A pulled muscle led this outdoor enthusiast to the care and diagnosis he needed at IU Medical Simon Cancer Center.
By IU Health Senior Journalist, TJ Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org
He was 36 years old when Aaron Kohn was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The American Cancer Society reports the average age at diagnosis of CML is around 64 years. About half of cases are diagnosed in people 65 years of age and older.
It is estimated that about 8,860 new cases of CML will be diagnosed this year (5,120 men and 3,740 women). CML begins when cells in the body grow out of control and can become part of a cancer that spreads throughout the body.
Kohn was diagnosed in 2008 with a slow-growing variant. He might not have discovered it all if it weren’t for a pulled muscle.
“Hindsight is 20-20 and I was probably sick a few months before that. I lost weight and bruised,” said Kohn, who is being cared for by Dr. Larry Cripe at IU Health Simon Cancer Center. During the initial doctor visit for the pulled muscle, Kohn received test results that showed an elevated white blood cell count. He went directly to the ER and was admitted to IU Health Methodist Hospital. A bone biopsy confirmed his diagnosis.
The initial treatments of chemotherapy led to liver and heart problems. Kohn is under the care of Dr. Naga Chalasani, who specializes in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and Dr. Richard Kovacs, who specializes in cardiology.
“One of the things I like about Dr. Cripe is that he surrounds himself with the best members of the team,” said Kohn, who eventually had his heart removed. “I feel like I’m surrounded by my dream team.”
Kohn grew up in Michigan City, Ind. And studied technology at Purdue University. He has been the Chief Information Officer for advertising agency Young & Laramore since 1999. He lives downtown, works downtown and his wife, Kristin Kohn, is the owner of the company. “Silver in the City,” is located on downtown Mass Avenue. They have a son who attends Butler College and a daughter who attends Herron High School.
“I love receiving my care from a community campus. I walk to Methodist hospital and cycle to Dr. Cripe’s office,” Kohn said. “I grew up in a science-based family. I had my ‘why moments’ when I was in the ER but when you are in a big metropolitan city with so much quality care you need to allow yourself to grieve but also to understand that there are people in that knows how to treat you,” Kohn said. “I see a lot of rural people coming for medical treatment and I want to connect with them because this is my home. I told them they were in the right place and I promised them they would get the best care. There is a network of communities in our healthcare city but a teaching hospital is an attraction because we get care from people who are teaching the next generation of healthcare. . “
In his spare time, Kohn enjoys spending time on his “small farm” smoking meats and kebabs and enjoying family time. He is a furniture enthusiast and loves spending time outdoors.
