Putnam Valley breast cancer survivor gives back to organization that helped her

A Putnam Valley woman is giving back to the organization that helped her through her battle with breast cancer.

News 12 Staff

•

Oct 19, 2020, 9:54 PM

•

Updated 1,517 days ago

A Putnam Valley woman is giving back to the organization that helped her through her battle with breast cancer.

Andrea Karl was diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago. She says her family was supportive, but she had a lot of questions they could not answer. So she turned to Yorktown-based Support Connection for help.

The nonprofit offers a lifeline for people diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer.

All of the peer counselors have battled the disease themselves.

Karl was so impressed with the help she received that she became a volunteer at Support Connection two years after her diagnosis.

To honor breast cancers survivors she had helped, Karl ran and finished the New York City Marathon 10 years ago.

Here is a list of tips Karl has for anyone recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Have an open dialogue with your medical team and let them know your fears and concerns.

If you're going for radiation or chemotherapy, stay on top of any side effects before they get on top of you.

Say yes to offers of practical help with day-to-day things like cooking and shopping.

Find other ways to occupy your mind, like word puzzles, knitting and reading a good book.

Keep a notepad or iPad by your nightstand to write down random thoughts.

More from News 12

1:37