Recovery I

About this time a week ago I was leaving the operating room. Drs had just finished the most critical step of this whole cancer process - the removal of the cancer and cleaning the margins... It's been a tough week, yet recovery is going well. I've been able to walk slowly with the help of my new friend - a walking cane. Since Sunday I've been on and off my pain medication - most times off. Yesterday I went to the Conference Office for 2hrs to attend the Executive Committee. My leg reacted well and it was very encouraging.

Friday evening I removed the dressing and looked at the incision for the first time. It's long, as you can see in the picture, but it's healing well. I'm starting to feel some of the same sensations I felt few days after the biopsy. When nerves are trying to 'resuscitate' you feel a lot of weird feelings such as electric shots running up and down the leg... this is going to last for a while, I know. For now I must concentrate in getting enough rest and proper healing before radiation treatment.

Surgery Report

I woke up from surgery around 6 pm. I don't know why but the nurse was trying to convince us that I should go home that same evening (crazy!!!). She had no idea what she was suggesting. I was feeling terribly sick! I couldn't keep my eyes open, I was throwing up, and D had to keep reminding me I had to breath... That was a loooooong night. In the morning, however, I was feeling much better. My cousin came to see me and a bunch of other people from different departments showed up to make sure I was okay before I go home. A PT brought some walking devices for me to try. The walker was too big, and after trying the crutches I decided for the walking cane... It's been very helpful to have it at home.

Around 12pm a Resident that helped dr. Aboulafia showed up to talk to me. I was eager to get the report about the surgery... He said everything went well. They had to take a small nerve out that was intimate with the tumor and that will result in some permanent numbness in parts of my thigh. They also removed part of the Sartorius muscle in order to clear the margins. They were satisfied with the procedure and they believe they took all the cancer out.

So far, besides numbness, I didn't notice any deficiency in mobility (I know it's early to say anything). I still have most of my movements, and I realize it is early to evaluate cause I'm very handicapped still due to a recent procedure. Yet I hope and pray I'll be able to regain strength in the thigh and have enough mobility to continue to enjoy things I love such as playing ball with my boys.

Surgery day - a day of miracles.

Tuesday, I woke up feeling well. I was scheduled to be at Sinai hospital at noon - two hours before the procedure. Monday when I called to possibly cancel the procedure due to a cold, they told me to keep the plan and let the anesthesiologist evaluate me on the day of the surgery... So, my wife and I drove to Sinai not knowing what would happen. Around 2pm they called me in and I had a chance to see a doctor. After a few questions he, without hesitation, gave the green light for surgery. I got soooo happy. It would have been a disaster to reschedule it and a number of other things around a new date. God is good - the first miracle had just happened!

I was the last patient to be operated by Dr. Aboulafia. He said it was planned in such a way to allow him extra time to spend with me given the nature of the procedure. He drew marks on my thigh and went over the whole plan with me one more time. The most difficult part of the procedure is that the tumor grew right next to a nerve and he wanted to save it... Before he left the room, I said: "I want you to know there are a lot of people praying for you today." He thanked me for that - The second miracle was happening - the miracle of prayer.

I kissed my wife goodbye and fell asleep (general anesthesia) shortly after. When I woke up around 6pm I touched my leg and the first thought that came to mind was cancer is gone - the third miracle had just happened!

Cold + Surgery = a new date.

I'm only a few days away from my surgery - the second one to remove the rest of the tumor and clear the margins - and I got a cold! I can not be sick on Tuesday or else the procedure will have to be postponed... I'm trying everything possible to get well by then. The cold is running its course and the only thing still bothering me is a weird hoarseness and mild cough. For the coughing I'm taking honey with pineapple and hope that will clear by Monday.

Cat Scans

Because Myxoid Liposarcomas are unique and it may spread to any part of the body, I had to do three cat scans: Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis... they got scheduled for Wednesday before thanksgiving... I had them all done in about 2hrs (with contrast) and came home with the images, but had to wait till Monday 28th for the report.

