Im still fairly new to this whole online support situation but I got told nearly 3 weeks ago I have cancer, however I didn't have a full diagnosis of what type of cancer I have at the time. Luckily, it was yesterday I properly found out I have soft tissue osteosarcoma just below my left shoulder in the armpit, the reason for the cancer is unknown just bolt out of the blue, which is obviously daunting for me especially since I recently turned 26.
I'm due to have an operation in 2 weeks time to remove the tumour along with the muscle that the tumour has grown in which will have an impact on shoulder and arm ability. I just wondering if anyone has had something similar and how people have managed since loosing muscles in a similar place along with whether it has any major day to day knock on effects?
Im full of pre surgery jitters and whether its normal to feel like this?
Hi Hollystripes
Being anxious about surgery is so very normal, just signing the consent form where they list possible side effects as death can be enough to terrify even the most robust.
The "plus" in the equation is that there is a whole team involved in surgery and every single one of them has the power to say "I do not believe this is in the best interests of this patient". Perhaps the most involved in this is often the anaesthetist.
Sorry I cannot help on what effects might be in a situation more similar to yours as my wife's sarcoma is very different - gynaecological origin but scattered throughout the lungs so inoperable - but it did respond to chemotherapy and is stable.
When my wife had an emergency hysterectomy she was visited in hospital by the physiotherapy team both about how to take care of herself as she recovered but also about building back up to as near normal as is possible - it might be worth talking to your oncology team to see if they can put you in touch with a physiotherapist to try to help you work out how any problems might be overcome.
<<hugs>>
Steve
