While organizing a closet at work, Kimberly Baker leaned forward to lift a 5-gallon bucket full of cleaning supplies. As she strained and hoisted the bucket, her back cracked with such intensity that she instantly knew something had gone terribly wrong.

Not long after, Kimberly received a life-changing diagnosis: Her back was broken, shattered by cancer creeping along her spine.

Sixteen years earlier, Kimberly had undergone a double mastectomy with reconstruction due to breast cancer. The thought of recurring cancer – especially in her bones – had never crossed her mind.

“I had thought that once you dealt with cancer and did the necessary things, that was the end of it. I guess, sometimes ignorance is bliss,” Kimberly said. “Now, I was scared again. It sounded pretty scary that the cancer could break my backbone. I had never broken a bone before, but the diagnosis made sense based on how much pain I was in.”

During the most critical chapter of her life, Kimberly found compassion and expert care at Compass

Kimberly turned to a Compass Oncology Cancer Center near her home in Vancouver, Wash., where she began top-quality treatments and received genuine kindness. When she moved to Oregon, she transferred to a Compass Cancer Center close to her new residence.

“I found the same care at both places – everyone treats me like a queen! It’s like I’m part of their family,” Kimberly said. “I meet with physical therapists, social workers, the lab, my oncologist and my palliative care physician – and I’m so thankful they’re in the same building. Having them together saves me from horrible traffic. Plus, they’re all so good to me. They’re the cream of the crop!”

At Compass, Kimberly underwent radiation treatment on the tumors in her back, which reduced their size and relieved her back pain. She has also received a variety of oral and IV chemotherapy drugs during the last several years.

“I’ve had lots of chemotherapy and hormone blockers. I’ve been on so many different things that I can’t remember them all. Many work for a couple years and then they stop working, so then we switch things around. With each one, my biggest side effects have been fatigue and exhaustion, but I’m grateful there are things to take at all,” Kimberly said.

Kimberly noted that her Compass oncologists take time to thoroughly research treatment options and then present information to her, welcoming her involvement in choosing her treatment path.

“Compass is all about working with the patient,” Kimberly said. “They want to know what you want and they want your input. I really appreciate that.”

Kimberly’s cancer journey started at 39 years old; she’s now 65 and still battling

“With stage 4 breast cancer, you’ll never be cured. It’s just a matter of time before you lose the battle. My cancer has learned to mutate, and so the tumors keep getting bigger and there are more of them. It’s in my hip and liver now too,” Kimberly said. “Someday there will be a point where I’ll say I’m ready to go on hospice and I don’t want any more treatment; but not yet.”

Navigating life with cancer for 26 years has molded Kimberly’s perspective, and she says it’s helped her grow in other ways.

“When this all started, I saw myself getting closer to God and relying on him through the whole thing. I feel like I’ve gotten closer and closer to God,” Kimberly said. “I’ve also learned to be braver. At first I was really, really scared. But as I trust God, I feel like I’ve grown braver and not so scared.”

Kimberly says finding a genuine support system is essential to enduring trials with peace

As Kimberly has courageously continued cancer treatments, she has not had a robust community network to rely on, but she has found the compassion and support she needs amongst Compass Oncology. As she reminisced about the years of cancer care she’s received so far, she spoke of donated wigs, giant bear hugs, empathetic discussions about highly researched treatment options, and welcoming smiles when she needed them most.

“Compass has been and continues to be my biggest support system,” Kimberly said. “I couldn’t ask for better care. I give my life into their hands because they care that much about me – they truly want to do the best thing for me. I feel so blessed to have Compass and every team member.”

Written by Jessica Poe