Trisha Carnarius: "Adapting, Adjusting, Advancing in life."

In 2011, Trisha's life was dramatically altered by the discovery of an 11.5-pound liposarcoma tumor, which was so large it was crushing her internal organs and causing her belly to bulge. She traveled from Ashland to OHSU, where she underwent a successful surgery with a remarkable recovery, requiring no further treatments. She even cleared her five-year scan, believing her battle with cancer was over.

More than a decade later, in 2022, Trisha began a weight loss journey that inadvertently led to a new discovery in 2023: a subtle bulge on her right side. This time, there was no pain, and the bulge was only noticeable due to her weight loss. Her medical team was amazed by the unusually long period without a recurrence.

This time, Trisha underwent 30 treatments of radiation prior to the surgery. In November 2023, she had a massive surgery where three surgeons worked together to remove tumors from her abdominal wall (this included a section of 2 layers of abdominal wall), ureter, fallopian tube and ovary. While the surgery was successful, a new, more aggressive tumor was subsequently found in her iliac muscle, having spread to her iliac crest.

This new development necessitated another 15 intense radiation treatments as it was fracturing her iliac crest, but Trisha experienced a severe adverse reaction, leading to intense inflammation. An orthopedic surgeon advised against a highly invasive procedure to remove part of her iliac bone, citing the significant risks involved. With conventional options exhausted, Trisha's medical team proposed a new trial drug, originally approved for breast cancer that targets similar cell pathways. The goal is to slow tumor growth while monitoring possible negative effects on her blood counts. This new regimen involves 21 days on the medication followed by 7 days off, with the duration of treatment currently unknown. Though chemo has not been offered, Trisha has firmly decided to forgo chemotherapy, if that becomes an option, prioritizing her quality of life above all else. At this point, her focus is primarily on pain management, as the massive surgery, coupled with the previous radiation treatments, took a significant toll on her and caused much of her current inflammation. The pathologic fracture in her iliac crest, though not a weight-bearing part of the pelvic bone, causes much instability with her sacrum/SI joints, leaving her with pain and having to presently walk with a cane. Trisha also believes in the marriage between allopathic and naturopathic healing. She sees herself as a mind, a body and a spirit, thus believing in treating the whole person. She continues to incorporate many different modalities to create her vibrant health. She works closely with her Naturopath, acupuncturist and energy healer. She also does a daily gratitude practice, healing meditations and visualizations. Trisha has been very active her whole life and has a very healthy diet and an outstanding optimistic outlook.

Throughout her challenging journey, Trisha is surrounded by an incredible support system. Her very good friend, and former primary care physician, accompanies her to all appointments, offering unwavering advocacy. Her husband, neighbors, and friends provide immense comfort and practical assistance. Trisha reflects on the humbling yet beautiful experience of asking for help, stating, "You learn how to ask. It's humbling but it’s a beautiful thing. I feel so loved!" Taking each day as it comes, Trisha's spirit remains unbroken. She yearns to return to her neighborhood walks and reconnect with her community. As she eloquently puts it, she is "Adapting, Adjusting, Advancing in life." Her story is a testament to her remarkable resilience, the power of human connection, and an unwavering commitment to living life on her own terms.