My name is Kristin Kohnle and I am a 34 year old mother to a wonderful 4 year old boy, beautiful 1 year old girl, and a dedicated wife of 8 years to my husband, Dan. I have been a Registered Nurse for 12 years. My first 5 years in nursing were spent caring for oncology patients.
I was diagnosed on May 26, 2013 with Stage 4 neuro-endocrine colon cancer. The cancer was found one week after the birth of our daughter, Natalie. Severe abdominal pain led me to visit the hospital Memorial Day weekend where doctors discovered my colon was completely blocked by a tumor. The cancer had also metastasized to my liver and lymph system. The initial diagnosis was a whirlwind. I was rushed into surgery then hospitalized for one week. Dan took care of the kids while I recovered in the hospital. I recovered well and even pumped breastmilk for Natalie while I was hospitalized! I spent the next 6 weeks recovering from my surgery and regaining my strength for the upcoming battle.
As soon as I left the hospital, I saw a complimentary medical doctor. I was prescribed Mistletoe and immediately began a treatment regimen. Mistletoe is a colon cancer antagonist. PLEASE visit www.believebig.org for more information about this lifesaving treatment. I also began a vitamin & supplement regimen and changed my diet completely. I eliminated sugar from my diet and try to make my body alkaline.
After my six week recovery, I started a six cycle chemotherapy regimen of Cisplatin and Etoposide. I received chemotherapy for three days then I had off 18 days to recover. This cycle repeated 5 more times. The chemotherapy kicked my butt!! While I am fortunate my side effects were mild, it sure did take my energy and appetite somedays! I finished treatment at the end of October and had a PET scan to monitor progression. I stayed strong throughout my treatment and stuck to my healthy diet!
The PET scan results were not exactly what I hoped for but some progress was made. Some of the tumors in my liver were gone and some were smaller however two new tumors developed in my lungs. I was prescribed a new chemotherapy regimen that I began in early November 2013. Around this time, I also started a Sandostatin regimen. Sandostatin is prescribed monthly for the treatment of growth hormone producing tumors. The drug helps control diarrhea and flushing episodes associated with my type of cancer. I was prescribed a three cycle chemotherapy regimen of Adriamycin, Cytoxan, and Vincristine. The drugs were infused over one day followed by an 18 day recovery period. Other than the usual fatigue and some debilitating back pain at night, my body handled everything well. I continued this regimen for three cycles until I had another PET scan in January 2014.
The scan indicated that my cancer was not responding to the new chemotherapy regimen. The cancer has continued to grow in my lungs and liver. After a whirlwind of doctors visits and endless consults, a decision was made to stop systemic therapy and move forward with a localized liver treatment called a TACE. TACE is short for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. TACE is a surgical procedure performed to restrict a tumor's blood supply and in turn, destroy it. Chemotherapy agents are injected selectively into an artery directly supplying a tumor. I spend two days in the hospital for each procedure followed by a 5-6 week recovery period. I will receive a series of these procedures to kill the cancer in my liver. After the TACE procedures are evaluated, we will have to evaluate the cancer in my lungs and find the right treatment course.
A follow-up scan showed the TACE procedures had some effect on the cancer in my liver although three TACE procedures were about all my body could handle. I took a break from the TACE and started a regimen of Xeloda and Temodar to address the cancer in my lungs. After two rounds of Xeloda and Temodar, a follow-up scan was completed. The scan showed my cancer had spread and the drugs were not working as intended. I was now recommended for hospice care as my medical oncology team could come up with no other possible treatments and the cancer has destroyed my body.
Although the cancer and subsequent treatments have left me very weak and tired, I will continue to stay strong and fight my battle! The support my family has received throughout this journey has been amazing. Our support network is absolutely astonishing. I am grateful for my life, my family, and my friends. Love, K
I was diagnosed on May 26, 2013 with Stage 4 neuro-endocrine colon cancer. The cancer was found one week after the birth of our daughter, Natalie. Severe abdominal pain led me to visit the hospital Memorial Day weekend where doctors discovered my colon was completely blocked by a tumor. The cancer had also metastasized to my liver and lymph system. The initial diagnosis was a whirlwind. I was rushed into surgery then hospitalized for one week. Dan took care of the kids while I recovered in the hospital. I recovered well and even pumped breastmilk for Natalie while I was hospitalized! I spent the next 6 weeks recovering from my surgery and regaining my strength for the upcoming battle.
As soon as I left the hospital, I saw a complimentary medical doctor. I was prescribed Mistletoe and immediately began a treatment regimen. Mistletoe is a colon cancer antagonist. PLEASE visit www.believebig.org for more information about this lifesaving treatment. I also began a vitamin & supplement regimen and changed my diet completely. I eliminated sugar from my diet and try to make my body alkaline.
After my six week recovery, I started a six cycle chemotherapy regimen of Cisplatin and Etoposide. I received chemotherapy for three days then I had off 18 days to recover. This cycle repeated 5 more times. The chemotherapy kicked my butt!! While I am fortunate my side effects were mild, it sure did take my energy and appetite somedays! I finished treatment at the end of October and had a PET scan to monitor progression. I stayed strong throughout my treatment and stuck to my healthy diet!
The PET scan results were not exactly what I hoped for but some progress was made. Some of the tumors in my liver were gone and some were smaller however two new tumors developed in my lungs. I was prescribed a new chemotherapy regimen that I began in early November 2013. Around this time, I also started a Sandostatin regimen. Sandostatin is prescribed monthly for the treatment of growth hormone producing tumors. The drug helps control diarrhea and flushing episodes associated with my type of cancer. I was prescribed a three cycle chemotherapy regimen of Adriamycin, Cytoxan, and Vincristine. The drugs were infused over one day followed by an 18 day recovery period. Other than the usual fatigue and some debilitating back pain at night, my body handled everything well. I continued this regimen for three cycles until I had another PET scan in January 2014.
The scan indicated that my cancer was not responding to the new chemotherapy regimen. The cancer has continued to grow in my lungs and liver. After a whirlwind of doctors visits and endless consults, a decision was made to stop systemic therapy and move forward with a localized liver treatment called a TACE. TACE is short for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. TACE is a surgical procedure performed to restrict a tumor's blood supply and in turn, destroy it. Chemotherapy agents are injected selectively into an artery directly supplying a tumor. I spend two days in the hospital for each procedure followed by a 5-6 week recovery period. I will receive a series of these procedures to kill the cancer in my liver. After the TACE procedures are evaluated, we will have to evaluate the cancer in my lungs and find the right treatment course.
A follow-up scan showed the TACE procedures had some effect on the cancer in my liver although three TACE procedures were about all my body could handle. I took a break from the TACE and started a regimen of Xeloda and Temodar to address the cancer in my lungs. After two rounds of Xeloda and Temodar, a follow-up scan was completed. The scan showed my cancer had spread and the drugs were not working as intended. I was now recommended for hospice care as my medical oncology team could come up with no other possible treatments and the cancer has destroyed my body.
Although the cancer and subsequent treatments have left me very weak and tired, I will continue to stay strong and fight my battle! The support my family has received throughout this journey has been amazing. Our support network is absolutely astonishing. I am grateful for my life, my family, and my friends. Love, K