Hello folks - 53 year old male, here.
Well, went to my GP about 5 weeks ago, and here I am, after xrays, MRIs, CT scan and Biopsy, with a large soft tissue sarcoma (unidentified as yet) in the top of my arm. My life has flipped upside down.
The surgeon has discussed my imminent operation and is talking about removing most of my tricep, using muscle from either my back or my thigh as filler/replacement. After that, a course of localised radiotherapy to improve the chances of it not returning or spreading. I have to say that the thought of what's coming is terrifying me, even though I know I need this sarcoma gone. My only relief in all of this was that the CT scan showed it was localised - but I'm now having to come to terms with what this might mean for my future.
Anyone else here been through similar or can offer advice on how to begin to process this, and deal with it? Anyone had a similar issue, and recovery, who can talk me through what to expect?
Thanks!
Hi Gary15
Welcome to our community, I hope you find it useful.
It is really natural to feel terrified with any cancer diagnosis and as you know sarcoma is rather rare and so can make getting really good information that bit more difficult. Well done to your GP and your cancer team for getting you so far down the line so quickly - though in itself being quick can just add to a certain sense of worry.
My wife's cancer is rather different in that it started, they think, in her womb before going round her system and settling in her lungs. Still her diagnosis was over 10 years ago and with two lots of chemotherapy they have managed to make her cancer stable - as she says it does not bother her and she is not really bothering it.
<<hugs>>
Steve
