Survivors of Knee Cancer

I had Ewing's Sarcoma in my right knee when I was 15. I had a limp salvage procedure, and was actually the first person to have this. They initially told me they would amputate, but luckily they found a doc who removed my entire knee and tibia and replaced it with a titanium prosthesis and then re-attached al my nerves, muscles and tendons, then closing me back up. So technically, it is a prosthesis, but I got to keep my leg. The Ewing's metastasized 4 years later during my sophomore year at college. This time it went to my lung. Yipee, I was bald again. Blah blah blah more chemo, more surgery, and some radiation. Now I'm perfectly fine- just rather stressed out from work and school. I'm persuing a career in pediatric oncology.

Marshkl said:

When i was 14 I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in my lower femur. After 10 weeks of chemo I had surgery to remove the tumor. They did a allograft where they put in a cadaevar (sp) and a plate with 9 pins. I then continued chemo for 7 months. A year later the plate broke in half and I had another surgery to repair the plate and they did a bone graft from my hip in hopes it would heal this time. Another year later it had not healed adn they did yet another bone graft. After 6 months it had not healed so I had a total knee replacement. After being on crutches for 2 1/2 years I was able to walk after 6 weeks! It is hard sometimes in the cold weather and I can not run. Emotionally I handle it pretty well in front of others but when I am at the gym or see people running I have a hard time dealing with the fact that I can't do the things i use to like run, dance, play sports. I am so glad I have found this website because no one really understands what it is like.

I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in my right femur next to my knee. I was 17 years old then and 19 now. It's been almost a year since I've been in remission. I had a limb salvage surgery and I also get frustrate sometimes when I see people run and jump and play sports. I used to be a gymnast and now I can't do any of it except back bends. Even though I can't do a lot of stuff physically that others can do, I have found sports that I can do like biking and rock climbing in a gym. I just have to be more careful than others. I have always loved playing with kids and I was sad when I had the surgery because I thought I wouldn't be able to play with them anymore beacuse I couldn't run or jump. I have learned though, that kids understand if you say you can't run or if you tell them that you have a bad knee. Most kids either come up with a different game or give you a head start if it's a race. I know it can be discouraging at times but the way I keep myself encouraged is by being thankful of all the things I can do. I hope this helps a little.