07/22/2025
Patient Spotlight: Meet Karen
When Karen noticed changes in her breast in February 2023, she didn't hesitate to reach out to her primary care provider, Luetta Flanagin. Despite Karen being under 40, Luetta acted quickly, understanding that early detection is crucial. She arranged a mammogram and ultrasound for the very next day.
This was the beginning of Karen's journey with the Citizens Health Radiology Department. "Whether it was my initial scans or post-treatment imaging, the staff were always calm, compassionate, and reassuring, helping ease the fear that often came with those appointments," Karen recalls. "They remembered me, checked in on my journey, and made a hard process more bearable."
When Luetta called with the results, she had already coordinated with Dr. Brenda Kopriva, one of Citizens Health's general surgeons, to schedule a biopsy for the following week. "She performed my biopsy, gave me my diagnosis, and walked through every detail with care and honesty," Karen shares. "In those early, overwhelming weeks, she was my go-to support, treating me like family and guiding me every step of the way."
Karen was ultimately diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma and required a bilateral mastectomy. During her surgery, doctors discovered the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, which expanded her treatment plan to include a portacath, chemotherapy, and radiation. Dr. Kopriva personally placed and later removed Karen's portacath, all right there in Colby.
The ability to receive chemotherapy treatments locally proved to be one of Karen's greatest blessings. "Instead of driving 1.5 hours each way, I could simply go down the street, which made a huge difference during an already difficult time," she explains. Her treatment included four bi-weekly chemo sessions followed by 12 weekly treatments, plus additional visits one to two days each week for blood draws and medications to manage side effects.
Throughout her journey, the Citizens Health Oncology Department became Karen's second home. "The hospital staff in oncology were incredible. Their compassion, encouragement, and expertise made a deeply challenging experience more bearable," she said. "They became part of my weekly, and often daily, life, continuing to care for me even after chemo ended. Their support and kindness truly brightened some of my hardest days."
Karen's story shows how having quality healthcare close to home can make all the difference during life's most challenging moments. From her primary care provider's quick thinking to the care she received in radiology, surgery, and oncology, every step of this process was supported by a team that knew her name, understood her needs, and treated her like family.
