[nfb-talk] More bad news: Round 2

[Jeanette Fortin]

Joseph, you are in my thoughts and prayers, Jeanette
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T. Joseph Carter" <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 3:55 AM
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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