I was in my final year of university in Flagstaff when I went into the NAU campus clinic for an x-ray to help determine the cause of chronic pain I was having in my left leg. The x-ray showed a "blemish" in the left femur and an MRI was ordered. The MRI was performed on the afternoon of Friday Nov. 2 and I was called by my NAU doctor later that day. She told me the MRI showed a large suspicious mass - likely a tumor - and I was to immediately go back home to Colorado for further evaluation. Thanks to my good friend Liz who watched over me and got me to the airport early the next morning, I was back home in Colorado before lunch Saturday. I was immediately connected with Colorado Children's Hospital and Dr. Nathan Donaldson, an orthopedic oncologist. I met with him on Tuesday the 6th (Election Day of all things) and heard the news that I likely have Ewing's sarcoma. Sadly, this was confirmed by biopsy Wednesday the 7th. The biopsy showed the classic small round blue cells of Ewing's sarcoma.
Ewing's sarcoma is a rare bone cancer that impacts about 200 children and young adults annually. It can only be treated at a handful of hospitals in North America and, lucky for me, Colorado Children's Hospital is one of the best. I'm in for 9-11 months of intensive chemotherapy (every three weeks), with an extensive surgery and possible radiation therapy along the way. Dr. Donaldson is optimistic that I can be cured of this sarcoma. During my first visit to the hospital I saw a small sign: "Think Positive: If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don't. Success begins with your own will ..." So my journey to beat Ewing's sarcoma begins.
Great news!! The test results (X-rays, CBC, and Pulmonary) from Alastair's sixth month visit to Seattle Children's yesterday came back with the desired results - no evidence of cancer recurrence and healthy lungs.
Thanks to all for your continued support of Alastair!! It means a great deal to us.
Alastair's next series of tests will be in September. These tests will mark the fifth year anniversary of the completion of his cancer treatment.
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