Three Generations of Strength, Part 1: How Family Legacy Shaped a Nurse’s Journey

Karen Powell, a Penn State graduate and nurse practitioner at Memorial Sloan Kettering, shares a deeply personal story that spans three generations of women affected by breast cancer. Diagnosed herself at age 39, Karen’s path toward oncology began long before her own diagnosis — in the living rooms and hospital rooms of her childhood.

In this episode of Life on Pause, Karen reflects on how her grandmothers’ experiences with breast cancer shaped her sense of purpose, empathy, and resilience. One grandmother faced her diagnosis in the 1960s — a time when women couldn’t even sign their own surgical consent. The other delayed treatment to care for her husband, a choice that ended her life too soon but left Karen with a lifelong commitment to caring for others.

From growing up in a close-knit Philadelphia family to finding her calling in oncology nursing, Karen’s story reminds us that strength can be inherited — not just through DNA, but through love, courage, and compassion.

Thank you, Karen, for sharing your story and your voice.

Topics Covered:

• Karen’s upbringing and education at Penn State
• The legacy of her two grandmothers’ breast cancer experiences
• How witnessing hospice care at age four inspired her calling
• The emotional impact of caregiving and generational strength
• Learning that cancer is a chapter — not the whole story

About Life on Pause:

Life on Pause is a podcast for and by young adults with cancer. Produced by Penn State Health’s AYA Oncology Program, each episode is rooted in honest storytelling and community connection. Our content is reviewed by medical and psychosocial experts to ensure accuracy and care.

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💻 Website: https://www.lifeonpausepodcast.com/

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