhat of a friend called me on my cell phone, and I was in the waiting room at the UBC Dental building by myself. I don’t remember if I cried or not. I was in a bit of shock, even though deep down I really knew.
Do you choose integrated health therapies? If so, which ones?
I have done Reiki, acupuncture, vitamin injections, and naturopathic supplements but I’m currently walking, watching my diet and making sure I rest.
Do you use THC or CBD in your treatment/support plan?
Yes. I started with CBD alone in both tincture and cream form. I would add Frankincense to my CBD cream and rub onto my breasts and armpits. Now I use a CBD/THC tincture before bed for pain management of my side effects and to be able to get a good sleep. My information came mostly from the kind people who supply me with free or discounted products that they make themselves and from some online research.
Would you recommend any treatment/wellness modality in particular that you feel is your magic?
Vitamin D really kept my energy up during radiation. It was like magic for sure. And no side effects!
Did you choose implants?
I did not have my breasts removed. It was an option, but both my surgeon and oncologist did not recommend it as they said it was not necessary from a medical standpoint and did not decrease my risk of relapse at all. I did talk to a plastic surgeon but decided with my history of side effects that implants could cause more trouble for me, and since I would definitely want implants, I chose two lumpectomies instead. The reason I would want implants is because I grew up being made fun of by my sister for not having breasts, and then I finally developed them and after being called a boy for many years, I actually grew a pair of really nice boobs! They were one of my favorite things about my body, even when there wasn’t much else I liked about myself.
Do you recommend breast self exams?
YES! Get to know your boobies! I have very lumpy, dense breasts and have been having ultrasounds for many years and things always turned out to be cysts or fibre adenomas, but the cancer felt different and it hurt. And then my armpit started hurting. They told me cancer doesn’t hurt and that it’s probably a cyst and the lymph node pain is normal. I finally insisted on a mammogram which is what prompted the biopsy. You really need to advocate for yourself. But it is hard to not live in constant fear as well.
Does your workspace support your treatment, time off for ‘cancer stuff’?
OH YES!!! They are THE BEST!!!! It’s the people you see every day that matter, which is what has kept me at this particular job for so long. My boss kept paying me throughout treatment, which is pretty special and rare. He has a heart of gold.
What are the things/people you remember most about this journey?
The chemo nurses. I haven’t had my mom around for many years and I actually kind of liked going for chemo treatments because the nurses were so kind. I was able to bring my small dog and they all loved him and would bring us both a warm blanket. I got lots of hugs and attention, and for me, that was SO NEEDED and appreciated. Also all the kindness. You learn a lot about other people when you are going through this. Some people are capable of so much kindness and generosity it’s mind-blowing, while others disappear completely or tune out.
Do you practice yoga or meditation?
Sometimes. I plan on doing yoga once I have healed from lower jaw surgery, which I recently had. I feel it’s very healing. Doing the yoga classes at the B4BC retreat was really amazing for me because I didn’t trust my body anymore. I didn’t think I could do yoga anymore, but now I know I can and that it really helps!
What does the word ‘nourish’ mean to you?
I think of watering a plant and giving it sunlight and fertilizer. Giving something what it needs to thrive.
Do you have a particular diet or food regimen you would like to share?
I didn’t have a lot of success in the diet area. I was afraid, because I had to wait a long time before seeing an oncologist or hearing from pathology after surgery, which was almost a month after diagnosis. I went full vegan keto but that turned out not to be best for me as I lost too much weight during chemotherapy later.
Is the food thing a struggle?
It’s a bit of a struggle for me as I don’t love to cook and grew up as a sugar addict. I tend to eat a lot healthier now. Having braces was also a struggle when it came to eating. Also, I wasn’t able to shop for groceries for a long time, and I wasn’t able to eat anything during my AC/cytoxan chemo.
What’s the biggest thing you have learned about yourself through all of this?
I can survive anything and I am not alone.
What would you tell another woman who is about to embark on this journey?
Take things day by day. Find a few professionals that you trust and run everyone’s suggestions through them before you try them out or look into them too much. Rest lots. Reach out for help. Trust your instincts. Count your blessings every day.
How has B4BC supported your wellness needs during your breast cancer journey? Would you recommend our Wellness Retreats?
They have been so positive and supportive and really tried to show the women they are not limited by this illness. There are things you can do to support yourself too. Also, there are other amazing women going through this who are there for you too. I rediscovered my love of snowboarding and the joy of a powder day. I realized I can do yoga and that it really helps with mobility (and injury prevention!). They are a really awesome team of power cheerleaders on a mission of love! I would and have recommended the retreats, just as I was referred to them by a friend.
See more Sister Saturdays posts here.
