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A university sophomore has died following a battle with bone most cancers.
College of Kentucky Athletics introduced the dying of Kentucky Wildcats Dance Crew Member Kate Kaufling on Sunday in a information launch Monday. Kaufling was 20.
The Wildcats’ head coach Daybreak Walters referred to as Kaufling a “pleasure” in an announcement.
“Kate was a pleasure to teach and to be round. Her smile might gentle up a room and he or she was beloved by all of her UKDT teammates,” Walters mentioned. “We’re all saddened by Kate’s passing. We are going to keep in mind her for the powerful battle she fought with osteosarcoma over the previous yr. She was courageous till the very finish and all of us can draw inspiration from the brave battle that she fought. Our ideas, prayers and love are with the Kaufling household.”
Along with being a dance group member, Kaufling was additionally learning nursing on the college, situated in Lexington, Kentucky.
Sandy Bell, the manager affiliate athletics director at UK, referred to as Kaufling an “superb pupil” in one other assertion.
“Even throughout her most cancers remedies, Kate stored up along with her research, setting a tremendous instance for her teammates,” Bell mentioned. “Kate was beloved by all who knew her and he or she will likely be deeply missed. On behalf of UK Athletics, we ship our deepest sympathies to Holly, Steve, Abbey and the whole Kaufling household.”
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The most cancers Kaufling had – osteosarcoma – is a sort of uncommon most cancers the place a tumor develops within the new tissue of rising bones, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. Bone cancers like osteosarcoma account for about 5% of all childhood cancers.
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Osteosarcoma, the commonest kind of bone most cancers, tends to look in adolescents and kids. Those that have beforehand obtained chemotherapy or radiation remedy, have a change within the RB1 gene or different particular genetic circumstances, resembling Li-Fraumeni syndrome or Paget illness, have the next threat of growing osteosarcoma, based on the Nationwide Most cancers Institute.
Signs of osteosarcoma might embrace joint ache, swelling above a bone or bony a part of the physique or an unexplained damaged bone and the situation is recognized by means of imaging exams and a biopsy. Therapy choices for osteosarcoma depend upon a affected person’s prognosis and situation, and should embrace surgical procedure, chemotherapy or radiation remedy.
Kaufling is survived by her dad and mom Holly and Steve and her twin sister Abbey, who can also be a sophomore and member of the Wildcats Dance Crew.
