Guest Post – Karen Clark Natural Bodybuilder

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; a month that has taken on a whole new meaning to me.  My name is Karen Clark and I have been a competitive natural Women’s Body Builder since 2003.

This picture was taken last September 2012, before my last show.  2 months after this picture, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

Shocked, beyond belief, I just could not comprehend why or how this could be happening to me….no family history and no evident symptoms.  My 2^nd ever annual, routine mammogram uncovered the early stages of breast cancer.  The morning after having learned of my diagnoses, I was immediately on the phone making appointments with several doctors in hopes of them telling me this was all a mistake.  I got 3 different opinions and 3 exactly the same…..all confirming I DID have breast cancer.

I was given 2 options:  1) a lumpectomy with 7 weeks of radiation treatments, or 2) a mastectomy.  After learning the details of what each entailed, I had a decision to make.  Bottom line, I wanted to do what would give me the least percent of reoccurrence and the highest quality of life.  Radiation and Chemo were my greatest fears. With that said, I opted for a mastectomy.  This was a very personal decision but one that suited my personality and way of living.  I wanted to never deal with this situation again and more than anything, I wanted to continue my lifestyle of bodybuilding.   I was determined.

The month of December was such a huge roller coaster of emotions for me….the wait for surgery seemed to take forever.  The doctors suspected it was a slow growing cancer but I felt such an urgency to just get it out of me.  I wanted to give it NO opportunity to grow any bigger than it was.   Surgery was scheduled for January 7, 2013. The night before surgery, I must admit, I had a slight panic attack wondering if this was the right option for me.  But deep in my heart, I knew it was.

Surgery lasted 6 ½ hours.  I am sure it seemed like an eternity for my family and friends.  I knew immediately when I came to, from the anesthesia, that the doctors thought it went well……my husband’s first words to me were just that.  I was in the hospital 2 days before going home.  I still had to wait 3 weeks for the results from the testing done during surgery.  If the results showed aggressive cancer cells, I would need additional treatment meaning radiation, chemo or an oral medication for the next 5 years.    THAT phone call I received was probably the happiest phone call I could have ever gotten….a panel of doctors discussed my case results and determined I was a candidate for no further treatment!    At that point, recovering and reconstruction was to follow.

This past Monday, October 7, 2013 marked my 9 month anniversary of being Cancer Free.    I am totally cleared and have been back in the gym for a couple of months now.  I had to take about 7 months off from serious lifting in order to heal correctly, and it almost feels like I am starting all over.  Having just turned 50 in September, I don’t seem to be bouncing back as quickly as I had hoped, but I will get there.   I am sure of that.

One of the most amazing things I have experienced going thru this is that the love and support I received was overwhelming.  When I thought I did not have the strength, everyone around me said I did.  I am so grateful for all the support I had…..it truly was incredible.   I look at life differently now ……it’s almost like I am beginning part 2.  The silly things that used to bother me before…no longer do…I try to put it all in perspective.

Now, I am back on the road to training in the early morning hours, before I go to my 9-5 job.  It’s amazing what that time does for me every morning….it’s MY perfect cup of coffee and sets my tone for the day.  I feel so incredibly blessed and fortunate for all that I have.   If anything can be taken away from my story, I hope it will be to never lose faith, hope and determination.      Anything is possible.