It is tragic to read how difficult it is for people to get a diagnosis for bone cancer. For myself it all happened through chance, otherwise I may have been in a position further down the road when it could have been a little too late.
As a male in my mid 60’s I’d been having regular blood tests for PSA (an indicator for prostate cancer). The results kept coming back with the readings on the high side but the GP said this was nothing to worry about. This went on for some time and in the meantime, I kept reading and hearing that the PSA test was not the most accurate and the way forward was to have an MRI scan. I suggested this to my GP and eventually it was agreed that this could be done.
The scan was carried out at the end of March 2019 and at the end of May given the results. Prostate cancer had been ruled out however a lesion had been found in the right pubic bone that needed further investigation. A biopsy of the right acetabulum was carried out on the 6 August and due to being away on holiday it wasn’t until mid September that I got the prognosis of having a grade I chondrosarcoma. I was told that chemotherapy or radiotherapy would not be affective and therefore aggressive surgery was to be the mainstay of treatment due to the location of the tumour.
On the 29 January 2020 I underwent surgery at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham having a P2/P3 right internal hemipelvectomy and complex acetabular reconstruction (removal of the right superior pubic bone. Removal of acetabular and replaced with ice cream type prosthesis, together with hip replacement).
The procedure went very well and excised with clear margins. However, after removal and examination it was found that the tumour was actually a grade III. So now it was about recovery and trying to get back to normal. As an active person I enjoy doing DIY and activities such as walking, but especially cycling. Riding a tandem with my wife here in the UK and around Europe. Prior to the operation I was advised that I should be able to cycle again but walking may require the use of a walking stick.
Luckily, I had my operation before lockdown, but unfortunately didn’t get any intensive physiotherapy afterwards because of Covid. I progressed well and at the end of May had my first face to face consultation back at hospital. I was walking with one crutch, the results were good and the consultant was pleased with the progress. I asked if I could cycle again (tandem) he said that would be good exercise. So, after doing quite a bit of work on a static bike we started out on the tandem. After being indoors due to my own recovery, no driving and lockdown it was great to be able to get out and about from the beginning of June. After about 7 or 8 outings we had clocked up about 200 miles and things were going well. In fact, riding the tandem was easier than walking. Then on June 17 we were knocked off and we both fractured our pelvis. You couldn’t make it up!
The fractured pelvis has been more painful than the operation. My fracture was on the same side as the operation, running parallel with the ice cream cone. Fortunately, it appeared on the scans to be stable (ice cream cone). We were hospitalised for 9 days and once home we were both struggling. Now back on two crutches. Recovery has been slow and difficult and I’m still recovering from the accident but we hope to be back on the tandem for the beginning of September 2020.
Will I be able to walk without a stick in the future? I don’t know, but will do as much as I can in terms of exercising and strengthening the Glutes to try and make it happen. As for the big cycle rides of the past (Lands’ End John o’ Groats – 2017), maybe not, but we will get out and if it gets too tough then we always have the e-assist option.
I think of myself as being lucky, finding the tumour by chance, having the procedure before lock-down and recovering pretty well. No doubt there may be more challenges in the future, but so far, so good.
