The medical work up at UCDMC began with Richard Marder, MD and Kenneth Trauner, MD. I was referred to James Johnston, MD at UCSF Medical Center, on July 26, 1999, for radical resection of the left hemipelvis with reconstruction. The pathology report showed that the tumor was a soft tissue alveolar sarcoma. I was admitted to UCDMC for 5 days for each cycle of chemotherapy. The treatment was once a month for 8 months, under the care of Sidney Scudder, MD.

After that course of treatment, I had 33 radiation treatments under the care of Ryu, MD. Also I was under the care of Rakesh Donthineni, MD. I had placed my faith and trust in God and the doctors.

My number one concern and fear was for my daughter and my husband. It was so difficult to explain all of this to my 8 year-old daughter knowing that our lives would never be the same again. I didn’t feel alone—I just felt lost. But I chose to take it one step, one item at a time. Our laughter and tears gave us faith and peace to endure. Bone cancer takes a toll—you do experience loss but you need to look past it—to hope. The person to person contact I had was so important in my recovery. I had wonderful medial, family and friend’s support through this journey. [back...]