Kim Kaufman is always helping others. The 33-year-old former LPGA player and current member of the developmental Epson Tour volunteers her time with First Tee. She does the little things that can have a big impact, like thanking volunteers at golf tournaments. She even co-authored a book of golf fiction to help young golfers.
Now, Kaufman is the one who needs help. In December, she was diagnosed with Stage 2b breast cancer and had her first chemotherapy treatment last week.
She’ll do four rounds, once every three weeks. Chemotherapy was needed after cancer was found in a lymph node, too. After that is a break and then radiation.
Kaufman has received help through conversations with survivors, tips from strangers, support groups and a fellow player who has assisted her with cold-capping treatments—a process to help maintain hair—in chemotherapy appointments.