Seven Years — And Once Again “Stable”

January 15, 2026 marked seven years since my re-diagnosis.

That recurrence came during what was supposed to be my 10-year NED milestone. Instead, doctors found a large metastatic tumor in my right pelvis and sacrum. A semi-hemipelvectomy (amputation of my right leg and hip) was recommended as the most aggressive option for local control.  I said no.

Seven years later, I’m still here, still ambulatory, still fighting — and I got to keep my leg. It’s hard to ask for much more than that. And yesterday, I scored another victory…

Latest Scans

Yesterday (February 23), I had my first scans since completing SBRT to the liver in November 2025.  The metastasis in hepatic segment III has decreased from 1.8 cm to 1.3 cm and is now non-enhancing with improved diffusion restriction — findings consistent with treatment response.  Importantly, there are no new suspicious liver lesions.

Liver Lesion 3-Months Post Radiation

The remainder of the radiology report reads as follows:

• The radiated right pelvic/sacral mass — the original metastasis that once prompted discussion of a semi-hemipelvectomy — remains stable at 6.3 × 3.8 cm.
• Subcentimeter lesions in the left iliac wing and posterior acetabulum are stable since 2024 and smaller compared to 2019.
• The radiated metastasis in the right inferior posteromedial perinephric space (near right kidney) remains stable at 1.7 cm.
• The 1.6 cm enhancing nodule adjacent to the pancreatic head (previously biopsied) remains stable and continues to be favored as a separate process.
• Stable sub-4 mm pulmonary micronodules.
• No new chest, abdomen, or pelvic masses or bone lesions.

For anyone living scan-to-scan, “stable” and “no new lesions” is never a small statement.  That said, this is becoming quite the laundry list to keep track of!

The Bigger Picture

These seven years have not been surveillance. I have been on continuous chemotherapy since January 2019, with targeted radiation to the pelvic/sacral mass, the perinephric lesion (near the kidney), and most recently hepatic segment III.

Ten years NED.
Then metastatic recurrence.
Seven years of active treatment.

Still walking.
Still working.
Still “stable.”

I do not take that word lightly.

Onward.

--Dave