Jehuda’s Story

Chondrosarcoma at the Pelvis
Age at Diagnosis: 50
Year of Diagnosis: 2004
Location: Israel
Surgeon: Dr. Franklin Sim, Minnesota

Diagnosis: I saw a doctor November of 2003 and received a final diagnosis in March of 2004. The tests that were done were: Palpation, CT’s, bone scan, x-rays. The diagnosis was: Chondrosarcoma, grade I, inside the abductor muscle of the right thigh, growing from the the right pubic bone, originating from an enchondroma, which existed already for at least thirty years. I first noted problems in 1999, but only when I was sitting uncomfortably on long bus trips. In the fall of 2003, I relatively suddenly got more pains and stiffness in the right groin.

Treatment: Surgical removal in May 2004 (right hemipelvectomy) by Dr. Franklin Sim, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. The tumor was 12cm x 8cm x 7cm. I had a very good experience (10 days). Revalidation in nursery home for the elderly, almost as good as the Mayo clinic (16 days). Stayed an other 14 days with friends, then flew back to Israel. No other treatments.

Recovery: Physical therapy was in mentioned nursery home. I entered the nursery home on a stretcher and walked out with a cane. I stopped using my cane by the end of July, 2004. I walk quite normally now, and can even run a little bit. I do not climb as I used to. CT scans in September 2004, January 2005, and June 2005 were clean.

Life Now: In practical matters, life is just as it was before my surgery. I am a bit more tired in the evening. Spiritual matters and the like, hard to say in a few words. Most things don’t make me as nervous as they used to. But I wasn’t a nervous person to start out with.

Thoughts and Hints for New Patients: No tumor is the same as the others. Concerning chondrosarcoma, which was my problem, if you want to live, move heaven and earth to get the best treatment (surgery) possible. The first surgery very much determines what your recovery will be like.