A news anchor for a local NBC affiliate based in Iowa moved viewers with a tearful testimony on Wednesday as she revealed her diagnosis with breast cancer live on air, urging viewers to take preventative measures to catch cancer
Calyn Thompson, who has been on air as a weekend anchor at Des Moines’ WHO-TV for over three years where she is one of the hosts of the “Today in Iowa” morning show, said that her role has given her a sense of purpose during this challenging time for her health.
“If I can help even one person, it will be worth it, so I share my story for awareness. I was diagnosed two weeks after I turned 28 years old. I learned cancer doesn’t discriminate — not with age, profession — it can happen to anyone, so don’t put off preventative screenings. If something doesn’t feel right, like it didn’t for me, please go get it checked out by your doctor. Early detection does save lives.”
Thompson remarked on a segment from six months prior for breast cancer awareness month in which she reminded viewers to stay up to date on their mammograms, noting that she was not at the time aware that the segment would forebode her own future.
Thompson began to lose composure as her testimony became more personal, and the anchor thanked the “Today in Iowa” audience for listening to her day to day while she struggled privately with her medical diagnosis.
“There were some mornings I didn’t feel like getting up and going, but you help me find the strength to get here and deliver the news,” Thompson said as she began to cry. “Coming to work every day has been the sense of normalcy and purpose I needed to get through this medical journey.”
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Thompson said that she had undergone six chemotherapy treatments and that she was expecting to undergo surgery later this month after which she would take off for several weeks to recover.
“Thanks for listening, and thanks for always being here. … I cannot wait to come back. I just wanted to get it out there and let people know and help someone if I can,” Thompson concluded.
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