Katie’s Story

Osteosarcoma at the Distal Femur with lung mets
Age at Diagnosis: 13
Year of Diagnosis: 1995
Location: Arizona, USA

Diagnosis: I went to the doctor for an athletic physical so that I could play sports. I mentions that I kept pulling muscles from all of the sports and climbing, and asked if there was a brace they could recommend for extra support. At the time they took an x-ray and told me that there was a tumor on my leg. The next day I went back to the clinic and talked to an oncologist. The doctor told us at the time that it was either osteosarcoma or Ewing’s sarcoma, and that it was likely that it would be malignant. Two days later I was in for a biopsy, and three days later I was in for a Port-a-cath. Two days after that, I was in for Chemotherapy.

Treatment, Recovery, and Metastasis: I went through four months of chemo and underwent a limb-salvage operation. The surgeon removed most of my femur, replaced it with a donor bone and removed the isolating muscles. I then went through five more months of chemo. Fourteen months after I was done with chemo the cancer had matastasized in my lung. So I went through nine more months of chemo, and they removed the tumor.

Life Now: I am now doing good. My leg healed very well and, with the exception of the lack of muscles and frankenstein like scars, I am good. I work at citigroup and I am happy spending a lot of time with friends searching for a guy that can keep up with me.

Thoughts and Hints for New Patients: Stay strong. Chemo gets really bad. Just keep remembering that it is only a glitch in life and that it will all be over soon. This will help you appreciate life in a whole new way.