By Ryan Deal

605 Sports

Kaufman’s breast cancer journey began when her doctor found a lump at her annual medical checkup and was advised to get a mammogram. Kaufman went for a mammogram on Oct. 16 and was later called back for an ultrasound. 

That’s when a cancer diagnosis became a reality. 

“It was actually in that moment with the radiologist when I knew,” Kaufman said. “He looked at me and pretty much said ‘Kim, this is a tumor.’ And I don’t know the words he said. I kind of blanked out. But I remember laying there thinking ‘Oh geez, I have breast cancer.’”

After a biopsy, Kaufman received a call on a Saturday morning and was officially given the dreaded breast cancer diagnosis. 

“It takes a while to sink in,” Kaufman said. “It’s shocking. I was telling close family and friends. It just felt like a foreign word. It was weird to say. It was weird to explain to people. It just takes a while and then eventually you get used to it. It becomes your reality.” 

Kaufman, 33, confided with her immediate family, husband Johan Wolkesson and leaned on other cancer survivors after her diagnosis. 

Kaufman’s next steps were educating herself on cancer, scheduling doctor visits and maintaining a positive attitude.  

“I have been dealt this hand or this part of my journey,” Kaufman said. “I can’t change it right now. I don’t want to downplay, but it really is what it is. I can't sit here and dwell on it.”

Kaufman went public with her diagnosis on social media on Dec. 3, and supporters have come in waves. She’s received support and packages from golfers, organizations and teams. Kaufman lives in Fort Worth, Texas, and belongs to Shady Oaks Country Club, which she says has also been supportive. 

Clark/Willow Lake’s Brynn Roehrich, who won the Class B state championship last spring, also sent Kaufman a care package. Fellow Epson Tour golfer Dorsey Addicks recently organized a site to sell “Kim’s Army” apparel. 

“It’s been really cool because it’s maybe a little lonely journey,” Kaufman said. “I am spending a lot of time at home. A lot of days not doing a whole lot, and they are all out there golfing, doing things I should be doing. It’s nice they are still thinking about me a little bit.”

Kaufman was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer. She recently did her first of four rounds of chemotherapy, and then six weeks of radiation will follow. 

“After that, we are hoping we are clear and we have good scans,” Kaufman said. “But it’s always one step at a time.”

Then Kaufman hopes to start swinging a golf club again and make it back to the LPGA. Kaufman’s last full season on the LPGA Tour was in 2019 when she earned two top-10 finishes.

Last year, she made 15 Epson cuts in 19 starts and tied for second twice to earn $79,147 on the season. She also qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open and tied for 58th.

She hasn’t golfed since before Christmas, and although she misses it, Kaufman is not mentally in golf mode.

“My mental space is so different that it’s not like a physical injury, where you are like let me get back out there,” Kaufman said. “It completely changed your perspective on golf, on life, on everything. Because of that I am kind of OK.”

Kaufman’s cancer diagnosis forced her to withdraw from the final stage of December’s LPGA Qualifying School. Kaufman hopes to start playing golf by the summer, but she isn’t going to rush it.

“Obviously, I love to play but I don’t want to go out there if I am not 100%,” Kaufman said. “So we have to work that out a little bit and make sure my health is in order and the side effects are managed. Because I know there will be some.”

In the meantime, Kaufman will continue her journey with breast cancer. She said the first five days after her initial chemo treatment were tough, and felt exhausted at times.  

“Once I get through this first cycle it will be helpful because I will kind of know how I handled it,” Kaufman said. “We kind of wake up every day, take stock of how do I feel, what hurts, what’s different. We are kind of feeling it out.”

And Kaufman hopes her breast cancer story inspires others to manage their health and make regular doctor appointments.  

“You are always going to regret it if you didn't go, and it doesn't matter what it is,” Kaufman said. “Just go get checked. Just go have your yearly exam. You can only ignore your health for so long. Eventually it’s going to catch up to you. It truly probably saved my life.”