Alan - Chondrosarcoma of the Spine

One thing about the online Chondrosarcoma  Support Group is that we make friends with people from all over the world. Different personalities come into our lives and our homes that we might never have met under other circumstances. One of the friends whose online company I enjoy is Alan. I can't quite figure him out. He's a tech guru, a long time choir participant, knows his Guinness, and really knows how to celebrate the New Years, according to his entertaining tales.

Alan of Northamptonshire, UK,  was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma in his Lumbar spine, and treated by the finest sarcoma Multi-Disciplinary Team at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK. He had surgery in December 2005.

His tumour was quite large, he says, “bigger than a pint of beer!” (I think UK pints are a different size than US pints. Aren't they?)

Though having Chondrosarcoma is rare. (An average of 90 patients a year are diagnosed in the UK according to the World Health Organization) Alan has the dubious distinction of having Chondrosarcoma as a secondary cancer. 

His first cancer, though unrelated to Chondrosarcoma, was in 1982. For this, he received radiotherapy. There is some question as to whether his radiation treatments may have contributed to his having CS, as there are medical references to be found in Pubmed suggesting this phenomena.

After his surgery Alan had a routine chest X-ray which showed three 'spots' on one lung. This frightened everyone. A CT scan revealed, however, that there was nothing to worry about - it was clear. There was much relief all round. I mention this occurrence, so that anyone reading might keep in mind the inconsistencies of medical diagnostics. Though frightening at times, keep a level head, and wait until a final consensus.

Though glad to have his "pint size" tumour removed intact. Post surgically, Alan has had to deal with some loss of his previously normal activities. Some muscle from one side of his back was removed with his tumour. And he has been in physiotherapy and  hydrotherapy to help with recovery.

Alan wrote to the group: "I am no longer able to enjoy long country walks,  BUT - I can still ring church bells, sing in the choir, even carry the cross if pushed, so my life has NOT come to an end! But it IS different!"

This scan is the British pint sized tumour.

Alan once told me that he uses a walking stick which happens to have been presented to him by the Minister for Education of the Sudan (not everyone can say THAT). And now, conveniently, he has it to use.

Though Alan has had the previous cancer, then the Chondrosarcoma, he sure has a reassuring way of giving himself (and others) a morale boost.

"It might take a long time to improve - and it may not get back to how it was - but "every day is a bonus". It could have been a whole lot worse!

I know there have been days, too, when things were very discouraging, but one time Alan shared with the Chondrosarcoma group some very astute words of wisdom about how to handle things when you want to pull up from troubles. These words come from his own father, and I think we can all relate:

"You won't get anywhere if you start with one wheel in the ditch"