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"Each day is a gift." ~ Lisa Hartman

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My Story

Lisa Hartman, Sarcoma SurvivorLisa Hartman, Sarcoma Survivor, cancer free since April 25, 2006

Lisa’s Type of Sarcoma:

NEUROFIBROSARCOMA, also known as peripheral nerve sheath tumor, is a malignant tumor that develops in the cells surrounding peripheral nerves (nerves that receive messages from the central nervous system – brain and spinal cord – leading them to stimulate voluntary movement).

My story begins in Sept 2005.  I was having LEG PAIN in my right thigh.  I was 41 at the time, so I thought it was an aging thing.  After much testing & 2 biopsies, it turned out to be a neurofibrosarcoma & quite rare.  The Dr’s did not expect me to SURVIVE but I didn’t know it at  the time.  I was in so much pain & could barely bend my leg/knee by the time we knew it was cancer, I didn’t ask if it would kill me.  I just wanted relief & was really living day to day. That’s all I could handle.

I did chemo & radiation simultaneously in Feb & March 2006.   That was brutal & I had never felt so bad as during that time. Then I got an infection between rounds of chemo that almost killed me.  I had surgery on April 25, 2006 to remove the tumor. I lost some of my muscles in my thigh along with the tumor. They scraped my femur & I came out of surgery with 50 stitches. (20 internal & 30 from my knee to my hip) You talk about pain! I did 5 months of physical therapy to learn to walk again. During this time, I also did 2 more rounds of chemo.  It was the darkest/hardest thing I have ever experienced.

I was in Johns Hopkins Hospital 6 times that year.  I had to be hospitalized for chemo, 3 – 4 days per treatment. I had 4 treatments in total.  According to the Dr’s, I should not be walking & doing the things that I can do!  I am missing some vital muscles but I do walk without a cane or crutch.  If you didn’t know I went thru all of this & you saw me walk, you would never know.  That’s the part I like the best.  The only thing I will never do again is RUN.  The Dr’s told me I wouldn’t be able to do it, so I try.  As of now, I am not able to do so because my leg gives out.  That’s a small price to pay for LIVING.

In July 2008, I had a “rod” put in my femur for bone strength. I did PT again but this time on my own & in the pool to get my leg going again.  The surgeon was shocked when I went to my appointment in Nov 2008 with no cane. I LUV those moments … when they can’t believe what I am able to do!  I am considered CURED from sarcoma. However, I am now being monitored for breast cancer & colon cancer due to a genetic mutation issue.

You can see the details of my experience by visiting  My Sarcoma Journey.  I hope this helps those who read it!

Latest News

  • Follow-up Test Results – May 2012
  • April 25, 2012 – 6 YEAR Anniversary!
  • Oncology GYN Appt – Dec 2011
  • Team Hartman Raised … Oct 2011
  • Joining the ONE YEAR Club – May 2011
  • April 25, 2011 – 5 YEAR Anniversary!
  • End of Year Reflections … 2010

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