News

Janette Platter is the community chaplain at Saint Luke’s Bishop Spencer Place, a vibrant senior living community just steps from the Country Club Plaza. But in early 2025, she was just another mom seeking the very best care for her child. Fortunately, she knew it wasn’t too far away.

Kirsti Millar, a 35-year-old of Kansas City, was 23 weeks pregnant with her second child in early 2023 when her water suddenly broke. What should have been a season of joy and anticipation became a medical emergency.

While the mortality rate for breast cancer in the U.S. has significantly declined from its peak in 1989, incidence among younger women has steadily increased each year since 2001, according to the American Cancer Society.

In 2023, an emergency colonoscopy led to Michael's diagnosis of stage 3 cancer. Because of his experience, Michael Kathrens, 70, advocates for proactive health screenings and being an advocate for your own health.

Nellie Jo Gaston received a lifesaving surgery after an abnormal result from an at-home colon cancer screening test. After treatment at Saint Luke’s, she is cancer-free.

Jackson Auer was two days away from his 26th birthday when he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. 10 months later, Jackson is now cancer-free, newly engaged, and hoping to raise awareness of the disease.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, and this week, we are talking with Sabrina Kidd, MD, about colon cancer screenings, treatments, and possible factors contributing to the rise in diagnoses among young adults.

The American Cancer Society recommends people who are at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screenings at the age of 45. While a large majority of deaths related to the cancer could be prevented, many people have never been screened.

According to the National Cancer Institute, about 40% of women have dense breast tissue, which makes it more difficult to find breast cancer early.

Dr. Mary Mitchell, chief of breast radiology at Saint Luke's, talks to KSHB about what dense breast tissue is and how it impacts your risk of developing breast cancer.