Omar’s Story

Sarcoma at the pelvis
Age at Diagnosis: 44
Date of Diagnosis: November 2004
Location: Toronto, Canada
Hospital: Mount Sanai Hospital
Team: Dr. Blackstein and Dr. Wunder

Diagnosis: I was first diagnosed in November of 2004. It was Sunday morning and I went for a10k run as I do every three days of the week. After the 6k, I felt a sharp pain in my pelvis. They did an x-ray on my pelvis and then asked me to go and see specialist. One week later I was asked to have an MRI of my pelvis.

Three weeks later, I was told I have cancer. At first I could not believe what I heard. Then I knew I had to deal with the reality at hand.

Treatment: I was put on chemotherapy, five chemo sessions before surgery. The chemo just destroyed my body; it made me so weak, I thought I am going to die. Once I survived the chemo, I had to go through surgery. My surgery lasted for 18 hours.

Recovery: After the surgery I stayed for two months in the hospital and then for a year on a hospital bed in my house. After I went through some rehab, I was able to take my first steps in one year and half. That is when I realized my life has changed forever.

Life Now:My family and friends say I am strong person, but I went through to adjust to my new life was easy for me. There is nothing I enjoyed like jogging and I cannot do that now. I have to use a cane to walk. Then I read a book called Tuesdays with Mary. It is a book by Mitch Album. Life is what you make it to be. I am a much happier person today. I went back to work after three years; I drive with my left leg and I look at things as if they are normal. I do not give myself the title of a disabled person, because I am an able person. I will do my best to live my life to the best of my ability.