My Sarcoma Story – Kevin
I was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma in my left calf in late July, early August 2020. I started chemo treatment on my 24th wedding anniversary in September. After 3 aggressive rounds of chemo it was 5 weeks of radiation. The goal was to create clean margins and retract the cancer. Unfortunately, there was not energy in the shrinkage in the tumor so I made the decision to amputate above the knee in February of 2021. The treatment itself was successful as I had clean margins and no cancer after the amputation.
If my cancer was going to spread, it would spread to my lungs. I kept up will all of my post op surgery. About 6 months in there were signs of spread to the lungs. In March of 2022 it was confirmed that the cancer had indeed spread and I started chemo all over again.
The first 6 months or so it was 2 weeks on and 1 week off. I developed fluid around my heart and lungs they took over 2 liters of fluid from around the lungs. We changed the drug and the schedule moved to once every 3 weeks. I have been on this schedule now for almost 2 years. The nodules have remained stable, no new growths and no significant growth.
Words of Wisdom
Live to beat cancer. Cancer may dictate my schedule but I refuse to let it dictate my life. I recently returned from an 8 day vacation in Maui.
Role of the Sarcoma Foundation of America
The Sarcoma Foundation has provided education to me and provided hope. We have attended the last 2 Race to Cure Sarcoma walks in Milwaukee and it is great to hear the message I have carried with me throughout this journey and that is cancer is not me but it is we. Cancer affects more then just the fighter.