It takes a vibrant person to keep up with the muscle-flexing, personality-oozing and smile-inducing Max Putnam.
And it’s safe to say Kim Dahm is that person. Just ask Max.
“My favorite thing to do with her is play soccer, and what I like best about her is she’s great at making popcorn,” he said through a cheek-to-cheek smile.
Max, 16 and a high school sophomore, met Dahm through her role as the president of the board of GiGi’s Playhouse in Weston, Wisconsin. GiGi’s Playhouse is the world’s only network of Down syndrome achievement centers.
Dahm has no problem keeping up – even while living with cancer for 11 years.
Two diagnoses meant aggressive treatment
In 2015, Dahm felt a lump in her breast.
“They were able to do an ultrasound and a biopsy, and the doctor indicated I had cancer, but didn’t know what type. About three days later I got a call, and I was told I had an invasive ductal carcinoma.
“It was about the size of a grape tomato,” explained Dahm.
The original plan was a lumpectomy, a surgery to remove the carcinoma, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.
However, one of Dahm’s labs “was off,” and a PET scan was ordered.
“I also had cancer on my liver: Stage 4.
“I had a port installed and we immediately started chemo. I did six rounds of chemo and then I had surgery. I had a lumpectomy and had 20% of my liver removed,” said Dahm.
After chemotherapy and surgery, the plan was radiation. At that time her team detected fluid build-up.
“I had to have that drained, and cancer cells were detected. I went back and did three more rounds of chemo.”
Even after all her treatments, she still faced a scary diagnosis.
“They give you like a five-year (survival) statistic, and at that time I think it was 23% for the type of cancer I had, and I said, ‘somebody’s gotta be that 23%,’” she said.
Never losing hope or positivity, and spreading that to others
And she has been that 23% – she’s had no evidence of disease for the last nine years.
She’s HER2 positive, meaning she has cells that multiply fast, which can make her cancer grow quickly. To this day she does a once-a-month drip of Herceptin, a drug that targets those cells and prevents breast cancer from growing or returning.
Because she’s been doing this maintenance treatment for the past 11 years, she’s grown close with her care team, says oncology nurse navigator Amanda Boreen.
“Kim’s been involved in the support group and different programs that we’ve had. Not only is she a positive support for other people, she’s been very positive in her care and treatment, just looking at the bright side of things. It can be hard to do that no matter what your life situation is, but she really is a positive person,” said Boreen.
And that’s Dahm’s take-home message: “Just stay positive. It’s so important.”
Learn more
- Access to cancer care in rural Wisconsin makes a difference
- A cancer diagnosis answers generations-long question
- Cancer myths vs. truths – and what truly matters
…
Posted In Cancer, Cancer Screenings, Cancer Treatments, Marshfield
