Kate Kohler – Page 11

Kate’s Cancer Calendar

image description: A futuristic robot person looking at a strange calendar on a wall. Midjourney aiart

Updated 8/27/24

August 28, 2024 – Mammogram

September 3, 2024 – Visit with my Cardiologist

September 4, 2024 – Visit with my Oncologist

My last Oncologist visit confirmed, that I am still CANCER FREE! My appointments are still every 3 months with Blood tests every month.

Short (not so short really) History of Kate’s Cancer

Everyone was asking: “What’s next?” and “When’s your surgery?” And now it’s just an exercise in keeping track of just how many freaking doctors appointments and medical procedures I have. Why not keep track of all of my dates, from the beginning of this journey… It’s a lot! See for yourself.

December 7, 2022 – Routine check-up with suspicion of UTI

December 9, 2022 – CT Scan that would change my life

December 16, 2022 – Visit my Montana People!

December 27, 2022 – Flight cancellation and much crying and gnashing of teeth.

January 4, 2023 – Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer from Gynocologist/Ongologist/Surgeon

January 6, 2023 – Bivalent COVID Booster, because… hey if I’m going to Chemotherapy, I better not get sick.

January 9, 2023 – Just another CT Scan

January 17, 2023 – Procedure: Biopsy

January 19, 2023 – Hair Cut!

January 27, 2023 – Paracentisis

January 30, 2023 – First session of Chemotherapy

February 3, 2023 – Procedure: IR Port Placed in upper right chest

February 15, 2023 – Pre-Chemotherapy Doctor’s Appointment

February 22, 2023 – Second Session of Chemotherapy

March 10, 2023 – Pre-Chemotherapy Doctor’s Appointment

March 15, 2023 – Third Session of Chemotherapy

March 24, 2023 – Pre-Surgery CT Scan

March 29, 2023 – Pre-Surgery Doctor’s Appointment

April 1, 2023 – Mammogram (oh yeah, gotta do that stuff too…)

April 7, 2023 – Pre-surgery blood tests

April 11, 2023 – Pre-surgery COVID test

April 13, 2023 through April 17, 2023 – Surgery and hospital stay

April 21, 2023 – Genetic counseling

April 26, 2023 – Surgery follow up and Staple removal

May 10, 2023 – Pre-Chemotherapy Visit

May 12, 2023 – Chemotherapy

May 31, 2023 – Post Surgery and Pre-chemotherapy visit

June 2, 2023 – Chemotherapy

June 12, 2023 – Splenectomy Vaccines

June 16, 2023 – Virtual Reality Research Study to help Chemo patients with their cognitive abilities.

June 21, 2023 – Pre-Chemotherapy Visit

June 23, 2023 – Last Chemotherapy! NOT!

June 28, 2023 – Counseling Appointment at Simms Mann Center

June 30, 2023 – Actual Final Last Chemotherapy Appointment… We hope!

June 30, 2023 – KlangFest!

July 11, 2023 – Counseling Appointment

July 18, 2023 – Survivorship visit

July 21, 2023 – 2nd Visit: Virtual Reality Research Study to help Chemo patients with their cognitive abilities.

July 26, 2023 – Pre-Maintenance drug visit

August 1, 2023 – Blood Draw

August 8, 2023 – Counseling

August 9, 2023 – Blood Draw

August 15, 2023 – Blood Draw

August 16, 2023 – Oncologist Visit. Checking the maintenance drug

August 18, 2023 – Procedure to remove port catheter

August 22, 2023 – Blood Draw

August 24, 2023 – Counseling

August 29, 2023 – Blood Draw

September 5, 2023 – Blood Draw

September 6, 2023 – Counseling

September 13, 2023 – Blood Draw

September 15, 2023 – Check in with my cancer team

September 19, 2023 – Blood Draw

September 26, 2023 – Blood Draw

October 3, 2023 – Blood Draw

October 10, 2023 – Blood Draw

October 12, 2023 – Office visit with my Primary Care Provider to figure out why I’m experiencing AFib

October 17, 2023 – Blood Draw

October 18, 2023 – Check in with my Oncologist

October 27, 2023 – Routine physical canceled – Maybe I don’t still get these…

October 31, 2023 – Happy Halloween! Visit a Cardiologist

November 2, 2023 – Blood Draw

November 6, 2023 – Pick up ZIO heart monitor. Wear for two weeks.

