Elizabeth’s Story

Dedifferentiated Chondrosarcoma (IIB) at the Pelvis
With lung mets
Age at Diagnosis: 22
Year of Diagnosis: 1967
Location: California

Diagnosis: I first saw a doctor at age 16 for lower belly pain. X-rays showed a lesion then but it was mistaken for an old fracture. I was treated for “constipation” and sent home. I ignored the pain problems until I had my first child. During labor the doctor determined that I had tumor in the way of the birth canal and delivered Caesarian Section. It was believed the tumor was benign. I didn’t know to question this until a couple years later when I could feel tumor growing outward. An orthopedic surgeon removed it without sufficient margins, believing it to be benign. Two and a half years later it had grown so large that it interfered with walking, and standing for any length of time. Deep aching pain awoke me at night. I saw a local orthopedic doctor who took an x-ray and told me I was just overweight. But, what I saw on the x-ray looked like a big cauliflower, so I went for a second opinion to another orthopedic surgeon in town, who immediately referred me to an orthopedic oncologist at the University Hospital in the nearest big city. I didn’t want to go that far until this doctor warned me that this was “serious”, and I “Must” go see this other doctor. I still, at that time did not understand that it was anything more than the hereditary bone bumps I was born with. Read more

Elaine’s Story

Myxoid Chondrosarcoma at the Pelvis – with lung mets
Age at Diagnosis: 52
Year of Diagnosis: 1999
Surgeon: Dr. Alan Yasko, Houston

Diagnosis: After several months of pain down my left leg which was similar to the pain I had in 1983 from a ruptured disc, I went to see an orthopedic in October, 1998. He made x-rays in his office and told me that I had a “calcium deposit” in my left hip area and the pain was just something I would have to “live with.” He suggested I see a pain management doctor for possible injections. As long as I was up moving, my pain was less, so I began walking 3 miles 4 or 5 times a week. I found I could not sit on the floor or in a metal chair as within minutes the pain would become unbearable. As 1999 came, my pain progressed to the point that my nights were spent in a recliner as I could get enough relief to allow a few hours sleep. Over-the-counter meds such as ibuprofen and tylenol were taken on a regular basis. By May, 1999, I could feel a significant growth near my waist on the left wide just above my pelvic bone. Sitting was becoming very painful. I quit my job in June, 1999, as it involved sitting at a computer for hours. As the summer passed, the pain became almost constant and the area near my waist became larger. On October 14, 1999, I had an appointment with the neurosurgeon who had performed my previous back surgery. I told him that “I can’t live like this.” He recommended that I have an MRI done. [My first granddaughter was born on October 13, 1999.] The MRI was done and I returned to the neurosurgeon’s office about October 20, 1999, when I received the news that there was a very large mass in my left pelvic area. A needle biopsy was scheduled within the next couple of days. The diagnosis was chondrosarcoma. An appointment was made for November 9, 1999, at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center with Dr. Alan Yaskco, Chief Orthopedic Surgeon. Surgery was scheduled for November 29, 1999. Read more