[nfb-talk] More bad news: Round 2

[Michael D. Barber]

You've got it, Joseph.  Our prayers for all the best for you, my friend.

Michael  Barber 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of T. Joseph Carter
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 4:56 AM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: [nfb-talk] More bad news: Round 2

Hey everyone,

Three weeks ago I felt some pain in my leg, the opposite side from the tumor
in my back/side.  A scan showed something very small, but definitely solid.
The doctor removed it and did a biopsy, given my history.  Preliminarily, it
looked like another sarcoma, so they cut some margin tissue out as well.  It
was so small that a week later, I've all but recovered from the surgery.

I've waited to write to everyone until the pathology report came back, and
it did tonight.  It was a sarcoma, and the margins are clear.  This will
mean another round of radiation, and I suspect I'll be told Tuesday that
chemotherapy is not considered optional this time around.

The last time around, my whole life was put on hold for several months.
That was mostly because I was still recovering from surgery during the
radiation.  I don't know how I'll react to chemotherapy, but I'm told that
generally it isn't going to be pleasant.

Metastasized soft tissue sarcomas have a statistically high mortality rate.
One study says 73% within six years.  They are considered to be stage 4, but
people can and do survive them.  My lungs were clear in October; it's a good
sign if they still are.  And though we cannot prove the negative, it is
possible that this new tumor resulted either from metastasis of the original
to this and only this location, or that it is what they call a second
primary tumor.  
Either of those make the clear margins very important.

We'll know more after Tuesday, hopefully.  I'm praying for the best, and
would welcome prayers from others as well.

Thanks everyone,

Joseph


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