November 20, 2023 – Blood Draw

December 6, 2023 – Check in with my Oncologist

December 7, 2023 – Echocardiogram

December 13, 2023 – Visit with my Cardiologist

December 18, 2023 – Blood Draw

January 3, 2024 – Blood Draw

January 18, 2024 – Followup with my Cardiologist

January 29, 2024 – Blood Draw

February 26, 2024 – Blood Draw

March 6, 2024 – Check in with my Oncologist.

March 8, 2024 – Follow up with Cardiologist

March 26, 2024 – Blood Draw

April 23, 2024 – Blood Draw

May 21, 2024 – Blood Draw

May 27, 2024 – CT Scan of Chest and Abdomen

May 29, 2024 – Follow up with Cardiologist

May 29, 2024 – Oncologist Visit – HURRAY, I’M CANCER FREE!

June 18, 2024 – Blood Draw

July 18, 2024 – Blood Draw

August 27, 2024 – Blood Draw

Kate’s Cancer Calendar Read More »

Chemotherapy

Musings, News / Kate Kohler

January 30, 2023 ~ Day 1

The shrinkage has begun! And I’m all hopped up on steroids at the moment (8:00PM 1/30/23)… they give you a huge cocktail of anti-nausea, antihistamines, and steroids, before they do the chemo drugs, to help prevent side effects and to mostly prevent side effects in the sessions. My appt. Was at 10:00. We arrived at 9:30 and got right in there. Got home a little before 5:30. It was a very long day.

We had so much stuff we looked like the over-prepared parents on the first day of school. We had a cooler, a shopping bag brimming with snacks, a blanket, a neck pillow, a magical staff, 3 iPads, 2 iPhones, and a laptop…

A possible side-effect of one of the chemo drugs that I am being infused with is neuropathy. I could possibly lose some control over my fine motor skills. As a pianist, this is super scary! Teaching piano would be a whole lot harder if I couldn’t feel my fingers, so we are doing everything we can to prevent that from happening. In our over-preparedness, we have a cooler filled with dry ice and small gel packs that fit into therapy mittens and slippers. Basically, we are icing my hands and feet to reduce the blood flow during the treatment, so that we can potentially reduce the possibility of nerve damage.

I put these penguin-looking ice-cold flippers on my hands and feet, requiring the boyfriend to basically be my handmaid for most of the entire 8 hour process. He is being so supportive but he did have to wait on me hand and foot. I felt like queen (at least a little) especially with my MAGICAL Staff!

Side Note: If you ever find yourself trying to sneak a magical staff into a medical facility here are some tips: 1) it is ideal if the staff can break into two parts 2) poster tubes make fairly inconspicuous carrying cases.

Christian is pretty heavy into this AI Art thing. There is a process where you can erase part of the picture and have the AI fill-in what is missing. So of course he turned me into the chemo Queen! He loves how this whole AI Art thing lets him blend reality and fantasy, the chair becomes a throne, the staff becomes extra magic… and I am powerful enough to beat this thing!

More chemo journal to come…

Chemotherapy Read More »

Off With Her Hair!

Creative Process, Music, News, Piano / Kate Kohler

Kate’s Big Hair Cut.

Feeling any sort of power over the cancer diagnosis has been elusive, but I have achieved a victory with chopping off all of my hair! Taking control of this tiny aspect of this process makes me feel warrior-like and like I’m calling at least some of the shots.

Christian has been going to George for his hair cuts since he was a boy, and George has become dear to me as well. So, it completely made sense for us to go to him for my drastic new do!

We are sending my hair to Caring and Comfort a wig maker who specializes in helping women with hair loss and they will make my hair into a wig for me!

If you are interesting in helping me on my cancer journey (Kate’s Quest). There are many ways to fight this battle! Of course, money is an extremely useful thing…I have decent insurance and it seems like it’s covering most of this, but with ancillary expenses that are going to start adding up, I know this spring and summer is going to be tight.

My favorite way for you to help me would be for you to consider sponsoring me monthly on my Patreon. Not only will you help me out, but you’ll get updates and early access to hear and watch music that I’ve written!

You could donate directly to me, just make a note about what it’s for: Venmo: @Kate-Kohler-1 or Paypal: Kate@katekohler.com

Off With Her Hair! Read More »