WCVB-TV newswoman Kelley Tuthill could have battled cancer in private. Instead, the award-winning journalist and mother of two used the abundance of talent, media resources and good will at her command to share her experience with television viewers and on-line users.
Diagnosed at age 36 with stage III breast cancer in December 2006, Kelley writes on her web site, “I felt utterly overwhelmed and scared to death. My husband and I not only had to process a lot of information quickly, but also make countless decisions.”
Inspired by the stories of survivors whose frank recounting of what she too was going through “made it all seem less scary,” Kelley created a candid, 10-part video diary that follows her from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. Launched in January 2007, her on-line diary has received more than one million page views. The site also includes a blog, medical information and links to local agencies helping breast cancer patients. Kelley is also a vigorous fundraiser and frequently speaks about cancer at schools and community organizations.
