Patient Stories
Kathleen Cook, from Ontario, New York, is a breast cancer survivor who was initially diagnosed in September 2010. She was diagnosed with stage 2 triple negative breast cancer – a very rare and aggressive form of the disease.
“I was at one of the healthiest points of my life,” Cook said. ““I had been working out on a regular basis. I looked my best. I felt my best. I was not the typical poster child for any sort of a cancer, especially with no family history.”
“We had to have the kids come and we sat them on the bed upstairs and we told them. And my son immediately started to cry,” Cook said. “I do think my son asked if I was going to die. And I think we answered honestly by saying, ‘I hope not.’”
“I was scared. I was very scared. I was worried about whether or not my kids would grow up without their mother and if I was going to be there to see a lot of their firsts.”
Cook found a recommendation and went to go see Dr. Julia Smith, MD, at Lipson Cancer Institute.
“I posted on Facebook and asked for help in picking an oncologist, in picking a surgeon and giving me some sort of sense of hope.”
When asked about what she remembered about her early conversations with Dr. Smith, Cook said she remembered her saying the cancer was survivable.
“I had a lot of anxiety or worry and just frustration over not knowing how or why or what caused it,” Cook said. “She would always bring me back down to a level ground and still point me in the direction of the plan to make it all better.”
“The most important thing to me right now is to be here to see my kids grow old,” Cook said. I want to be here for their prom. I want to be here for their graduation. I want to watch them grow up and see what they become. I want to see their children. I want to be a grandparent. I just want to live.”
