Meet Cathy Knight – A Story of Strength, Support, and Finding Joy in the Small Things

In January 2024, Cathy Knight from Oregon, was diagnosed with liposarcoma. It began with a

lump on her foot, something she chalked up to the wear and tear of a 17-year teaching career with 1st through 3rd graders with moderate to high disabilities, followed by years working as an administrator in the district. She simply thought her foot was worn out from decades of running around with children.

Then came the falls. Cathy began falling unexpectedly, and after a particularly hard face-plant, her husband urged her to see a doctor, suspecting a neurological issue. That doctor’s visit led to a biopsy—and a quick, life-changing diagnosis: liposarcoma.

Initially, Cathy was told her foot might need to be amputated. A passionate walker, she pleaded with her medical team to find another way. They gave her a 50/50 chance of saving it. She began chemotherapy—six rounds were planned, but she only made it through four due to severe neurotoxicity. Unexpectantly, during her hospital stay for chemo, doctors discovered that the cancer had metastasized to her lungs. Thanks to being under close medical supervision, they were able to act quickly and remove the tumors surgically.

The original tumor in her foot, when removed, was 95% dead—a sign that the chemo had done its job. It was sent to OHSU for further study. At one point, Cathy was given just 6–18 months to live. She made two goals for herself: to make it to her 63rd birthday (check!) and to celebrate her 40th wedding anniversary in June 2025 (almost there!).

Since October/November 2024, Cathy has had no signs of cancer. She now goes in for

surveillance and scans every 3–4 months.

Throughout this journey, Cathy has leaned deeply on her support system. Her husband has been “so supportive”—attending every appointment, managing all the logistics when she was too sick or in pain. Friends rallied, and Nurse Debbie made a lasting impact. “I became really dependent on others,” Cathy shared, “which was hard, but a gift to realize you had a lot of good friends.”

Now, Cathy is back to walking 2.5 miles a day, slowly building back her strength. She’s a mother, a grandmother, and someone who finds deep joy in small things. Post-chemo, she’s grown curly hair and developed a sweet tooth—something she never had before.

She laughs about the confusing crossover between her background in education and the medical world. In teaching, a ‘negative’ is bad. In cancer care, it’s the best news you can hear.

So why is Cathy sharing her story?

“I’ve kind of looked at this as a gift,” she says. “Because I learned it’s not a bad thing to depend on people. And I appreciate the small things now.”