Download to read offline
Uploaded byMelanoma Research Foundation
2019 CURE OM Symposium
Kenan Colbert Koll was diagnosed with choroidal melanoma in 2009 and underwent multiple treatments, including enucleation and immunoembolization. During her journey, she connected with others battling the same rare cancer, highlighting a cancer cluster in their hometown of Huntersville, NC. Kenan passed away at the age of 28 in 2014, and her story has inspired efforts to study and find a cause for ocular melanoma.
2019 CURE OM Symposium
- 1. • Kenny andSue Colbert • Parents of Kenan Colbert Koll • We have lived in Huntersville, NC for 25 years
- 2. • From Kenan’sblog in her own words… • February 2009 - Diagnosed with Choroidal Melanoma in my left eye • February 17, 2009 - -Saw Dr. Mruthyunjaya at Duke University to work out a treatment plan • February 25, 2009 - enucleation to remove the cancer!
- 3. Kenan was marriedJune 20, 2009
- 4. Kenan married BillyKoll. The love of her life! Billy was there through every scan, doctor’s appointment, and struggle. We are still very close to Billy!
- 5. Starting in February2009, Kenan got a CT scan every 6 months to monitor her body for any cancer cells that may have traveled from her eye to another part of her body. • March 8, 2011 - CT Scan February 22, 2011 - Kenan had a 6 month check up with Dr. Jablon (her wonderful retina doctor in Charleston who originally found the tumor in her eye and scheduled all of her CT scans)
- 7. March 9, 2011- Dr. Jablon called to tell Kenan they found a spot on her liver they had not seen before. They were suspicious the spot may be melanoma so they sent her to MUSC to have a biopsy to confirm. • March 14, 2011 - Fine needle aspiration liver biopsy at MUSC March 15, 2011 - PET Scan
- 8. Based on allof the scans and the biopsy the doctors determined that the cancer had spread to Kenan’s liver
- 9. Then, there werelots of trips to Philadelphia Treatment with Dr. Sato and Dr. Gonsalves at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
- 10. Kenan, like Rocky,ready to fight! October 11, 2011 1st Treatment of immunoembolization
- 11. Kenan introduces youto Meredith Meredith was 24 years old and also battling metastatic ocular melanoma. They both went to Philadelphia to see Dr. Sato and Dr. Gonsalves for treatment.
- 12. • Meredith, Kenan,and Brian
- 13. • Kenan andMeredith had A LOT in common. As you know, about 6 in 1 million people are diagnosed with ocular melanoma. About 3 of those 6 people will have melanoma spread to another part of their body. Unfortunately, Kenan and Meredith fell into that very small population. • Get ready for the weird part… • They both were originally diagnosed in 2009, within 2 months of each other. They both went to the same high school, Hopewell High School in Huntersville, NC • Their Dads were fraternity brothers at UNC at the same time (Go Heels)! • The coincidences really made us wonder and our doctors were shocked by all of the similarities! Kenan stated that she absolutely hated that the two of them were battling this terrible cancer, but she was thankful that they had each other. Kenan felt Meredith was the only person in the world who could understand what goes through her mind on a daily basis and she was a great support system.
- 14.
- 15. • Kenan andMeredith learn about the third young woman from their high school diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma in 2013
- 16. Summer was diagnosedwith Ocular Melanoma in 2013 • Summer was 19 years old when diagnosed • She attended the same high school that Kenan and Meredith attended • Summer’s cancer metastasized in December 2018 • Summer is being treated at Duke University Hospital
- 17.
- 18. Kenan and Summernever had a chance to meet in person…
- 19.
- 20. •In between treatments… •Kenanand Billy traveled and enjoyed their lives
- 21. Married life wasfilled with love, laughter, travel, and hospitals!
- 22. Chicago, West Coastand San Francisco
- 23. Billy could alwaysmake her laugh!
- 24. Her Brother, Petestill follows her lead !
- 25. Kenan was Honoredby Roy Williams at his annual Cancer Fundraiser a year before she passed away.
- 26.
- 27. May 24, 2014 Kenanrequested a day at the beach,
- 28. Kenan with herfather, husband, and brother… four days before…
- 29. Kenan attended anengagement party May 25, 2014 The last picture with my sweet Girl!
- 30.
- 31.
- 32. Kenan passed awayMay 28, 2014 • Mrs. Kenan Colbert Koll • June 30, 1985 - May 28, 2014 • Charleston, South Carolina She was only 28 years old
- 33. • Thank You •Dr. Mruthunjaya, Dr. Sato, Dr. Orloff • And Dr. Gonsalves !
- 34. • Huntersville, NorthCarolina A cancer Cluster of OM in our town
- 35. • July 2014 Vicki,Summer, and Courtney’s 1st TV interview to bring attention to our cause
- 36. • February 2015 •The original group of 7 … • We discovered each other through social media
- 37.
- 38. July 2016 Senator JeffTarte secured a $100,000.00 grant to use for an Ocular Melanoma study in Huntersville, NC
- 39. Thank You NCState Senator, Natasha Marcus, for introducing a bill to give $100,000 to the Town of Huntersville to aide in finding a cause for the Ocular Melanoma Cancer Cluster in our area. March 2019
- 40. Thank You SenatorVickie Sawyer for filing a bill to name and study cancer clusters in NC March 2019
- 41. NC Senate Bill297 Sawyer files Bill To Study Cancer Clusters in NC
- 42. Welcome Auburn, Alabamacancer cluster friends Together we fight to find a cause of Ocular Melanoma.
- 43. Together, we arelooking for a cause to find a Cure OM!
- 44.