Photo by: Andrew Fielding

Karin Hart was only 20 years old when she found out that she had cancer.

Hart was diagnosed with thyroid cancer on Sept. 16, 2009, after experiencing prolonged sickness and eventually finding a lump in her throat that was later pronounced by her doctor as being malignant.

“When I went to the doctor’s office to get my test results, I greeted him with a smile and I was being really optimistic”, said Hart. “But he responded with a serious tone that really scared me, and he told me that I had thyroid cancer.”

The switch from being optimistic to being hit with the reality of cancer was earth-shattering for the then-junior.

“That was a really rough day for me”, said Hart. “Me and my father stood in the lobby and just cried together for like an hour”.

The cancer that Hart had was the best kind of cancer to get, according to her doctor, because it was slow growing.  

Papillary thyroid cancer was her diagnosis; it begins in the thyroid gland and over the course of a few months to a year spreads into the tissues in the neck and surrounding lymph nodes.

Hart didn’t wait long after her diagnosis, scheduling surgery on Sept. 25, 2009, where her doctor successfully removed the tumor from her neck region.

In addition to having surgery, Hart also had to receive radiation treatment in the form of a radioactive iodine pill from another doctor in December 2009.

“Before I could take the radiation pill, I had to go on a two week sodium-free diet in order for the pill to effectively work,” she said. “That was really hard for me, especially being an athlete. I could not eat any dairy or drink Gatorade. Basically all I could eat was fruit and drink water and I lost 15 pounds in those two weeks.”

The operation and radiation treatment were initially a success, but often with cancer the diseased cells return, and they eventually did for Hart.

“When I went back in for my check-up in May 2010, I found out that the cancer had returned,” Hart said. “My doctor told me there was a chance this would happen, but it still made me feel anxious.”

Hart eventually had the second batch of cancerous tissue removed and has been cancer free ever since. She still continues to report for biannual check-ups, ultrasounds and blood tests. This process will continue for another five years.

Throughout her entire ordeal with cancer Hart remained optimistic.

“You never really have a bad day until the day you find out you have cancer,” Hart said. “I feel like I have so much to live for. I see people becoming stressed out because they get a bad grade on a test and my reaction will be the exact opposite.”

Hart’s inspiration has touched others and changed her perspective on life. Ever since beating cancer, she wanted to work for a Children’s Hospital and help the kids who are sick.

Last winter break, she volunteered her time to work at Aurora Children’s Hospital, a nationally ranked non-profit hospital for children in Aurora, Colo.  While Hart worked there, she met a 13-year-old girl who had a bandage around her neck, the same area she once had surgery on.

“I never met anyone that was younger than me who had thyroid cancer,” Hart said. “She was so scared, but I talked to her and told her about my experiences. I told her that everything would be fine, and I think she felt comfortable knowing that someone older than her went through the same process.”

Hart feels that cancer was put in her life to help others, and her experience with the 13-year-old at the hospital was for a reason.

After battling and beating cancer twice, she continues to keep her optimistic outlook on life and thinks of succeeding at all costs.

Hart is in her senior season with the Pioneers this year and has played in five games. On Saturday, the senior warrior made her first career start in her final game at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.