damn man. thats a sobering diagnosis.
i would get a second opinion from a different oncologist. maybe he'd have a different recommendation.

I thought about a second opinion, but I have been assured time and time again , no matter where I look or who I ask, Mass General is simply the best in the country if not the world.



With that aside, I just got back from Boston an hour ago. And Chemo is starting next Friday, and in about 2 1/2 months into that , the foot is being amputated about 4 "'s or so above my ankle. Even if the tumor was benign , it has destroyed the bone (tibia IIRC) beyond repair, and I would just be livingin pain anyway. So the fun begins next Friday for a full year. Man is life crazy and full of surprises.

Okay, whoa whoa.... I know that the bone maybe destroyed, but is that their reasoning to amputate? If so, I can see that, but it still sounds like they want to remove the foot for cancer reasons. Even so, why the chemo treatments is there is no cancer cells in your body?

It sucks to hear your outcome though.
Keep the suds going, man.

Why can't they set you up with some pins or metal inserts like Miami? I'm sure there are ways to rebuild that foot without having to let it go. I'll give you an example of something I went through. Now, I know this is different so don't jump all over me, but a couple of years ago I had a tooth that had a deep cavity. A bunch of dentists wanted to yank it out. The funny thing was that the tooth didn't hurt, but in the X-ray it looked bad. I have never lost a tooth and wasn't going to give up now. Several dentists told me it couldn't be root canaled. But I kept going through my DHMO and going to new specialists (and it took months) until I found one that said, "Yes, I can do a root canal on it and you can keep your tooth." I went through the process and two years later I am happy I went through the extra time and trouble and still have my tooth. Maybe it's just me, but I can't bare to have a part of me removed. I plan on leaving this earth the way I came into it, in one piece.

ill prolly go out in a million pieces when i blow myself up in a horrific farming accident

Dude, Mass General has a good reputation, but no doctor or hospital is infallible. Don't even think of starting any treatment procedure without getting a 2nd opinion, especially when it involves amputation. Cancer research and treatment is moving forward every day. New ideas and techniques are hard for even the best of doctors to keep up with. Please, put another set of eyes on this. In 2005 when I shattered my tibia/fibula the doctor initially wanted to amputate because of the extent of the damage and his belief that I would never walk on it again. 7 complete fractures, 5 displaced and he thought there was no way to save it. I pleaded with him to at least try and ended up with this:


Yes, it hurts and no it doesn't work like it used to, but I'll take having my own foot over the alternative any day. You have nothing to lose by seeing another doc.

Just wondering if anyone has heard from Zman lately? Sure would like an update on his situation.

no. nothing in a couple of weeks. i hope that means that he's up and around, and not sitting around wasting time on the computer.

HOLY SHEET man how do you walk!! Good thing it don't get cold over there!

Good call Dv, Things have been real hectic to say the least.


I'd like to thank everyone for the well wish's and advice. I have gotten numerous opinions and they all lead back to amputation, so that is inevitable. I've also learned that my Doctor travels around the country to other hospitals because he is the best and specializes in osteosarcoma in my ankle(which is very rare for my age).Not to mention there is only 900 cases total a year in the country. So I was in the right place to begin with(which I sort of knew anyway).

In an effort to keep it short, I finished my first 3 round set of chemo yesterday (chemo for the last 3 Fridays)and other than it making me tired, I'm doing way better than almost anyone they have seen at the chemo level 9 they are giving me. Level 12 is the highest, and they will keep raising it as long as do well. For now there is a 20 day layoff until the next round starts, and this regiment will last a year. The amputation will be after the next round + the 20 days. It's going to be very low and close to the ankle which is one or maybe only good thing about it. Anyway, I could go on and on for pages,LOL

Meanwhile I'll be back on hear more often busting ***** as long as that wimpy new moderator doesn't ban me,