Breast Cancer Research Foundation Of Alabama

stories of survival

Kathy Kemp

I grew up in Birmingham and studied journalism at UAB. I've worked for the New Haven (Conn.) Register; the Birmingham Post-Herald and, since 1998, The Birmingham News. I am a features writer and Sunday human-interest columnist.

I'm 52 and live in Crestline. Was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer at age 46. Undergoing treatment at UAB. Dr. Carla Falkson is my oncologist and also a good friend.

I was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in January 2002. Doctors originally thought I had early stage cancer. But less than a month after my lumpectomy, I started having back pain, and a scan showed the breast cancer had spread to my bones.

I was devastated and couldn’t really talk or read about it for several months. By May 2002, though, I was still alive and more comfortable with the diagnosis. I wrote my first Birmingham News column about my situation on Mother’s Day 2002.

Over the years, I’ve written several columns on the topic, hoping to inspire others with advanced cancers, particularly breast cancer patients. Since my diagnosis, I’ve been through several hormonal therapies and a six-month first round of chemo. Last summer, after the cancer spread to my lungs, I began weekly chemotherapy. I’m still having chemo now.

Even with advanced cancer, I’ve been able to live a full and active life. I’ve been fly fishing and horseback riding in Montana. I’ve helicoptered into the Grand Canyon. I don’t turn down many chances for adventure. Having the disease has brought me new an abundance of new friends (mostly others with breast cancer) and a mission in life to help people anyway I can.

One thing I’ve noticed is that many breast cancer organizations seem geared to patients who have had breast cancer and recovered, or who are currently in treatment, usually with early or middle stage diagnosis (it makes sense, because they are the majority of patients). Those of us with advanced disease don’t have many role models, mainly because few live longer than two or three years after diagnosis.

I hope to show the world that today you can survive and thrive, even with advanced disease, and that only God knows when each of us will leave this world and under what circumstances. I want to get the word out that there are new drugs coming out every day to treat advanced breast cancer, and that it can be managed as a chronic disease, rather than a terminal illness.

I want to show other patients who hear the devastating news that there is hope out there, and I’m living proof.