Jeanna’s Story

Chondrosarcoma at the chest wall
Age at Diagnosis: 32
Date of Diagnosis: 2007
Hospital: University of California Irvine
Team: Dr. Huang and Dr. Abolhoda

Diagnosis: I innocently went to wipe something off my shirt one day when I felt a large lump on my chest. The doctors first suspected it to be in my breast. I went through a battery of imaging tests for about 10 months. My attempted lumpectomy turned exploratory and the tumor was found to be in between the 2nd and 3rd rib behind my right breast. It was diagnosed as a grade 2 chondrosarcoma of the chest wall.

Treatment: In August of 2007 I recieved treatment at the University of California Irvine. I had a wide en-bloc resection of the anterior chest wall with a partial mastectomy. The 2nd, 3rd, and part of the 4th rib were removed along with part of my sternum. Mesh, mortor, muscle flap and skin graft were used to correct the defect. I spent 3 days in ICU and 6 days total hospitalization. The doctors at this hospital were really great and did their very best to minimize the trauma. Read more

Kellie’s Story

Ewing’s Sarcoma at the lung / ribs
Age at Diagnosis: 18
Year of Diagnosis: 2004
Location: West Virginia
Physicians: Dr. Torres and Dr. Joshi

Diagnosis: In January 2004, I always felt sick. I kept a temperature, it hurt to breath, and I didn’t eat much. My doctor kept me on antibiotics for months. He did chest x-rays looking for broken ribs or maybe pneumonia but always told me nothing was wrong. After awhile he started telling me it was all in my head. In March he did a thyroid test and it came back normal. Three weeks later when they repeated the test it was extremely off. So he put me on Synthroid. But nothing changed…then my right rib cage started swelling and was painful to the touch. There was a large mass. My doctor still said it was in my head. Up until August of 2004 I started to believe it. Then I went to see a surgeon I had seen in the past. From my signs, symptoms and history she told me that day she believed it was malignant. She sent me for blood work and scheduled my biopsy. Less than a week later my results were back and I was back in the hospital getting a central line placed. Read more

Barbara’s Story

Chondrosarcoma at the Chest Wall
Age at Diagnosis: 56
Year of Diagnosis: 2003

I was hospitalized September 13, 2003. I knew something was growing on my chest, but for whatever, reason, I ignored it. Then, God decided to do something about it for me. A huge blood like blistered formed on my chest and burst through the chest wall. This was the tumor that had become infected. I had numerous cat scans and bone scans, and x-rays. During this time I developed pneumonia and dehydration. I had no treatment until January 27, 2003.

Treatment: I went to several major medical center and university hospitals for opinions. I was sent to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. We remained there for 95 days while I underwent pre-op rehabilitation to make me stronger for the surgery. On January 27, 2004 I underwent surgery for the removal of a 17 pound tumor, four ribs were removed, and part of my sternum. They inserted a mesh and did a tissue graft from my back to close up the hole left by the diseased tissue after they took a muscle from my back to put over the mesh. I was on life support for five or six days. I am now cancer free, 15 months. I did not have to have any kind of chemo or radiation. My lungs are being monitored now by a sarcoma specialist. This will continue for a few years. Read more