Scripps anchor shares story of survival

Cynthia Newsome has been the weekend anchor at WCPO sister station, 41 Action News, KSHB, in Kansas City, Missouri for 15 years. She shared with her viewers last June that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She encouraged women to have annual mammograms and to do monthly self-exams. She took a five month medical leave. During that time, Newsome had eight chemotherapy treatments, a lumpectomy and 33 radiation treatments. She returned to work full-time on Jan. 1, 2012 and completed her final radiation treatment on Feb. 15.

Newsome is now a breast cancer survivor and credits her faith in God, her medical team at Saint Luke’s Hospital, and her co-workers at KSBH and KMCI.

During her five-month-absence, her co-workers rallied to support her and help promote breast cancer awareness in her honor. She wrote the following thank you note and wants the entire Scripps family to know how much her colleagues mean to her.

Newsome’s love letter to everyone at KSHB and KMCI in Kansas City, Missouri

At the lowest moment of my life; you lifted my heart, made me smile and brought me to tears with your acts of kindness, caring thoughts and loving prayers.

I am honored and humbled to have the privilege of calling you my friends; and I brag on you every chance I get. I didn’t survive breast cancer alone—you were there for me and you are part of my healing.

I was on medical leave for five months; but I was not forgotten. Your phone calls, emails, Facebook messages, cards, letters, gifts, flowers and weekly meals often came at critical times when I needed to smile, when I needed to know that you wanted me to survive, and when I needed a happy distraction from being sick.

More than anything, I want some good to come from my experience. That’s why I was so thrilled when I found out that you donated more than $3,000 in my honor to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. You inspired me and now together we’re helping other women in the fight against breast cancer. You are awesome!

I thank God for my clean bill of health, and I thank God for you.

Much love,

Cynthia Newsome

KSHB weekend anchor

Breast cancer survivor