North Bay Woman

32 NORTH BAY WOMAN F A L L | W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 tion ensued, necessitating another surgical washout, and her breast implants were ultimately removed to give her body additional time to heal. "Because my cancer was estro- gen receptor positive, I also had my fallopian tubes and ovaries removed in August," Dutra Krause said. "I got lucky that I didn't have to do che- motherapy and radiation, and that cutting out the cancer and removing the estrogen-producing parts should be enough." Dutra Krause is officially cancer-free as of late August and looks forward to having a breast reconstruction pro- cedure in November. As the mother of three school-aged children, one with a rare autoimmune disease, she said her journey has been mentally anguishing and physically devastat- ing. "There were a few days I was crying on my bathroom floor thinking I didn't have the strength to keep go- ing," Dutra Krause said. "This process is so hard on your body and equally hard mentally and psychologically. It's just ravaging. Seeing how you look in the mirror is a challenge." She credits her husband, children and friends with keeping her spirits up and supporting her by creating a special Facebook page and starting a meal train. "It was hard for me to be the pa- tient, but I knew I had to take care of myself so I could take care of my family," Dutra Krause said. "I underes- timated the number of appointments and the magnitude of the recovery, and I'm so grateful I didn't have to battle it alone." BATTLING CANCER TWICE Mary Papale, 64, of Point Reyes, agreed that cancer is an all-consum- ing diagnosis. "Once you get diagnosed it re- ally takes over your life. Setting up doctors appointments and figuring Clockwise from left: Aimi Dutra Krause with, left, plastic surgeon Dr. Karen Horton and right, surgical oncologist Dr. Leah Kelley; Dutra Krause and hus- band John (JC) Krause at an appointment; Dutra Krause with her sister Denise Maloney, friend Cristina Rinaldi and sister Patty Bruce (from left) prior to the first surgery. – Photos courtesy Aimi Dutra Krause; Dutra-Krause and Papale portrait photos below by Stuart Lirette AIMI DUTRA KRAUSE MARY PAPALE

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