An Interview with Ashley Kunz, 40-Year-Old Cancer Survivor and Oncology Nurse

Kunz has five kids and went through chemotherapy and radiation treatment this year after being diagnosed with breast cancer – here's what she learned

Ashley Kunz is 40 and in May she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She and her husband, Brandon, have a blended family and are raising five kids together. She’s also an oncology nurse at Confluence Health, and took a few months off to go through radiation treatments and chemotherapy.

I got to know the Kunz family when I wrote about Brandon’s extreme swim of Lake Chelan last year, which he did as a fundraiser for Seattle Children’s Hospital, and became friends with the couple on social media.

I, along with many others, followed Ashley’s cancer journey through the year.

She has been open and honest about her treatments, her fears, her hair loss and the struggles she has faced. She has also shared her triumphs, milestones, and joy – much of which comes from her family.

So I sat down with her this week and we talked about what it’s like to face cancer at a relatively young age, how she coped with the fear and uncertainty mentally, how much her community and loved ones have helped her and what it’s like trying to maintain female beauty standards and go through menopause early while battling cancer.

It was a great interview, and Kunz has a lot of wisdom to share. You can watch that video above.

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If you want to learn more about cancer prevention, visit the Center for Disease Control’s website about that subject here.

And if you would like to get involved or donate to a local non-profit that provides free support for those battling cancer, visit the Wellness Place’s website here.

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