Patient Stories

Twenty-eight years ago, Karen Ballaban moved from her hometown of Cincinnati to Florida to help her parents, who had retired there. She lives in Homosassa, a coastal town on the central west side of Florida, known for its manatees and laid-back charm. At 68 years old, Karen embraces the natural beauty surrounding her and enjoys her peaceful life. Despite the distance from some family and friends, she found comfort in the small-town community and church, where she had formed close bonds.

However, life took an unexpected turn when Karen began experiencing a persistent cough. Initially, she thought it was a lingering symptom of COVID-19, which she had battled and recovered from. But after two months passed with no relief, concern grew. Karen’s friend from church, a nurse practitioner, urged her to ask her doctor for a chest X-ray. Taking her friend's advice, Karen scheduled an appointment with her primary care doctor, who ordered a chest X-ray. This led to further tests, including a CT scan, a Pet scan, and ultimately a biopsy. The results were far more serious than Karen ever expected: lung cancer.

Navigating Lung Cancer Treatment

The diagnosis came as a shock, especially since Karen had quit smoking more than 40 years ago after a brief stint in her younger years. The cancer was a type called non-small cell lung cancer with a genetic mutation known as EGFR exon 19 deletion, which is common in non-smokers. Karen found some solace in this knowledge—her cancer wasn’t the result of a lifetime of bad habits but rather unfortunate twist of fate.

Living alone in Florida, Karen felt overwhelmed by the diagnosis and the daunting treatment process ahead. The thought of navigating lung cancer treatments and surgeries by herself weighed heavily on her mind. That’s when her sister Lorie stepped in, becoming her lifeline. Lorie, still living in Cincinnati, had a connection with Dr. William Barrett, an esteemed radiation oncologist at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center who works closely with specialists in the Lung Cancer Center. Lorie immediately reached out, and Dr. Barrett agreed to take on Karen’s case. Karen decided to return to Cincinnati, where three of her sisters lived, knowing family and friends would love and support her during this critical time.

The Power of Family Support in Cancer Care

Back in Cincinnati, Karen reunited with her Ohio family, and it felt like a bittersweet homecoming. Though she hadn’t lived there for almost 30 years, the familiarity of the city and the closeness of her family brought her comfort in a time of great uncertainty.

At the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Karen was introduced to Dr. Barrett, who became her invaluable guide through the maze of treatments and options. He introduced her to two key specialists: Dr. Sandra Starnes, a thoracic surgeon and Dr. Christopher Lemmon, an oncologist. Dr. Lemmon uncovered a crucial detail about her cancer - a mutation called EGFR-19 deletion, which helped shape the course of her treatment.

The treatment was intense. Karen would undergo three rounds of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, which had grown in her left lung, and to reduce the size of a malignant lymph node near her aorta, which she completed between November 2023 and January 2024.

This would prepare her for a major surgery – a lobectomy to remove the upper lobe of her left lung. The chemotherapy was grueling. Karen faced days of nausea, fatigue, and emotional lows, but through it all, her sisters - Sue, Lorie, and Nicole- were by her side.

Their unwavering support, prayers from her entire family, friends, and her church community, and her deep faith in God helped Karen find the strength to keep going. "Karen completed a tough treatment course with impressive resolve and perseverance despite some challenging side effects."

Personalized Lung Cancer Therapy

The chemotherapy worked better than anyone had hoped. Not only did it shrink the tumor, but it also significantly reduced the size of the lymph node, which made the upcoming surgery less risky. Then came the surgery. In February 2024, Dr. Starnes successfully performed a thoracic surgery, called a “lobectomy”, removing the upper left lobe of her lung along with a malignant lymph node near her aorta. “Karen’s story highlights the importance of seeing your doctor if something just doesn’t seem right and that lung cancer can happen to anyone.” "It was so great to see the support Karen has in her sisters, who were always at her side during treatment and recovery."

Recovery and Life after Lung Cancer

The recovery process was slow, but Karen began to regain her strength. Each day brought a new challenge but also new reasons to be grateful. The medical care she received, the love of her family and friends in both Ohio and Florida, and her resilience all played a part in her healing. She reflected on the journey that had brought her back to Cincinnati—how her return to her roots had given her not just medical care but also the emotional and spiritual support she needed to endure the most challenging moments.

Recovery wasn’t the  end but a new beginning. In April 2024, she began taking Tagrisso, a daily EGFR-targeted oral medication prescribed for three  years  to  help  prevent  recurrence. "Karen's story underscores the importance of testing for these mutations or changes in lung cancer so we can personalize our treatments and use our best medications to treat the cancer.

Though Karen knew the journey wasn't over, she felt overwhelming gratitude. She continues to travel between Florida and Cincinnati for check-ups every three months. Her first two check- ups were in June and October 2024, and she was overjoyed to hear the words “all clear”. Her next visit is in January 2025, and she faces it with hope and gratitude. Karen feels so blessed and is focused on living each day with a renewed sense of purpose.

Throughout it all, she has been surrounded by friends and family. In total, five sisters- Patti, Sue, Sandy, Lorie, and Nicole- rallied around her, each playing an important part in  the fight for her health. She reflects on these months with immense gratitude—thankful for divine  intervention, for the  love  and  prayers  from  family and friends, for  the  strength  she  found, and for the medical  team at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center that gave her a fighting chance to become a lung cancer survivor.