Breast cancer has been a part of Karen Urtz’s life for a long time. Her mother and grandmother each passed away from the disease. Urtz, a Rome resident, made sure she was examined regularly at the Breast Care clinic at Slocum Dickson.

When were you diagnosed, what age and what stage?

In 2017, at age 60, a routine bi-annual mammogram detected a lump behind my right breast, DCIS, Stage 0. However, the lumpectomy determined it was Stage 1.

What was your treatment process?

I immediately began chemotherapy followed by radiation, and 5 years later, I show no evidence of breast cancer. I am surely blessed and consider myself one of the lucky ones.

What message would you like to provide to others in the community?

My message to anyone diagnosed with breast cancer is to first of all trust your doctors. I had the best care by Dr. Cesare, Susan Keeler, FNP, along with Dr. Najam Din, my oncologist at Slocum Dickson, and Dr. Linda Schicker, my radiation oncologist.

Second of all, it is very important to stay positive and be thankful for every day you are alive. I would walk into all my treatments with a smile on my face, even posting a picture on social media so that all my friends and family would respond and encourage me to look forward to every day that I was counting down to my successful treatment.

I was blessed with four grandchildren since 2017 which was the best medicine ever. I start every day with an alarm on my phone that plays the song “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive.”

Are you a breast cancer survivor, or do you know of someone who is? As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this is a series of Salutes to Survivors that the Sentinel will feature throughout October. To be featured, email PSperbeck@RNYmedia.