Cancer Survivor Shares Story at Relay For Life in Eagan

Karen Roberts was told she was too young to have cancer.

She was 40 when she was diagnosed with Stage 2 rectal cancer. She had seen blood in her stool, but her doctor thought it was just hemorrhoids. At her insistence she get further testing to find out if it was something more serious, doctors found it was.

She had surgery to remove the cancer on July 11, 2001. Ten years later, Roberts, who lives in Eagan, shared her cancer survival story at the Relay For Life at Eagan Central Park on Friday.

Until 6 a.m. Saturday, Relay For Life teams are trying to raise $105,000, Roberts said. In that time they’ll have a luminary, a silent auction, and various other activities.

“Everything you can think of to make it fun for the night,” she said.

Roberts also planned to speak Friday evening, she said in an interview on Wednesday.

One thing she wanted to get across to people is that they need to be their own advocates. She said she felt her doctor didn’t take her seriously, and that she kept asking questions and insisted she get further testing.

“Really, you’re fighting for your life,” she said.

She had surgery to remove her cancer, and she needed no chemo or radiation, Roberts said. “I feel really, really blessed,” she said.

At the same time that she was diagnosed with rectal cancer, her husband had a heart attack. He has since had a total of two heart attacks and two stents, but like her, he is also doing well now, she said.

She said she has leaned on her faith to get her through her hardest moments.

“I just prayed for support to get through whatever I had to do,” Roberts said.