Hi guys,

Well, the pathology report finally came in yesterday after over a week. It had to be sent to the med center lab. I do not have a head/neck recurrence - I have a NEW cancer - this time it is a sarcoma - so very close to where my neck tumor was obliterated by radiation. We caught it early and it is low grade. My head/neck ENT surgeon referred me to a cardiothoracic surgeon whom I met with today. I will have a MRI on Oct. 9th so he can more clearly see just what this thing is tangled up in. It's in a tough spot to fully remove and is wrapped around the collarbone and is bundled with the nerves, vessels and arteries leading to the shoulder. He doesn't know if he'll be able to remove any or part of it - he doesn't want to ruin my shoulder and arm. He was glad to hear I was left handed and this would affect the right arm. He is contacting my chemo doctor to get that end started. I know absolutely nothing about sarcomas and he told me to stay off the internet! He did say a new, different type of primary cancer was more favorable than a recurrence of the SCC. I was very scared and upset yesterday, but feel somewhat better today. Today was our 23rd wedding anniversary and we did manage to go out and have a very enjoyable dinner and some of the stress of the past 3 weeks has lifted. Wonder if the sarcoma was caused by the radiation therapy? I did read somewhere that could be a possible cause.

Does anybody know anything about sarcomas? I know that topic isn't part of this support board, but figured somebody might know something. The doctor did say I might not be able to complete this semester of school and that really distresses me. I just started back after 25 years and absolutely love it - am getting all the science and math courses required to transfer to a 4-year university to study dietetics - I so want to work with head/neck patients with their unique eating and nutrition issues and don't need a time setback -I'll be 50 before I'm finished as it stands now-so I really don't want to lose this semester or next, but I know when I do chemo, I won't need to be around a lot of people who could be sick. Maybe it will be do-able - for now I'm still going. Had to take an algebra test yesterday 30 minutes after hearing my pathology report. I probably lost my A after that seeing as how my brain went totally void of any thought but cancer.

Well, guess that's all for now - if anybody knows anything about sarcomas, I would appreciate the info. I want to thank everyone for their support and hope it's OK to stay on the board and talk about a different cancer.

Pam