10-Year Scan Results

I know it's been a while since I've posted an update, but everything has been going so well that it just seemed boring to continue writing "n+1 Years NED!".  But then again, a 10-year anniversary is a really big deal so I've been looking forward to writing this post for quite some time.  If nothing else, I wanted everyone to know that I was still alive and doing well.

Unfortunately, however, what I have to report is *NOT* good news.  And after so many months and years of hearing nothing but good news, I've become a bit complacent about this sarcoma thing.  That was something that happened to me many years ago and I had long since lost any emotional connection to the disease.  I had even stopped going to the local Relay for Life and other cancer/sarcoma events.  From my perspective, if I wasn't really "feeling it", there was no point in me going and "faking it".  Well, virtually overnight, that all has changed.  I'm definitely "feeling it" now!

So this time, instead of hearing the customary "scans all clear", I was initially told by the PA that:

1. A small nodule in my right lung (unchanged for years) is apparently bigger than it was in previous scans.  But it is still "tiny".
2. We found something in your right pelvis area.  The doctor will provide you with more details.

Later, my doctor (an orthopedic oncologist and sarcoma specialist) came in and shows me CT-Scan images of my right pelvis region.  This thing was big!  Shockingly big!  He then proceeded to ask "Are you feeling any numbness in your right foot, weakness in your right leg, or having any sciatica pain?"  I immediately responded "Yes, yes, and yes!"  "How long has this been going on?" he asked.  "At least 6 to 9 months", I replied, "I just figured this was nothing more than classic 'old man' sciatica.  Guess I know now what the source of this all really is!"

In fairness to me, the symptoms I had were all classic sciatica.  I had never experienced this sort of pain before, but I figured this was just all part of getting older.  Many people far younger than I have reported similar pain.  Not once did I think: could this be the rebirth of my sarcoma?  Call me naive, but long ago (after several false alarms) I made a point of not jumping to sarcoma as the source of whatever was ailing me.

My doctor immediately ordered an MRI of that area to get a closer look as well as a biopsy.  Below are some pictures from that MRI:

Now it's time to get technical.  Here are several quotes from my CT scan radiology report (I do not yet have my MRI radiology report):

• A couple of punctate nodules in both lungs without dominant nodule.  Most of these pre-existing nodules are unchanged from prior study, however a 4 mm right apical nodule is more conspicuous when compare to the exam dated 9/6/2017 and 8/30/2016.  Preevaluation per oncology protocol.  A short-term follow-up is needed given the patient underlying cancer since metastatic disease cannot be excluded.
• A new soft tissue mass is seen within the right pelvis intimately associated with the right internal iliac vasculature, the peripheral portion of which extends into the right sciatic foramen and is inseparable from the right pelvic sidewall and ventral aspect of the right sacrum through without evidence of obvious bony erosion -there is evidence of invasion of this soft tissue into the right S1 and right S2 neuroforamen surrounding the nerve roots at these levels.  This mass overall measures approximately 7.6 x 6.5 axially by approximately 7.7 in craniocaudal extent.
• Slight increase in size of single retroperitoneal lymph node as seen on previous CT in upper abdomen.

Next up -- the biopsy!