Wednesday Warrior – Paige

Howdy. My name is Paige and I am STOMPING Sarcoma.

I am 25 years old, married to an amazing husband and have a wonderful stepson, Tucker. I was diagnosed with Biphasic Synovial Sarcoma on April 22, 2014. I have had the wildest ride of my life with cancer, but it sure makes for a great testimony. When I was 10 years old I had been complaining of knee pain and what I said felt like a BB in my knee. My knee was so sensitive that I could not bare anyone or anything to touch it. The slightest bump would put me on the ground in tears screaming. Well, after several doctors I was referred to an ortho surgeon. I went through numerous injections, topical cremes, and other treatments until the only option left was surgery. Not knowing what was wrong with my knee, I had the surgery done, and a tumor removed that the doctors called a “neuroma.” The pain subsided and I was fine for many years until it came back. The doctor again did the same surgery and said the tumor could not be found this time so attempted another procedure during surgery. This surgery was unsuccessful and for many years I sought out several doctors for their help with the pain and to try to figure out why this neuroma kept reoccurring.

After endless options and feeling like I had no one to help me, I referred myself to the Mayo Clinic for what felt like a 10th opinion. I met with the best surgeon there is and had more scans done to find this tumor I repetitively described in my knee. After pinpointing the tumor in the scan, the doctor then went in and removed the tumor off of my bone. Waking up and hearing the words “we got it Paige” was supposed to be a relief for me, but it was not.

Two weeks later when my doctor called and told me I had a malignant tumor and it was Synovial Cell Sarcoma, my heart dropped and tears fearfully ran down my face. I have never felt fear so strong and alive in my body. Here I was thinking I had a neuroma for the last 15 years and instead find out that I was misdiagnosed the entire time. I was quickly set up with 25 rounds of radiation to my left knee and another surgery. I had a 1/2 my calf muscle removed and most of all the muscle and tissue from the side of my knee and a graft to top it off.

My wonderful husband created a Facebook page to show love and support to me through my journey called “Team Paige.” I have almost 2 thousand followers who still keep up with me and shirts that are worn in my honor to this day.  I was interviewed for an article, had numerous fundraisers put on to help my husband and I with the expense, and volunteers to drive me to the hospital for all my treatments and post ops. I live over two hours each way from the hospital and never once did I have to go alone.The amount of love and prayers that were outpoured to me is truly unbelievable and inspiring. At first I thought cancer was a death sentence for me, yet it turned out to be the best experience of my life (Crazy right? Cancer being a good thing!). I was not diagnosed with cancer on April 22, 2014 – I found out how blessed and loved I am by so many. The Lord truly has shown me my meaning in life. Cancer, you did not win this battle; you lost to a warrior of God and his glory. Cancer was a blessing to me and July 11, 2015, I will be one year cancer free. I do not fear cancer, but calmly look it in the face and know I am beating it!!! Thank you cancer for choosing me to make a test into a testimony, a mess into a message and a VICTORY. #teampaige #stompsarcoma #sarcomawarrior #keepcalmbeatcancer #fightlikeagirl

 

If you or a loved one has been impacted by sarcoma cancer, we encourage you to share your story. Sharing your story can be such an inspiration to others who are dealing with sarcoma in their own life and remind us all of the urgency to find better treatments in order to make an impact on the devastation that sarcoma cancer brings. Let your experiences help others become involved with raising awareness!