Diagnosis
It all started September 2010 with back spasms. I went to my primary doctors office three times. They gave me flexeril and would take me out of work for a few days. This would work till I went back to work, so the third time they took an x-ray. The nurse called me and said I had arthritist in my upper back and neck. There was also signs of deginerative disc disease in my lower back. She set me up with a physical therapist to help me with the pain and spasms. This worked for about a month and half till just liked it started. I went to bed just fine and woke up the next morning and could barely move. The therapist sent me back to my primary doctor who refered me to a orthopedic. I was not able to be seen till Jan because of snow and the holidays. The orthopedic said he could not see much on the x-ray and sent me for a MRI. This showed mestastic lesions on my T12. The orthopedic called me and told me that this is usually cancer. He sent me for a bone scan and set me up with an oncologist. I went to my appiontment with the oncologist and because I was having problems with my insurance all he wanted talk about was the fact that I couldn't afford him. Very upset I went straight to the orthopedic and told him what happened. He explained my bone scan did show that I had cancer in my bones, but now I had to find out where it came from. I asked him where he thought it came from and he said that this type comes from lung or breast. He felt because of my age that it was eathier breast or ovarian cancer. His nurse sugested that I go to MCV for more testing and treatment. My brother was currently trying to go through MCV for his back and he went out of work around the same time as I had. I contacted MCV where I was told I need to go through financial aid before I could be treated. It took me a week and a half to contact someone. Once I did the lady I spoke with gave me a hard time and want a lot of information including some I felt was very personal. After this I felt I should take things in my own hands and I called my OBGyn to make an appointment. They set me up for an ultra sound and a cervical biopsy. Everything looked good and my doctor set me up for my mamogram. The mamogram showed a lump in my left breast and they had me come back in for a second mamogram to confirm. The radiologist said he felt it was cancer and sent for a biopsy. I went for the biopsy and the doctor said he didn't need to wait for the results. He told me it was cancer, but treatable. I was set up with an oncologist and set up for surgery to put in my power port. Unlike last time I connected with this oncologist who gave me answers; including ways to pay my bills. She sent me to a radioliogist to talk about treatment for my bones. They set up for a EKG, PET scan, and brain scan took make sure we knew everywhere that there was cancer. They add the brain scan because of numbing in my left limbs and the fact I was using a walker to get around. The test showed my heart was strong enough for chemo, but my bones in my spine was not strong enough for radiation. the fact was if I had not had the PET scan the first treatment or before could have paralized me. Remember the arthritist at the beginning of all of this that was cancer they were looking at. My oncologist called me and said I needed caome in right away. When I arrived she explain that the results showed that the cancer was spreading into my liver. She then explained about my spine and that she wanted to admit me for further evaluation with a neurosurgion. The neurosurgion brought in an orthopedic. I was set up for a two hour MRI and a CAT scan. After a week and a half the two sugeons came up with what they felt was the best surgical plan. I went in at 8 am and was in ICU by 8 pm. They cut me open from the base of my neck to my pelvis 53" long. I have two rods that run the entire length and are screwed into my surviving vertabrae where possible. At the bottom I have kind of a support system screwed into my pelvis. I can only bend from my hips and that's not even a full bend, I can't twist, and I can't lift anything heavier than 5 lbs. I stronger everyday and the goal is to have me walking with out the walker and just a cane for percaution. The problem this has caused is now we have to hope that the chemo can zap the tumors in my bones. The doctors say I may have to have more surgery later because I am so young. The plan now is chemo for a few months and then check to see where we are at. I do know that my liver is responding to the chemo through blood test. Also, my breat is showing signs that it is responding to treatment.