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.

I returned to work 2 days later and my knee felt better. After working the day shift, I was ordered to work a double shift due to the gas company being on strike. I was on foot from 4:00 pm and by midnight my knee was so swollen my pants were skin tight on my right leg. I returned to the emergency room and I knew something was wrong when the x-ray tech and Dr. asked me several time if I ever broke my leg before and I did not. I’m sure the doctor knew what it was but referred me to orthopedic doctor for a follow up. I was given crutches and told not to go back to work until I saw an orthopedic doctor.

The doctor they referred me to was on vacation. About a week later my knee was feeling better and work had called to see when I was coming back. That same day an hour or so later a doctor from the emergency room called my house. He was calling to make sure I had a follow up with my knee. I was a bit surprised they called and after I explained I could not get an appointment and I was feeling better, I was placed on hold. When he got back on, he had said Dr. Griffin will see you at 1:00 pm, it was noon time. It was obvious that I had something more then a deep bruise.

I met with Dr. Griffin at St. Elisabeth’s Hospital in Boston; he was very nice and wanted to take some more x-rays. I could hear him in the hallway asking another doctor. to look at my x-rays. I had a feeling what was about to come. He told me I had a bone tumor and I was in for a major knee operation and maybe chemo. I don’t know who had it worse me hearing that news or him being the one to have to tell it. When I left his office I got my first “you got cancer” stare from the receptionist, while she was making the call to get me into my MRI later that day. I was later referred to Mass General Hospital to see Dr. Henry Mankin. Dr. Griffin told me I could not be in a better place then Boston for what I had.

Doctor Mankin helped pioneer the bone transplant and founded the New England bone bank. Knowing I was seeing the best made all the difference; there was no worrying about getting second opinions or being misdiagnosed. I met Dr. Mankin on March 11, 1993; I was the first patient that day. I was put in a room and one by one it seemed like 5 or 6 of Mankin’s fellows came in. I remember the room being full with all these doctors and then when Dr. Mankin came in they cleared a path for him. He told me they were going to take very good care of me and I would need an operation and sent me down for a needle biopsy. They determined that I would also need chemo.

Treatment: I started chemo within two weeks it was not much fun. I did poorly on my first two treatments, my blood count was low and I ended up in the hospital for a week. I don’t remember all the names of the chemo and did not really ask that many questions. I just did what they told me, I knew I was in good hands at Mass. General Hospital at that time they saw a good portion of the sarcoma cases in the country and many from around the world. They stopped the chemo and did the operation. After a few weeks I started new chemo it was all I remember is it was 3 days long and being very out of it due to the ativan. I was told I would have to do six of these 3 day treatments. I was somewhat relieved because the one I started was going to be well over a year long. Naturally I asked how soon can I come in and get them done. I was told no sooner then 21 days and said ok book me every 21 days. It was hard because of the operation and not being able to walk and having a good amount of leg pain.

Recovery: When the cast was removed I began physical therapy. It was painful in the beginning and ended up getting a burn on my knee cap from the heating pad at PT. After several months, I was finished chemo and PT and was walking without any sign of a limp. I returned to work in June of 1994, mostly behind a desk doing accident investigations.

Life Now: In 1995 I was involved in a head on car accident while working and injured my neck, torn left rotator cuff, broke left wrist, injured back and impact on legs caused arthritis to set in my right knee. I went back to work after a few months off. I did well for several years and was still able to be a police officer. I just did most of it from my office. It was hard not being able to fully function in life and in my job.

The biggest life lesson for me was I put work before my health. I continued to have back problems; my knee was killing me from the arthritis and did not find out about the tear in my shoulder until 8 years after the accident. I had a total knee on 4-11-03 and knew the day I woke from the operation I most likely was not returning to work. My leg swelled up real big after my sister’s wedding and after going to the emergency room they found a swollen lymph node in my groin. They removed it when they repaired my shoulder.

To this day still having a lot of pain and swelling problems in my knee. My back is not that great and the shoulder still gives me a lot of problems. I retired from the police department in 2004. I was married in 1997 we have two girls they are 8 and 9 years old. I am very luck to have them because I was told due to the chemo would not be able to have kids. I have also been lucky to be home with them as much as I have.

Thoughts and Hints for New Patients: Ask a lot of questions and write them down, because you will forget to ask something. And keep a copy of you medical records. I highly recommend being treated at a sarcoma center.

From talking to other sarcoma survivors I have learned that everyone deals with this different. For me I got dropped off at chemo by my girlfriend, and as soon as it started I had her leave. It was hard to tell my family not to visit me during treatment, but it made me feel better not having them come in and stare at me. If it make you feel better having family or friends visit, have them come in. I only ate the food the first and second treatment, by the third chemo the smell of chicken soup coming down the hallway would make me get sick. So after that I did not eat of allow any food in my room. Within a few days or so I was able to start eating again and would eat what I craved.

It’s normal for your moods to go up and down. Just when you start to recover and feel better from a treatment, it was time to do it again. I declined the extra round of chemo for good luck as I did what they recommended. The internet was not around back then so if you really want to know every thing about sarcoma it is much easier to do your own research.

Luckily I met Mel. She was my research – she was about a month ahead of me and was on the same chemo. Joining a support group like abc-survivors.net is great, you can get all your questions answered and make some real friends who can understand what you are going through because we have been there done that. There is no right or wrong in how you live as a patient or survivor. I do what makes me feel better about my situation. I never used the c-word and would cringe when I heard someone talk about their CANCER and use the word CANCER. It was hard to hear that, it took along time for me to realize that’s what works them not me. It is now part of my vocabulary from time to time.

Living strong since 1993