Edith Fuentes Patterson must battle Sarcoma
Donation protected
Hello! My name is Edith Fuentes Patterson, three weeks ago I was told that I have cancer, sarcoma, in my left leg. The doctors recommend a three prong treatment program, radiation therapy, chemo therapy and finally another surgery to remove the shrunken residual.
The problem began when I lived in the USA. A small, soft ball appeared behind my knee. We thought it was a Baker's cyst due to some damage to the knee. Over time it got larger and widened to the side of the knee and became harder. I could not get health insurance and therefore foolishly neglected going to a doctor. We moved the Mexico in September, 2018 and once we had settled in our new home, went to see an orthopedic surgeon. He ordered MRI's and lab work. The initial diagnosis was myositis ossificans which is basically the calcification of muscle tissue.
The doctor performed a punch biopsy and sent it to a lab to check for cancer. The lab result was negative for cancer so we scheduled surgery. In December, 2018 we had surgery but unfortunately it was not completed because of excess blood loss (over 1 liter). The mass that was remove and some of the fluid was sent to another lab to check for cancer and again came back negative. I spent the next 3 months recovering from the surgery and blood loss.
At this point, March 2019, we decided to meet with other orthopedic surgeons and selected one with whom we were confident and comfortable. Once again more lab work and MRI's. After seeing the results the doctor wanted to do a new biopsy. This was more extensive, a mini-surgery, where he opened the side of my leg and took extensive samples which were sent to two different labs for analysis. Both lab tests came back negative for cancer. This made four labs that found no cancer present. The doctor recommended surgery to remove all of the ossified muscle. We felt we had time to save the money needed for the surgery since there was no cancer detected.
In October 2019 we had saved enough money for the needed lab work, MRI's, and the surgery. I had the surgery on October 26. We had our orthopedic surgeon, another orthopedic surgeon with expertise with myositis ossificans and sarcoma and a vascular surgeon working for five hours in the operating room. We still owe them some of their fees.
Again samples were sent to the lab to check for cancer. Two weeks later we went back to the doctor for removing the stitches and he told me that the lab results were positive for sarcoma. He set me up for electro physical therapy to help me deal with the consequences of having my sciatic nerve compressed in the ossified muscle mass. The surgery irritated the nerve to the extent that I have something similar to diabetic nerve pain. My left foot is somewhat paralyzed and requires a rigid boot to allow me to walk.
On November 12 we met with the surgeon with sarcoma expertise and he listed the options that we had. He recommended an oncologist at another hospital and a radio oncologist at the same hospital. We met with both and they have developed a five week program with radiation therapy five day a week for five weeks and chemo therapy in the first week and last week. This will be followed by more lab work, MRI's and physical therapy. I will also have another surgery to removed the reduced sarcoma.
The total for all of this is estimated to be $23,000-27,000 US dollars.
The problem began when I lived in the USA. A small, soft ball appeared behind my knee. We thought it was a Baker's cyst due to some damage to the knee. Over time it got larger and widened to the side of the knee and became harder. I could not get health insurance and therefore foolishly neglected going to a doctor. We moved the Mexico in September, 2018 and once we had settled in our new home, went to see an orthopedic surgeon. He ordered MRI's and lab work. The initial diagnosis was myositis ossificans which is basically the calcification of muscle tissue.
The doctor performed a punch biopsy and sent it to a lab to check for cancer. The lab result was negative for cancer so we scheduled surgery. In December, 2018 we had surgery but unfortunately it was not completed because of excess blood loss (over 1 liter). The mass that was remove and some of the fluid was sent to another lab to check for cancer and again came back negative. I spent the next 3 months recovering from the surgery and blood loss.
At this point, March 2019, we decided to meet with other orthopedic surgeons and selected one with whom we were confident and comfortable. Once again more lab work and MRI's. After seeing the results the doctor wanted to do a new biopsy. This was more extensive, a mini-surgery, where he opened the side of my leg and took extensive samples which were sent to two different labs for analysis. Both lab tests came back negative for cancer. This made four labs that found no cancer present. The doctor recommended surgery to remove all of the ossified muscle. We felt we had time to save the money needed for the surgery since there was no cancer detected.
In October 2019 we had saved enough money for the needed lab work, MRI's, and the surgery. I had the surgery on October 26. We had our orthopedic surgeon, another orthopedic surgeon with expertise with myositis ossificans and sarcoma and a vascular surgeon working for five hours in the operating room. We still owe them some of their fees.
Again samples were sent to the lab to check for cancer. Two weeks later we went back to the doctor for removing the stitches and he told me that the lab results were positive for sarcoma. He set me up for electro physical therapy to help me deal with the consequences of having my sciatic nerve compressed in the ossified muscle mass. The surgery irritated the nerve to the extent that I have something similar to diabetic nerve pain. My left foot is somewhat paralyzed and requires a rigid boot to allow me to walk.
On November 12 we met with the surgeon with sarcoma expertise and he listed the options that we had. He recommended an oncologist at another hospital and a radio oncologist at the same hospital. We met with both and they have developed a five week program with radiation therapy five day a week for five weeks and chemo therapy in the first week and last week. This will be followed by more lab work, MRI's and physical therapy. I will also have another surgery to removed the reduced sarcoma.
The total for all of this is estimated to be $23,000-27,000 US dollars.
Organizer
Patrick K Patterson
Organizer
Lafayette, LA