Danielle Dupuy looks tired on this particular day.
She is getting over the flu – possibly H1N1 – but her body’s already been through quite a bit in the last two months. The red locks that frame her face are not her own; they are one of the two wigs she owns. Her attitude never wanes from upbeat and optimistic. She simply smiles as she describes her toughest obstacle yet and the decision to share her story with the world.
When the news came that Dupuy had been diagnosed with lymphoma cancer at 24, she started a blog, Danielle Dupuy’s Fight. As a morning anchor for KDLT, Dupuy is a natural storyteller. Never a blogger, she decided to create one as a place to record her triumphs and frustrations.
“I thought that if I could share my experiences in a blog, hopefully I’ll be able to help others while staying connected with my friends and family,” she said.
Earlier in the spring, Dupuy went to the doctor for an allergy medication prescription. Her doctors noticed an enflamed tonsil and decided to check into it further. After tests and examinations trying to troubleshoot the problem, the doctors chose to remove it in August. A biopsy later revealed that it was Large B-Cell Lymphoma.
Danielle Dupuy’s Fight began Sept. 2 with an introductory post explaining her situation and the reason for the blog. Despite the intimate and personal emotions that come with cancer, Dupuy is open with her battle. Not all of her posts are about her cancer, and her blog includes more than just written comments on how she is feeling. Her treatments are recorded and she features video interviews with her family and doctors. She also posts photos and stories she’s done for KDLT about her and others’ fights with cancer. She even filmed a stylist shaving her head.
Dupuy’s blog is a bit of a transition from her traditional reporting. She uses a smaller, handheld camera that allows her to take video straight from the device to her computer. Although she is used to being on camera, she isn’t used to being the subject.
“I hope it’s a story of determination, a story of strength because that’s ultimately what I hope people get out of the blog,” she said.
Large B-Cell Lymphoma is common but aggressive and, when found early, fairly treatable. This week, Dupuy is undergoing her fourth of six chemotherapy treatments. The cancer should be gone after the final round of chemo.
“I’m so grateful, I’m so blessed that a year from now I will be completely healthy,” she said.
Even so, Dupuy doesn’t hide the difficulties of cancer and chemotherapy from her blog readers. She is honest, but keeps a positive attitude even on the tough days.
“When I’m feeling sad, I don’t mind telling people,” she said. “I hope it will help people who are feeling the same way.”
The cancer has impacted Dupuy’s job. Because of the demands and irregular hours, Dupuy isn’t able to anchor the morning show, but works as much as she can between treatments and other illnesses as a general assignment reporter. She has every intention to return to the morning anchor desk once healthy.
A native of California, she moved to Sioux Falls a year ago for the KDLT job. Although all of her family is in California (with the exception of her mother who lives with her as she undergoes treatment), leaving this job and going back west was never an option for Dupuy, who hopes to anchor network TV one day.
“I was more concerned about what needed to be done to get healthy,” she said. “I wasn’t going to let this cancer ruin my life.”
And she hasn’t. She holds on to her positive attitude in the darkest of days, and Danielle Dupuy’s Fight allows readers to be apart of her battle.
Once cured, Dupuy plans to continue the blog and share her story no matter what angle it might take.
“It’s such a great experience for the writer,” she said.
To read more about Dupuy and her fight with cancer, visit http://danielledupuysfight.blogspot.com/ or follow her on Twitter.
