Yes I know I am a freaky rare ES speciman. My cancer was/is in my
calcaneous...heel bone. The tumor took up over 2/3'rds of the bone.
The rareity is I am female, over 20 and the tumor was in my foot
(only 3% of ES is in the foot)

I was/am being treated at UMDNJ in Newark, NJ. I went to Sloan
Kettering in NYC for a second opinion, they said to amputate, I went
for a 3rd opinion to Mass General Hosp in Boston, the doc's there
said that the reoccurance rate changes only by 1% with radiation
versus amputation. So we went the radiation route. I had 3rd degree
burns all over my foot.

I don't use a cane or a wheelchair anymore. I just go go go and than
I swell swell swell. I get a lot of shooting pains. My husband looks
at me funny when I get them. My whole body shakes from them.

My son is now 8, and has had it tough for the past year +. My
husbands brother had lung cancer with brain mets and died. He had
been given 6 weeks at the time he diagnosed and fought for 16
months. My son was very close to him, than I go and get sick and he
feared the worst. My son is also ADHD and has Asperger's (a form of
autisum)

I have been so afraid to talk about my caner. Most people run and
hide when it's discussed. My family as well as my in-laws just can't
handle anymore cancer. They live in a world that becasue there is no
more cancer today it's gone forever. But the sad fact is that ES has
a high reoccurance rate. I have accepted that, but am no where near
prepared for it to come back. There things that I need to be here
for. I need to see my son graduate, Dance with him at his wedding,
hold his children..See I have plans, that's why this is so unfair. I
hate that I am on a 3 month schedule of scans. MRI, PET, CAT, BONE.
I really just want to get back to my life. But I don't see that
happening.

I am supposed to return to work on 9/8. I am, believe it or not, a
social worker, for the welfare board. Yes I help others and feel so
helpless myself!

I am so glad I have found a place for ES patients, both past and
present that I can "talk" to. I have been so alone this past year
and need to find the right people that have been where I have been
and can guide me through the tough parts and share the good parts.

Thank you all for responding :-) oh..my name is Marybeth, but I
ususally go by just Beth