Dr. Debra Frassica explained the treatment plan as such:  a week in the hospital for chemotherapy.  (The intent is to kill any cancer cells which may have spread but do not necessarily appear on any test.)  Then 2 weeks of radiation.  (Which would focus on the tumor & area around it.)  Then I would go back in the hospital for another week of chemo; then another 2 weeks of radiation; and then another week of chemo in the hospital.  Re-evaluate.  If all works out, then 4 weeks of rest & in the 5th week remove the tumor.  Depending on the outcome, have a potential of 2 more weeks of radiation, post surgery.  This is a very agressive treatment plan but because of my age & general health, the Dr’s think I can handle it.  Always room for re-evaluation.

(Week in the hospital = 3 to 4 days)

Chemo Cocktail:
MAID
“M”esna
Doxorubicin (“A”driamycin)
“I”fosfamide
“D”ecarbazine

The overall affects are loss of hair, nausea and /or vomiting, loss of appetite and decreased blood counts.

What was next, was a series of appointments already made for me.  I was scheduled for blood work, CT Scan with contrast for starters.  The next phase was to determine if the cancer was exclusive to my thigh.  AND what the ‘marks’ on my liver were.  Things really started moving … so fast, that I named it the Cancer Skateboard!  I felt like I was on the ride of my life with NO CONTROL what so ever!  I was being told where & what time to be at my appts, etc.

Each morning, I  would say a little prayer … Dear God, help me handle whatever the day & appts bring.  Amen.

I met with Dr. David Ettinger at the Sydney Kimmel Cancer Center. He is the Medical Oncologist & a sarcoma expert with 32 years of experience at Johns Hopkins.  He reviewed my history/case & was responsible for coming up with my chemotherapy treatment plan.  I also met with Dr. Debra Frassica at JH Green Spring Campus.  She is the Radiation Oncologist & wife of my Orthopedic Dr.  She reviewed my history/case & then spent 2 hours with Alice, Oneida & I explaining radiation, studies & how the whole treatment plan would come together.  It was a lot to take in …

The CORE biopsy was done on Monday, January 9th & the worst part was when the drugs wore off.  I remember trying to walk from the car into my condo.  While walking down the sidewalk, the pain was almost unbearable.  I told Oneida if I had known it would be this bad, I would have never agreed to do this.  It was quite difficult walking up the 18 steps to my condo.  I shedd a few tears that night too.  Pain, pain & more pain …

Waiting again for results was nerve wracking.  For 4 days, we waited for the phone to ring.  Finally, Friday evening, January 13, 2006, around 5 p.m., Dr. Frassica called to tell me he was very sorry & the CORE biopsy revealed the tumor was malignant.  He said it was a sarcoma & very rare but they had not yet determined the type.  It had qualities of several different types of sarcomas & was large.

I will never forget that night; it’s like it happened yesterday.  I NOW KNEW I HAD A CANCEROUS TUMOR IN MY LEG.  Not exactly the news I wanted to hear, although I was not surprised.  My first question was … so what’s next?

Waiting for the biopsy results was my next challenge.  It was hard knowing that I had an issue but not knowing the severity of the problem.  In early December I got word the tumor was BENIGN – noncancerous!  Yeah, I was Happy.  The plan was to eventually schedule surgery to remove it after the New Year.

As the month of December progressed, the pain & pressure in my thigh was getting worse.  I could barely bend my leg & started walking in a way to accommodate the limb that was not functioning normally.  My primary care physician, Dr. Lynn Alonso was working with me on managing the pain.  I was taking some strong narcotics & still experiencing levels of pain like I had never felt before.  At times, bringing tears to my eyes.  (I stopped driving in November because I could not move my leg from the gas pedal to the brake as needed.)

I was sure something was not right.  After much fuss, I fought to become a priority again for the Dr’s at Johns Hopkins.  I got an appt with Dr. Frassica for follow-up on the pain & current condition of my leg.  After the exam, he said, “Lisa, I know this is not what you want to hear but I am not convinced this tumor is benign.  I don’t care what the needle biopsy results were.  With your permission, I would like to do a CORE biopsy, where we cut out a piece of the tumor & test it.”  I agreed.  The appt was set for Monday, January 9, 2006, my sister Janet’s Birthday.

I started attending Massage Therapy School in September 2005.  Because of the issues with my leg/thigh, I had to take a leave of absence from the Baltimore School of Massage.  It was a sad time as I grew very FOND of my Classmates, Instructors & the information I was learning.  It was in my Anatomy textbook, the Cancer Chapter, that made me suspicious of my situation.  One of the signs of cancer was “pain in a lower extremity” & I certainly had it and it was INTENSE.