Emergency Colonoscopy Saves KC Writer’s Life

In 2023, after a day of repeated fainting spells, author Michael Kathrens rushed to the Emergency Department at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City. 

Kathrens, 70, who lives in the Midtown neighborhood of Kansas City, had been prescribed semaglutide to manage his blood sugar by his provider at Saint Luke’s. Since starting the medication, he had been having stomach symptoms. Because of how his body was reacting, Michael requested a colonoscopy while in the Emergency Department.

“I’m glad I got the colonoscopy,” Michael says. “That saved my life.”

Surprise cancer
The scope revealed Michael had a mass in his colon, which was confirmed to be cancer.  Because of this, Benjamin Kulow, MD, a colon and rectal surgeon with Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute, recommended surgery.

Michael had surgery in February 2024 to remove his tumor via a robotic sigmoidectomy, a procedure to remove the cancerous part of his colon.  A pathology review of his tumor revealed stage 3 cancer. His doctors recommended he complete chemotherapy to increase his chances of remission.

It took Michael several months to fully recover from the combination of the surgery and chemotherapy, which included working through neuropathy from the chemo, which affected his balance. 

Through it all, Michael had Dr. Kulow and Marc Roth, MD, gastrointestinal oncologist, who have made his experience better through every touchpoint. 

“Everyone at Saint Luke’s has been kind, everyone has been nice, and everyone has been patient when I've needed patience,” Michael said of his care team. “I wrote a book about Kansas City houses and Dr. Kulow purchased his own copy, which was of course very kind of him, but it also indicated that he really listens to patients beyond a pathology level. He’s a really good guy.”

A new chapter
Michael used to be a runner and weightlifter, but because of age and developing knee issues, he’s adjusted his workouts to powerwalking steep hills and lifting lighter weights to stay fit. Professionally, he continues writing and is currently working on a volume on New York City’s upscale apartment buildings.

A year after he was diagnosed with colon cancer, Michael recently had a colonoscopy—the results showed he is cancer free. 

Michael looks back on his cancer journey with sighs of relief at many crucial moments—the medication side effects, the elective colonoscopy, having the right doctors. If any one of those hadn’t happened, he fears what could have been.

Because of his experience, Michael advocates for proactive health screenings and being an advocate for your own health.
And while the journey wasn’t easy, he wants others facing similar challenges to make sure they find the right care for their needs. 

“Even when it was tough, I trusted my medical team, and I came out on the other side,” Michael said. “Now, I’m just focused on living my life and enjoying every moment.”

The American Cancer Society recommends adults start regular colonoscopy screening every 10 years at the age of 45—sooner if you are high-risk for colon cancer. Saint Luke’s Gastrointestinal Cancer Program offers same- or next-day appointments. Learn more or schedule your screening here: Saint Luke’s Gastrointestinal Cancer Program.