Sep 2, 2008 2:41 pm US/Eastern
Mom, Cancer Survivor Reaches Out To Help Others
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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A few years ago, Kari learned that the type of radiation she had to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma put her at higher risk for developing a secondary cancer.
WBZ
Kari Dudley was shocked when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma 13 years ago, but she took part in a study which enabled her to undergo just radiation. "I remember feeling lucky because chemo had such a stigma that I could do radiation only."
But then a few years later, Kari learned that the type of radiation she had put her at higher risk for developing a secondary cancer.
That's when she enrolled in the
Lance Armstrong Survivorship Clinic at Dana-Farber so she could be monitored more closely. And that's how the mother of two discovered that she had breast cancer last year. "I don't think I would've found it as early as I did. It was through the mammograms and MRIs I went through."
That's why Kari joined Dana-Farber's patient family advisory counsel to help make the process easier for other survivors. "Every day is a struggle, in terms of the issues of survivorship, what your body is going through, but overall I feel really good… It's a challenge getting education out there to reduce the stigma and help people realize we're normal people, we're just going through a very traumatic time and there should not be a stigma around it."
Kari hopes that by doing interviews like this one, she will be able to help other cancer survivors and raise awareness about what it's like living with the disease.
The "Stand Up To Cancer" special with Katie Couric will air on WBZ Friday night from 8 to 9p.m.
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