Page 12 - Valley Life & Health

12 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 THE MORNING CALL
THE POW ER OF P I NK

Happiness,

hardship

& &

HOPE:

“Right around the time my youngest daughter journey, Dr. Nair has been supportive and caring
KATHY LOWE IS A was graduating, I felt a lump in my clavicle, and I while also allowing her to be a partner in her own
“FOREVER FIGHTER” knew that was an indication that the cancer had care. He has recognized that her family is on this
path with her, as well, and has made time outside
spread. It had metastasized,” says Lowe, a Stage
4 patient who is now receiving chemotherapy of his normal working hours to meet with them
By Shannon Sigafoos of The Morning Call to fight aggressive tumors on her liver as well as and answer questions. And he has been matter
in her brain, lungs and bones. “They used to say of fact about her current treatment while also
if you lived five years, you were okay. Ten years, maintaining both his optimism and hers.
you’re okay. We have to figure out why it came “When the cancer metastasized, he returned
It’s been more than two decades since back and what is driving this cancer.” my call on a Sunday afternoon and talked to me
Bloomsburg resident Kathy Lowe was first Lowe is one of the nearly 270,000 women at length. He kept saying, ‘I’m sorry. I’m so sorry
diagnosed with cancer. She was 39 years old with each year who have to have these conversations that this has returned 17 years later, but let me
four children – her youngest being only 18 months that never get any easier, yet she has remained tell you about all of the good things that are
old at the time – when she found herself listening steadfast in her determination to fight the disease happening and all of the advances in medicine and
to Dr. Suresh Nair, Physician-in-Chief at Lehigh with all that she has in her. As you’ve read in the technology,” recalls Lowe. “I’m in the throes of
Valley Health Network’s Cancer Institute, explain article on the preceding page, she was one of the chemo again, but I make that 90 minute trip each
what her stage 2a breast cancer diagnosis meant first patients to take part in the Memorial Sloan way because of the time he took that day and
and what her treatment options were. Kettering (MSK) IMPACT™ Trial with Lehigh Valley because of his hope, his energy and his optimism
“I remember the prayer that I said then was, Health Network, which provided her access to on how things will continue to improve.”
‘Please, just let me live to see my baby graduate’, ” experimental treatments that have been developed ‘Hope’ is a word that Lowe uses often in
she recalls. to target specific genetic mutations. conversation about her journey with cancer, and it’s
A lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, As Lowe has found out, people who are because she can imagine a time in the future where
hysterectomy, and a decade on two different diagnosed with cancer spend a lot of time with their other women will have more options for treatment
drugs followed. For 17 years, the cancer remained oncology team. The hospital and physicians’ offices and a higher expectation that cancer patients will
dormant. And then… become like a second home. Through her entire go on to live long, productive lives. She has been
a frequent participant in the Women’s 5K Classic
– where the funds raised go back into supporting
local research and treatment options – and will walk
again this year alongside of thousands of mothers,
sisters, daughter and friends all in this fight together.
“In the future, there will be some answers.
Kathy Lowe, showing If they keep coming up with these drugs where
her fighting spirit they can say, ‘Okay, this works, but part of this
at the Women’s 5K didn’t work,’ or ‘We’re going to come at it from
Classic in 2018. this angle and try this’ – I imagine and hope
that in the near future, they will get closer and
closer to figuring out these genetic drivers,” says
Lowe. “Every person is different, but doctors
are still trying and haven’t given up. And that’s so
important to women like me who are fighting for
as much life as we can get at this point.”
Photos courtesy of the Women’s 5K Classic