Dave Regan

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I began experiencing shoulder pain around the beginning of June when I was traveling and carrying luggage. I attributed this pain to the fact that my wife and I are notorius overpackers when it comes to taking trips. The pain persisted over the next few months and it was getting worse so I went to an orthopedic doctor in mid-September. X-rays showed significant arthritis which was not surprising to me and I received two cortisone shots and was sent to physical therapy to see if this helped. Thirty days later, seeing no significant improvement,  I went in to get an MRI. This is where my story begins as the MRI showed a mass or tumor in my left shoulder that was attached and eating into my scapula. No wonder my shoulder hurt!


I was referred to University of Iowa Hospital to a sarcoma specialists who ordered a battery of tests including MRI, MRI with contrast, CT with Contrast and a Bone Biopsy where they stick needles into the tumor to extract samples for testing. This is how they find out what type of cancer that I have.  Well I can now cross this off the list as these tasks have all been completed. The diagnosis is Myeloma however I need more tests to see if it has spread to more areas than just the tumor. 


I am now working with the Mission Cancer in Des Moines.

The journey begins!