Introducing myself

Hi NorthLondonBoy and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I'm sorry to read that you have recently been diagnosed with chondrosarcoma.

As the online community is divided up into different support groups, I'm going to recommend that you join the bone cancer group, which is a great place to ask questions, share experiences and get support.

To join just click on the link I've created and, once you've joined, you can start a new post in the same way as you did here and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.

It would be great if you could pop something about your diagnosis and your proposed treatment into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

Hi NorthLondonBoy, 

I've recently had surgery for a rib Chondrosarcoma (end of May for a 6.5 x 5.5cm tumour) - removal of the front of three ribs and most of my sternum.  There aren't many people on the forums with a rib chondrosarcoma, so if I can help in any way, please let me know.

Hi NetTiger and welcome to the online community

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply to NorthLondonBoy offering to share your experiences.

You might also want to follow the link to the bone cancer group in my reply to him. It's always good to have someone with experience who can help out in the groups.

Hi NetTiger, 

• Good to hear from you. I hope you are doing well. My tumour is about the same size I think but I’m fortunate that’s it’s a bit further to the side so won’t affect the sternum. I’m due to have surgery Thursday week (24/8). 
  Are you up and running again? Did you have much pain post op? 

HI, I was feeling great and was back at work after 4 weeks but still not doing anything physically strenuous. For the first two weeks it was quite tough, especially sleeping, and I was on amytriptaline, paracetamol and ibuprofen. I was taking a nana nap in the afternoon every day. The hardest thing is having to cough which hurt like hell for a long while (you need to hug a cushion!).  I could walk up to 40 minutes by 4 weeks but little things like chopping onions (which you don't realise uses chest muscles) was a bit of a strain. The bit they take out will be about 8cm longer / wider than your tumour to get a clear margin, so I found it weird to have such a big soft area where the ribs and sternum were. My scar's about 12 inches left to right. Unfortunately my recovery has been put on hold due to a seroma (fluid build up) that won't stop but it's being managed.  I had my surgery in London with Carol Tan who did a really neat job.

• Hi, NetTiger, thanks for replying.

  I’ve been told it could be up to 8 weeks before I’m able to return to work as I have quite a physical job, will have to see. I can imagine how sleeping is going to difficult alright! I’m not looking forward to that. 
  At least, if they can remove it with no need for further treatment I’ve got to count myself lucky, there’s a lot of people on here in a worse situation. 

Just wondering how your surgery went? Hope you’re recovering ok

Hi NetTiger, thanks for reaching out. All went well, thank you. They removed two ribs and part of my diaphragm. I had a chest infection after surgery so the week afterwards was a struggle but I was discharged a week after the operation. I was relying on morphine quite a bit in hospital and they were reluctant to send me home with the amount I was using but they changed it to Oxynorm and once I was home and regulating the pain relief myself, I started to improve fairly quickly. I’m now fairly pain free, sleeping quite normally and increasing my exercise daily. I have a follow up appointment in a couple of weeks and hopefully all will be good then.

How are you getting on?