Cancer Survivor Becomes Medical Student to Support Others
Kim Gafson-Karbi, now 35, was diagnosed with cancer at age 23, a moment she described as believing she was going to die. After months of tests and feeling unwell, a doctor delivered the diagnosis, causing her to faint. The subsequent journey involved hospitalization, fertility preservation, twelve rounds of chemotherapy, hair loss, and significant body changes, all while grappling with fear.
During her treatment, Gafson-Karbi developed a new passion for understanding the body and nutrition, which inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. She is now a nutrition graduate and a medical student at Tel Aviv University, managing a nutrition business and creating content on healthy living. She aims to be the supportive figure for patients that her doctors were for her.
Her cancer, diagnosed at stage 2, was discovered after experiencing severe, persistent itching. Despite a new relationship, her then-boyfriend, now husband, Or, supported her through fertility preservation before she began chemotherapy. The treatments were grueling, leaving her feeling disconnected from her own body.
Inspired by a book on natural healing, Gafson-Karbi shifted her focus to nutrition, adopting a diet of whole, less processed foods. She emphasizes that while nutrition aided her recovery and strengthened her body for treatment, it did not replace chemotherapy. Post-treatment, she battled severe anxiety, fearing a recurrence, and found relief through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
After completing her treatments in 2015, she pursued nutrition studies and became active on Instagram, sharing advice on healthy lifestyles. The positive reception led to the growth of her business. The desire to become a doctor solidified during the birth of her first child, Leo, when a compassionate obstetrician provided crucial support. This experience, coupled with her own vulnerability during illness, motivated her to enter the medical field, specifically aiming for obstetrics and gynecology, given her existing focus on women's health.
Gafson-Karbi advocates for a balanced approach to health, rejecting extreme dietary restrictions and promoting an 80/20 principle where 80% of the diet is healthy and 20% allows for enjoyment. She believes in integrating nutrition and medicine, seeing them as complementary fields. She continues to manage her nutrition business while undertaking her clinical rotations, aiming to provide hope and support to patients during their most vulnerable moments.
