Cancerversary

Exactly one year ago my journey began. In early June I had an appointment with my local orthopedic surgeon to get my shoulder/arm checked out. The x-ray that day showed nothing so he scheduled an MRI and a follow up appointment for July 22nd, 2013. I walked into my appointment hoping that I didn't tear my shoulder.... the worst case scenario, or so I thought. That day there was no closure on what was wrong with my arm. There was a mass found in my arm, but he didn't know what it was. He said it was probably a hematoma, but could be a torn tricep, or....cancer. I was absolutely shocked. How could I have cancer? Young, healthy people don't get cancer! I walked out of the appointment hoping for the torn shoulder or hematoma...my old worst case scenario. The world I had known was flipped upside down in a matter of minutes.

For the next grueling five weeks I had numerous tests to figure out what was going on in there. Week after week passed, and never would I return home with good news. The list of possible diagnosis dwindled down only removing the "good" ones, and keeping the bad. Finally on August 29th as I walked into my appointment for my second opinion I received the phone call telling me that I have Ewing's Sarcoma.

The first week of September I received my first dose of chemotherapy. That same week I decided to start this blog, and well...the rest is history. I fought a very had battle with my toughest opponent, and today I'm three months cancer free. When I had my first day of treatment I wondered how I would ever be able to reach the end. Thirty-six days of very harsh chemo drugs, and a surgery to have a pretty good chance of beating this cancer was very daunting. I went through most of the year really sick, and tired, but when the time finally came it was all worth it. I was declared cancer free!

I am still not where I want to be physically, but I have grown so much in the past year mentally and emotionally. For as difficult this past year was I gained so much more than I ever could have imagined. I have learned a lot from my own struggles with my diagnosis as well as all of the support you have all given me from the beginning. This experience has helped me become a more complete person.

Next Tuesday, (July 29th) I will have my second surgery for my arm. I have an appointment on the 28th where I'll find out more about the procedure. If I have time I'll update between then and surgery.

(By The Way) It's sarcoma awareness month, and it would be great if you supported Miles2Give. They're running around the perimeter of the country for sarcoma. You can donate by clicking here.