Yesterday was my 6th anniversay of

[sfreeman8]

surviving sarcoma. I do not want congratulations. I just want to remind everyone not to take little lumps anywhere on the body for granted. I started with a small lump at the bottom of my knee. I didn't bother with it and it grew to involve my whole knee, then split open. That's when I went to the ER and was immediately transferred to a hospital 50 miles away, which operated and it turned out to be malignant MFH sarcoma. I was lucky. it hadn't gone into my bone yet but was close. They had to take all my fat and muscle from my knee and for a week, I laid in the hospital with open knee cap (patella). No protection. The 2nd week they operated again to cover my knee by a new concept of cutting the muscle in the back of my leg and flipping it over the knee cap, and attaching it to the muscle in the back of my thigh. This gave me the ability to bend my foot and knee like a normal leg, but it was never really flexible like it should be because I couldn't afford the PT. They covered the knee with a skin graft but there is no fat protection just bone, muscle and thin skin, so it hurts to even brush against an empty plastic bag. Three weeks in the hospital and a year of first weekly, then monthly, doctor visits at the hospital, plus 30 days radiation therapy to make sure the sarcoma was gone was so exhausting.

The Ortho doc said I was lucky. Another week and the cancer could have penetrated the bone, it was that close, and then I would have lost my leg like my ex-sister-in-law (Yes, she had the same disease. Odd, isn't it?)  I can't do a lot of things like walk normally or drive and if I'm on the leg 30 minutes or more, it swells up and then it's 4 hours of elevation.

Anyway, i just want to warn others not to small lumps for granted.

[heypeg]

So glad that you were able to overcome this challenge.

[alice44]

You are brave to share your story.  I'm sure you will save someone with it.  I wish you the best. 

[Nancy5]

WOW you are so very lucky.  Thank you for sharing your story.  Hopefully if anyone has any type of lump they will remember your story and get medical help immedistely.

[jwkelly]

Isn't Sarcoma just cancerous sarcasm ?

[jkhanson]

Congratulations on your 6th anniversary sfreeman8.  Each anniversary is cherished.  (My mom has had 37 anniversaries of breast cancer survival)

I had never heard of sarcoma.  I am glad you were treated in time.  Thank you for the advice to check out any lumps.....it may save someone's life.

[kathleenkleinhans]

Thank you so much for sharing, and heres to continued good health!

[sak4kat]

That's in inspirational event you went through.  Your story is a genuine important one that stresses preventative care to an extreme level.  I'm glad 6 years later you're here to share it with all of us.  And thank you for the reminder that what may seem like nothing... could really be something.  So glad you did something about it when you did.

[BATISTAGIRL663]

thanks for sharing your story with us ! never give up --and continued good health to you

[ajamimajida]

I am 2 time cancer survivor and my mom currently has cancer for the 4th time.  I hope to God my cancer does not comeback.  I will be having whole body scan next week because I have spots on my spine, liver, kidney, brain, lungs and breast.  My last scan about 8 months ago showed all my tumors are not malignant but back in December I was told that tumor on my kidney and lung have doubled in size.  So I sit and wait patiently about my future.

I am very glad you beat the cancer and wishing you the best continuing health.  God Bless You