I can honestly say that those days (Th-Mon), waiting to know whether I had cancer elsewhere, were very difficult for me and my wife. It makes one think about what is really important in life and, in my case, brougth me closer to God... BTW, I dont know how people face similar situation(s) without God. 

On Monday, Nov. 28, I headed to Sinai Hospital for a doctor's appoint. and to receive the report of the cat scans. Before I saw Dr. Aboulafia a physician assistant examined me. She asked if I knew the result of the Cat Scans, and shared the great news "It is clean, no metastasis." That was one of the best news ever. I was soooo relieved!!! I called my wife and parents to share the good news... God is good and he continues to have plans for me. Now, I have to wait till Tuesday, Dec. 06, for my next surgery and in January start radiation.

Myxoid Liposarcoma

On November 09, I headed back to Sinai Hospital to see Dr. Aboulafia and get the biopsy result. My lovely wife was with me. As we waited for him I told her that I was under the strong impression that he wasn't going to give us good news. Sure enough, a few minutes later he walked into the room, sat down and broke the news: "Your tumor is not a nerve sheath tumor, and it is not benign" were his exact words. "So, it is malignant" he concluded. And then, he added "Take a deep breath, and I'll tell you all I know about myxoid liposarcomas, and give you the good news..."

The good news is that my cancer is 100% treatable. Praise God! It is very sensitive to radiation and it was at stage 2 (grade 1-3). The size of the tumor was about 10x7x3 cm. The next steps will be: (a) Cat Scan of Chest, abdomen, pelvis to find out whether the cancer has spread. (b) another surgery to clear the margins (they always do that when there is malignancy). (c) several sessions of radiation. The exact number will be determined after the second surgery.

The surgery is scheduled for Tuesday Dec. 06, radiation will happen in January & February, and Cat Scans were done last week. That's what my next post is about.

Something Wrong

** This post will be a little long because it tells most of the story that led me to my detour in life."

It all started a few months ago. It was late May when I first noticed a lump on my left thigh. It was completely painless and no other signs of something wrong. After a few months, my wife and I noticed the lump was growing. Also, depending on what movements I tried with my leg I could feel one of the nerves pulling and shooting some pain down the leg. Well, it was time to see a doctor.

I went to see Dr. C and he sent me to get an MRI and referred me to an Orthopedic Surgeon. A week later I visited DR. O with the MRI done. He asked me a bunch of questions and said it wasn't a cyst and that he wasn't going to touch it. It was then that I began to realize something was wrong. He came back to the office with a doctor's name and phone number for me. He was referring me to an Orthopedic Surgeon Oncologist... I left the office feeling confused and somewhat scared. If ever you've been referred to an oncologist you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you have not, trust me, it is not good news.

A week later, I was at Sinai Hospital to see Dr. Aboulafia. We had a good chat and he confirmed the presence of a tumor. He diagnosed me with a Nerve Sheath Tumor and gave me only a 2% chance of malignancy. We then scheduled an open biopsy and on the first of November I had the surgery.

Waking up after procedure

When I woke up at about 10:30am after the two-hour procedure, I remember seeing Dr. Aboulafia speaking with my wife. I called him up and asked: Is it benign or malignant? "I don't know yet," he said... Again, I knew something was wrong... I went home the same day and had to wait six days for the results. I'm posting a picture of my leg right after the biopsy. My next post will be about the biopsy result.

Welcome / Bem Vindos / Bien Venidos

Welcome to my blog. I've always wanted to have one but couldn't find a good reason for it. Now, I did. My life has taken a detour and my next post will talk about it. For now, I just want to write a few sentences to explain what I have in mind for this blog, at least for now. #1. The primary reason I'm blogging is to keep my family and friends posted on my situation. #2. I decided to blog in English. It will be easier for many of my friends to follow it. #3. I'm not sure how often I'm going to post here. For now, however, I plan to have at least one post per week. We'll see how it goes. #4. My posts will be short, a paragraph or two. I know you don't have time to read more than that :) #5. I hope my journey will help you in your journey.