JULY 2009
I have had what I thought was back problems for the last 6 months and “overcompensating” by developing a limp on my left leg, and thigh getting bigger, and hard/hot to touch from April to July. After some random very high fevers the past 2 months and not getting anywhere with my back specialist for 3 months, my family doctor and a close friend also a doctor got involved – worrying I had lymphoma – getting me more engaged to demand more answers.
After another big fever and unbearable pain on 7/7, I demanded to see my former ortho doctor that day and have x-ray of my thigh. The PA, who I only talked to on phone many times, came in with a very pale face telling me I have a mass in thigh/femur, likely cancerous.
I was referred to a limb specialist the next day. His initial thoughts either 90% infection or 10% cancer because of tests/symptoms, but limb threatening at that point, so not so good news. None of it related to my ‘back pain’. Surgery was planned on 7/16 to “clean” out my thigh/femur with a marathon recovery into 2010. The bonus – my surgeon is a hot shot specialist here in town, fantastic reputation, served in Iraq. He was about ‘attacking’ the infection and saving my leg! My sister and I nicknamed him Dr. Top Gun Ron (plus he’s cute so that helps).
Surgery plan also included a routine biopsy at beginning of the case. The cells turned blue – meaning cancer and not an infection. UH OH…
Surgery stopped and sent to recovery. Woke up very quickly and felt thigh for external fixator, not there, and time was too early to be done. I knew right then I had cancer. Also turned into a bad patient demanding to find Dr. Ron – poor guy was telling my parents bad news. He came in and I looked up woozy from anesthesia asking him “Things did not turn out as we planned, I have cancer?” Even with drugs it’s a kick in the stomach to hear “Yes”.
Discharged next day to my parents’ house to recover and wait for results on type of cancer, see my new oncologist, learn treatment plan, or if even survivable? Results a week later was Ewing’s Sarcoma – a very rare cancer, typically present in male adolescents – not 40-ish chickies.
Met new oncologist – nicknamed Dr. I Wanna Live (she is Romanian and first name Ioana is pronounced similar) – on 7/27. Another tough day when she fully explained treatment plan. I thought it was 2 months of chemo, surgery, all done by Thanksgiving.
OH NO – lots of chemo – 9 months of it starting every 14 days. And throw in major surgery after 5 or so cycles to remove my tumor and damaged femur bone, fix my leg, and back to chemo-land to finish it all off April 2010.
By end of the week I had 5 staging tests, a port implanted in my chest, and first round of chemo. Exactly 2 weeks after surgery.
A long, crazy story and even longer haul to be cured well into 2010. My surgeon says I will be back on my bike next spring, walking hopefully without a cane, working hard to avoid a permanent limp though. And my oncologist says there is no spread in any of my staging tests so I should be fully cured.
It’s a very scary time for me. Nothing prepares you for news like this. And chemo is an awful experience – nothing good to say except it is saving my life. I hope to make it through showing courage, grace, and strength drawn from my awesome family and great friends around me, cheering me on.
Spirits are good and I am all business about getting well and getting back to being 100% in the year to come. I will stay fierce in the fight!!! Grrrrrr!
