By the time I was diagnosed, the back pain was chronic and debilitating enough to stop me from playing any high-impact sports. I was also noticeably more tired more often and didn't seem to recover as well anymore.

After trying nearly everything to reduce the back pain, my wife and I decided that it was time to go in for an MRI. Until that point my PCP had shunned the idea, stating that I was simply getting older. But the MRI immediately revealed the tumor, which was undeniably malignant. The lab tests took about a week, and confirmed Ewing’s Sarcoma.

Two weeks after that we (my family) were still searching for the best treatment center. We scoured Google Scholar for white papers on Ewing’s Sarcoma and found a lot of publications from Sloan-Kettering. We performed author bios and found Dr. Paul Meyers at Sloan-Kettering to be the best choice for consult. Shortly thereafter we arranged an appointment, got on a plane to New York, and received the consultation.

Dr. Meyers is one of the reigning sarcoma experts in the nation. Where other doctors from other institutions stated that I would need surgery, he accurately speculated that I would not, and instead treated me with only chemotherapy and radiation therapy (IMRT targeted therapy). He saved me from a 5-vertebra spinal fusion and potential significant recovery problems. Doctor Meyers doesn't necessarily have the best bedside manner, but he is clearly one of the best sarcoma doctors... and his clinic is amazingly advanced and well-run.

Although I have recovered well, I got beat up badly from the chemo. It took approximately 6-months just to get some energy and muscle strength back. Additionally, I had other side-effects toward the end of treatment (vertigo - damage to my ears; psoriasis breakout - covering 70% of my body). The vertigo issues are still with me, but the psoriasis has cleared completely since I've been eating right and taking nutritional supplements. Most likely these were weaknesses I already had that were just exacerbated by the treatment intensity.

Life now: Life now is great! I still have plenty of aches and pains and the like, but have my life back and much of my mobility. I can still walk and lift relatively heavy things. I can't really run at all, but hike a lot and look forward to biking again sometime in the near future. Truth is - the fact that I can even walk is a miracle unto itself... and I'm thankful for this every day... and I celebrate by walking more!!! [back...]

This story is excerpted from 'Cliff's Story' at ABC-Survivors.net.