Kristin’s Story

When I was in 6th grade I was doing competitive dance and played soccer. I had bad pain in my left knee so my mother took me to the doctor. She said I was overly active and to take a break for 6 weeks. So I did. When the pain came back again the doctor told me to wear a knee brace while doing sports. That helped a little but not much. The pain would come and go, so I ignored it because so did the doctor. In 8th grade- 1996 I was on the high school track team, still dancing and playing soccer the pain in my knee was bad but I was not willing to give any of those up.

That summer I went to sleep over camp. I feel and hit my knee on a rock- no big deal until I got a bump that wouldn’t go away. I had my physical the week after I got home so I mentioned it to our NEW pediatrician. She felt it and kept her hand on it while talking to us. She sent me for an X-ray that day (a Wed), and that night I went to my friends summer home. The doctor called my mom the next day and said I needed an MRI and it needed to be done Friday. I had it done and we received a phone call around 7pm that night saying there was something on the MRI and whatever it was needed to be checked. Read more

Charlene’s Story

Osteosarcoma at the Distal Femur
Age at Diagnosis: 25
Year of Diagnosis: 1996
Location: New York State
Surgeon: Dr. Dempsey Springfield (now practicing in Boston)

Diagnosis: I was diagnosed on May 22, 1996 at the age of 25 with osteogenic sarcoma of my right distal femur. My diagnosis came 2 days after a bone biopsy. My story goes like this:

In the summer of 1993, with visiting family in CA, a sudden sharp pain overcame me along the back of my right knee/thigh area. The pain came and went so I didn’t think much of it. Thought maybe just a strain or stepped wrong. Upon returning home the pain worsened and I figured better safe than sorry so I went to see an orthopedic specialist. After visiting 2-3 different orthopedic doctors a small bone tumor was revealed through x-ray and then confirmed by an MRI in April 1994. At the time it was felt to be a benign non-ossifying fibroma. Read more

Cari’s Story

Osteosarcoma at the Proximal Tibia
Age at Diagnosis: 28
Year of Diagnosis: 2003
Location: California
Surgeon: Dr. Phil Wirganowicz, Oakland, CA

I actually knew I had a tumor in my leg, because when I was 12, I cracked it while I was running. The specialist at that time said that it was benign and not to worry about it, because something that is benign would not turn malignant; so life went on. In January of 2003, my shin and knee were extremely swollen and I began to have daily pain that would even wake me up at night, but being the stubborn person that I am, I didn’t actually go into the doctor and complain until June 2003. Eventually I was referred to a specialist who (in August) said the best thing to do was a biopsy so we know what we were dealing with. A week after the biopsy I was told it was Osteosarcoma. I was actually told on a Friday and by Monday I had an Oncologist, was in the hospital on Wednesday having a catheter placed in my chest and was to report on Monday morning for my first round of chemotherapy. The first day of chemo was September 19, 2004. WOW what a week! The initial tests done were an MRI, CT scan, Bone Scan and many different X-Rays. It all happened so fast – I actually don’t know how I handled it. Read more

Brian’s Story

Osteosarcoma the Distal Femur
Date of Diagnosis: February 1993
Age at Diagnosis: 25
Location: Massachusetts

Diagnosis: I was 25 years old and working as a police officer in the city of Boston. While making an arrest, I struck my right knee on the ground. I felt a sharp pain shoot up my leg. I was surprised how much it hurt, because I didn’t hit it that hard. I finished the day and went home. I returned at midnight for overtime and my knee seemed fine until I felt more sharp pain while stepping down a small wall and by morning I noticed it was swollen. Best thing I probably did in my life was to write an injury report that day, but naturally I continued to work a double shift. The following day I went to the emergency room. No x-rays were taken and I was told I had a deep bruise and it would be better in a few days. Read more

Steve’s Story

Osteosarcoma at the Proximal Femur
Age at Diagnosis: 13
Date of Diagnosis: January 1991

Diagnosis: I started having pain in my right leg in 1991. It felt like a pulled muscle, but instead of getting better, the pain finally got so bad I came home crying one day. My family was the type to not go to the doctor unless something was serious. I went to my family doctor and he recommended x-rays. He told my parents, “There’s something there, it could be an infection, but it looks like cancer. You need to go to a specialist.” He recommended Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, where I had an impressive amount of tests, but still no one was 100% sure. People kept trying to reassure me it could “just” be an infection. I finally was scheduled for a Biopsy. This all happened VERY quickly. I’d say within one week, maybe a little longer I was in surgery. During this time period, I was more in shock then anything. I didn’t know what to think, but I knew I wasn’t giving up. I knew there was nothing I can do but take it one day at a time. Read more

Javier’s Story

Ostoesarcoma at the proximal femur
Age at Diagnosis: 23
Date of Diagnosis: 1989

Diagnosis: I was a strong and healthy 23 year old man. In the summer of 1989, I began to have pain in my left knee. I would walk and all of a sudden my left leg would give in. Eventually the pain was on my left hip. I visited my family doctor and he did not pay much attention. You will not believe what he told me. He literally said, and I quote, “Everything is in your mind. You are young; go out and have fun.” But of course my pain was unbearable. I visited another doctor, and he referred me to a specialist. After many tests and a biopsy, I remember my doctor coming to me and saying, “You have CANCER.” I guess, like everybody else, when you first hear this word, you immediately relate to death. But to my surprise, I did not. I was scared of course, but also I was relieved that finally I knew what I had and I knew what I had to do to get better. Read more

Emma’s Story

Osteosarcoma at the distal femur
Age at Diagnosis: 16
Date of Diagnosis: April 1995
Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Diagnosis: I was told that I had cancer after I had an x-ray for a fall. It was to be the worst news of my life.

Treatment and Recovery: I had limb salvage therapy and intensive chemotherapy. I had my operation in the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham, England, where I received a prosthetic knee cap and femur. I was on cysplatin and doxirubicin; I had very bad reactions to them. I had a very difficult time dealing with my treatment at the time. I missed the most important year at school, and that was the last year of my exams resulting in me not having any qualifications. The doctors and nurses were fantastic during my treatment. I had physiotherapy, and it was intensive. I think I had spells of two weeks at a time over nine months. Read more

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