My Friends and extended OCF Family:
I hope I posted this under the most appropriate topic. I have kept very low key about this as I don't even have a total game plan together. I am going to be as brief as possible about this, at least for now. The past three weeks or so I have had upper arm pain in my left arm. Both I and my medical team had all drawn the conclusion that my radiation neuropathy was progressively getting worse. Last Thursday I was headed to my study group. Walked out to Jeep, opened the passenger side door, moved my journal to left hand to take work bag off my shoulder and BAM, instant tears as I felt my bicep stretch and felt a "Pop" in my upper arm. I said, all right, I get it! Went to ER and they were no help; booked an orthopedic surgeon for that afternoon and first thing was an x-ray which uncovered a very large tumor inside my humerus bone (About 2.5 x 1.5 inches in size)! It has literally created two hairline fractures in the bone!!!!! Having surgery tomorrow to place a rod in the bone and stabilize it, and complete biopsies while in there. No matter if it is malignant or benign it will have a couple weeks healing time and back to the radiation table! There is already some theories floating around about mets or radiation treatments possibly creating this. It did not show up on a full body PET CT actually completed exactly a year ago. More to come but grateful for Prayers that this thing is benign and I can get this behind me quickly and back on with life! I've beat the beast four times, so what's one more! Thanks all, will update everyone soon.

Steve Im very sorry to read about your latest struggles!!! You have been thru so much already.

Please update us when you can. Best wishes with your surgery and recovery!!!

Hey Steve - boy, sometimes it seems you just can't catch a break. You've fought long and bravely and I know you're continuing to give it everything. I'm sending all the positive vibes I have in your direction. Keep us posted. Stay strong. We're all with you.

Wow, so sorry to hear about the new bout with the Beast. You are one of the true warriors around here so we're all rooting for your upcoming battle. Keep the fighting spirit up; it's always worked for you so surely will give strength this time around too. Best wishes, Don

Steve I'm very sorry to hear about this latest news. Sending best wishes for a smooth recovery.

Karen

Hi all,
Just to update, had four pins placed in bone last Thursday. Tumor is malignant and is mets from neck and throat. Still having limited mobility in arm and the moment I get up and arm isn't elevated it begins swelling, badly! I had my radiation simulation and maintenance today, staples are yo be removed tomorrow and begin treatment next week (An additional week to hopefully eliminate some more swelling and to finalize the calculations and dose. Pain was reduced after pins put in, however tumor has really fired up past few days. Ready to get this on and torch this tumor!!!!! Thanks for the Prayers and encouragement.

Thanks for the update! Im very sorry the tumor is malignant.

Not sure what you are taking for pain meds but its important your pain is kept under control. If you havent already tried gabapentin, AKA neurontin for nerve pain, its worth a shot. I used it and found it worked very well for my nerve pain. Ask your doc if it would benefit you and if so to write you a script.

Keep us posted. Wishing you all the best with everything!

Thank you Christine! I begin radiation tomorrow. Still have a terrible amount of swelling in arm, all the way down to my fingers. Surgeon said this would be the norm for quite some time. I learned when the staples were removed that those four pins in fact hold a rod that runs from my shoulder to my elbow! They did a new set of x-rays and I could see it. Janet, my wife, trying to make the best of it all said she could now call me "Blade" because the rod looks like a hacksaw blade in my arm and I used to collect knives. LOL I guess there was just a little confusion in recovery because we wee told a rod would be placed to begin with.The tumor and nerve pain is the roughest now, not the fracture. My Oncologist is on vacation this week but I will be asking his partner about neurontin and gabapentin. I have been taking Oxy and Percocet and adding Advil and Tylenol so as to not overload on advil too much. I do need something a little more thorough. Thank you all for the thoughts and Prayers! I hope all is well for everyone and you enjoyed your Independence Day!