I spent hours and hours searching for people online. I went to all of the major cancer websites and sent personal messages to sarcoma patients and survivors, begging them to write to me about their experiences and to help me navigate my new life. A few of those survivors came alongside me and helped in the search. Very soon, we realized that we were gathering knowledge that could benefit other people.

And so this site was born. Many of our very valuable members were recruited, slowly, with much effort. Some of them were barely willing participants – at first. It was almost like we had to sell them on the idea of such a specialized community of people. Then they realized just what an awesome community this really was, what an opportunity it was to connect with others who really understood where they had been.

I cannot begin to describe the effect that this community had on my life. These people have been my inspiration, my teachers, and my students. There were many late nights spent chatting about treatment options, clinical trials, and relationships changed by the threat of death. We discussed the worst kinds of pain and the best kinds of joy. We LAUGHED and laughed hard about things that others would never understand – our need for anxiety meds, our inability to accept what was happening to us, our bizarre interactions with people who could not understand our appearance, our disabilities and hang-ups.

I flew to California, went to camp in Montana, and drove to upstate New York to meet friends from this group. We shot silly string at each other and slept in bunk beds beside each other wearing glow-bracelets. There was the time when three of us spread out on my living room floor sending cards to others in the group who were suffering. One night, an ABC friend came from out of town, and we sat side-by-side on the couch, both logged into a “live ABC Chat,” drinking wine and laughing while we typed. A couple years later, I would drive six hours to a memorial gathering and cry for that same friend. Today, stunning pictures from that journey’s sunrise hang on my walls.

It was impossible for the few of us who started this site to maintain that same level of energy forever, the energy that it takes to recruit new members and to find all of the resources that might help today’s patients in their journeys.  Several of us needed additional surgeries, had recurrences, and dealt with late effects. We were joined by new friends who made their own special contributions, but over time our group has become less active and engaging. And many of our lives have become full of other things, new and happy things.

And so this site will now become an archive, a legacy, a snapshot in time. It is a gift from many people who are still living, and some who are no longer with us. I hope that the site will be useful for visitors who come along looking for hope, looking for the silhouettes of survivors ahead of them. Because there ARE survivors of this disease, people who have found and embraced a “new normal” even with disabilities, pain and recurrences. There are even young adults whose lives were completely interrupted but have now regained momentum and joy. And their stories here are relevant, because bone sarcoma treatments have changed very little over the years. There is much hope to be found here – take a look around! You’ll find 30-year survivors, miracle-pregnancies, and surprising happiness.

If there is one request I leave to the future patients and survivors who visit this site, it is this: understand your power. People with sarcoma are rare. It is hard enough for us to get through our disease and move on. It would be easy to do something for a general cancer cause every now and then and think that we have done our part. But your power – and my power – lies in our ability to increase sarcoma awareness and research. If we do not do something about this disease, all of the people who come after us will deal with the same brutal and often ineffective treatment methods that so many of us have endured for the last 30 years. The future generations deserve better.

So if you want to do something for a cancer charity, consider advocating and donating to sarcoma-specific research. I personally recommend the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative, because I know that nearly 100% of your donation will be used for the best sarcoma research studies, wherever they are undertaken, and will not be used for fund-raising or salaries or hospital overhead expenses.

It is a shame that the very patients who struggle with this disease are the ones who are left holding the banner to cure the disease.

Then again, it’s a powerful opportunity.

Much hope to you and yours,
Mary Sorens
Founder, ABC Survivors

Please join us in supporting Team Sarcoma events everywhere in 2010! Get involved by spreading the word, attending an online event, or attending an event in your neighborhood. Patients and survivors everywhere will benefit.

Our stories are also labeled with useful tags. Whether you’re looking to read about people who have dealt with a tumor in a specific location or those who were diagnosed in a certain age group, you’ll find them with one click on the right side of the home page.

If the categories and tags on the front page don’t help, make sure to use the search box in the top right corner. If you have questions or comments about the new layout, just leave them here!

If you have shared your story: search for it using the search box and make sure that the details are correct. Contact Mary at info@abc-survivors.net if you’d like to make changes.

A variety of shirt styles are available in the Team Sarcoma Store, and each shirt includes a $5 donation to sarcoma research via the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative’s Research Grants Program. In the past, the Initiative has funded research into Ewing’s sarcoma and osteosarcoma, and a chondrosarcoma grant will be funded soon. ABC Survivors hopes to see the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative continue to fund the research that will improve treatments for bone cancer patients and survivors.

Get your shirt today!

Diagnosis: I dislocated my right knee five years ago. I was told that I had a tumor and the doctor recommended an MRI. Afterwards I was told that there was nothing to worry about so I went on with life and gave the tumor very little thought, until this past April. I dislocated my knee again (I’ve dislocated it 5 times by the way)! I went to a new Orthopedic Surgeon for my knee and he thought the tumor deserved another look, this time by an oncologist.

Treatment: So I went to a orthopedic oncologist in Dallas that came highly recommended by several doctors and had ALL the tests done (MRI,CAT,Bone Scan,etc.). The bone scan came back “hot” but when we compared the MRI to the one 5 years ago, the tumor had barely grown. The Dr. told me that he couldn’t do a biopsy because the bone was too hard, but he felt like it was an osteosarcoma and it should be taken out. I’m embarrassed to say that I believed him, at first. Time went on, the case was presented to several different doctors throughout the US and they came back with the same message – take it out. So, my bone transplant surgery was scheduled for October.

This website changed all that for me! I read story after story of people being diagnosed…with a BIOPSY!! I thought maybe my situation is unique and I can’t have a biopsy. Why would a doctor that is well respected throughout this entire field tell me that if it wasn’t true? Everyone I talked to said that he was the “best”. I was lucky to have him as my doctor….

Anyway, through lots and lots of prayer I realized that I needed more answers. I was on my way to my pre-op appointment praying for something to put me at ease. I got it! The Mayo Clinic came back saying they thought it was a benign bone island. Great News!!! However, my doctor said he still wanted to do the surgery no matter what. HUH?? After an argument about how much time he had spent on me (yes, he really said that), I knew it was time to see someone else. I ended up at Medical City in Dallas at the office of Dr. Richard Buch. My parents went with me and to be honest, I wasn’t really expecting much, based off my previous experience. Well, we all knew within a few minutes of meeting him that he was our guy! Within a week and 1/2 I had a biopsy and the results…. benign giant bone island! Just like the Mayo Clinic said!

Life now: I’m still going for follow up appointments and will have tests every 6 months but I’ll take it! Right? I highly recommend Dr. Buch to everyone. Not only did he do all the right things, he was extremely supportive, answered all my questions and refused to let me think the worst. I am so thankful that I found him and didn’t give up! It’s so important to get 2nd,3rd,4th and 5th opinions! Get as many as you need until you feel 100% about your decision and your doctor.

I’m so thankful to everyone that has shared a story on here. I’ve read and reread all of them. I had a very different outcome because of you guys! Thank you so much for being willing to share. It means so much! I wish everyone the best and will keep you in my prayers.