When she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma back in 1995, Kari’s doctors were pleased that they caught the cancer in such an early stage. This early detection qualified Kari for a treatment study called mantle radiation that served as an alternative to chemotherapy. Kari eagerly accepted the six-week alternative program and went on with her life.
It wasn’t until a few years after she had survived the cancer strain that she realized those cancer survivors that underwent mantle radiation were at a very high risk of contracting secondary cancers. After some in-depth research, Kari realized she was at an extremely high risk of getting breast cancer.
Through a good friend and fellow cancer survivor, Kari learned of the Dana-Farber Survivorship Clinic. By enrolling in the clinic, Kari developed a schedule with her Dana-Farber doctors that monitored her body and detected any new strains of cancer. Through MRIs and mammograms at each scheduled visit, Kari’s doctors were able to detect any abnormality that occurred.
Just as the research had depicted, Kari was diagnosed with breast cancer in her third or fourth clinic visit with Dana-Farber. However, the early detection of this cancer helped save Kari’s life, and she can now proudly say she is a two-time cancer survivor. While some people may view her luck as unfortunate, Kari prefers to take a more positive outlook on life.
“I’m often asked, why do I think I got cancer, and to me that’s the wrong question,” Kari says in her survival story. “For me it’s why did I survive.”
To hear more of Kari’s survival story, please view the video below.
