I formed Team Kathleen for a very personal reason.

I have been an athlete my entire life. In the fall of 2020, I was experiencing intense back pain. I was not too concerned because I had suffered back issues in the past.

On December 28, 2020, after struggling to get through the holidays, my husband and I went to the ER because something was just not right. 

I was referred to an orthopedic doctor. An MRI revealed several metastatic lesions on my spine, ribs and sternum. The words 'metastatic' and 'cancer' were the furthest from my mind. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that attacks the plasma cells.

I was told, "If you have to get a cancer diagnosis, this is the one to get.” My oncologist, Dr. Saadati, explained that multiple myeloma is not curable but is very treatable, and likened it to diabetes – a disease that needs to be managed. He was so kind, reassuring, funny and made me feel at ease.

It was just a few days from diagnosis to beginning treatment. I felt like a celebrity at UW Cancer Center at ProHealth. They were so focused on helping me get through this. The nurses, appointment schedulers and the entire team became like family.

It has been a long road – from diagnosis to treatment to a stem cell transplant to participation in a clinical trial. The trial – which involves one oral medication and a monthly injection in the abdomen – evaluates whether these two treatments provide a better outcome than the usual maintenance therapy of the oral medication alone.

It may sound odd, but I look forward to treatment. Once a month I am monitored by lab work and get to visit with my providers. My care team is amazing. The nurses in the infusion area are like friends to me! I am now under the care of Dr. Wassenaar, who is also kind and knowledgeable. 

I am also so lucky that this team is less than three miles from home. Close proximity means a lot when you are going for treatment monthly and, in the beginning, weekly. The partnership with UW Health is so great. 

Today, I am living life closely to the way I did before the diagnosis. I am more careful because my treatment side effects compromise my immune system...but not by too much!

I am honored to be chosen as this year's Walks for Cancer ambassador.

I hope you will join me in a show of solidarity.

Kathleen