Lara Behrens

In October 2018, Lara Behrens learned that she has stage 4 cancer.  She had been experiencing severe pain in her lower back since April, but she initially attributed the pain to overdoing it at her longstanding job as a server at Dover Downs Casino in Delaware.  As the pain worsened in the ensuing months and began to interfere with her ability to walk comfortably, Lara tried to remedy the issue with a chiropractor, massage therapy and exercise while she waited for an MRI.  By July, the back pain, along with other symptoms, forced her to stop working.       

When Lara finally received the MRI, her doctor summoned her to the office right away.  The MRI revealed that she had a large mass on her sacrum, which is the bone at the base of the spine just above the tailbone.  After other tests, her oncologist confirmed that Lara not only had cancer in her sacrum, but also that cancer was found in several organs throughout her abdomen.  Her diagnosis is Stage 4 metastatic cancer, and Lara has been told there is no cure.  

Throughout this ordeal, Lara has shown remarkable strength and resilience. Certainly there have been tears, but she has been far more concerned with how this news is affecting her family and friends than she has been with herself.  She has an upbeat positive attitude and is determined to fight the cancer with everything she has.  Her trademark hilarious sense of humor, youthful spirit, and deep compassion for others remain on full display all the time and she is still as fun as ever to be around.  She isn’t going to let cancer take away her joy and is determined not to allow it to define her life.  She has too much she wants to do, too many people to see, and too much love to give.  With a strong faith, a positive mindset and the extraordinary support she is receiving from her family and some truly exceptional friends in her beloved Smyrna, Delaware, Lara has a great deal of hope for what is possible in her future.