Rene’s Story

Ewing’s sarcoma at the heel
Age at Diagnosis: 39
Date of Diagnosis: January 2007
Hospital: Kaiser in Northern California
Team: Dr. Aram Canin, Dr. Phil Wirganowitcz and Dr. Thomas Da Silva

Diagnosis: It was two weeks before Christmas 2005 and my daughter was six months old. All of a sudden my left foot started to hurt and my ankle swelled. Within hours I was unable to walk. I went for x-rays and was told I must have a bad sprain. I was given a set of crutches and sent on my way. Two weeks later the pain went away. I didn’t give it another thought.

Six months later I got the pain again. I went in and they gave me anti-inflammatory pills and within a few weeks, I didn’t need the crutches.

My foot had been swollen and tender. Three months later while at work, I got up and felt something snap. I later found out I had cracked what was left of my heel. Read more

David’s Story

Diagnosis: Like most guys I ignored what I thought was a bunion for at least a year. But the thing on my left big toe got as big as a golf ball. The podiatrist, and the initial bone scan, x-rays and the wisdom of the Atlanta medical community was osteomyelitis. Good thing they threw it in the bucket and took it into pathology.

Thanks to my nervousness about the podiatrist who said “I will repack it and probably not even send it to pathology; I’m so sure of what it is,” I got an orthopedic surgeon who probably saved my life. Read more