My Cancer Wasn't Caught Until Surgery - Kara | Synovial Sarcoma | The Patient Story

In this cancer vlog, Kara describes her experience with synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. She first noticed minor symptoms like a needle-like sensation on the bottom of her foot, like it was falling asleep. She also had pain behind her knee. For about a year, Kara went to multiple doctors and physical therapists, but they couldn't pinpoint what was causing her issues.
She eventually got an MRI, showing a tumor. She was later diagnosed with stage 1B synovial sarcoma.
#cancerstories #cancerpatient #cancersurvivor #patientstories #thepatientstory #sarcoma #scmsm
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Full story & transcript → thepatientstory.com/patient-s...
[Video Chapters]
00:00 Introduction
00:25 First symptoms
02:28 Getting a physical because of the pain
04:37 Finding a tumor
06:23 Getting my first opinions
07:11 Post surgery
09:20 Finding out I actually did have cancer
12:22 Starting chemotherapy
14:28 My side effects of treatment
16:30 How I managed my pain
20:03 Life after diagnosis
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The interview has only been edited for clarity. The interview has only been edited for clarity.
My Cancer Wasn't Caught Until Surgery - Kara | Synovial Sarcoma | The Patient Story
• My Cancer Wasn't Caugh...

[@ThePatientStory]

To learn more about Sarcoma → tinyurl.com/2th255bk

[@melissacarlin212]

Thank you for sharing your journey! My husband has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Our mantra is hope, love and faith…we believe in miracles! He just finished 12 rounds of 5FU chemo sessions…grueling. But he is a badass and has the greatest attitude. Thank you for sharing…gives me more positive juju!

[@stelladowsett7151]

Keep believing in those miracles. Wishing you and your husband all the very best❤

[@carolapostolos8929]

Prayers for your husband's health and your strength. 🙏

[@sandradalessandro2935]

Believe. N keep strong. I send prayers as well ♥️

[@annecollins1043]

🙏🙏🙏💕💕

[@user-qj2bi3ph6p]

Glad she is doing well. Surviving cancer is not a miracle or due to reiki or having a 'positive mindset', it's having a good surgeon and being lucky to have caught the cancer before it spread and while it's still operable.

[@Ceerads]

Thank you! 💙💙💙

[@user-qj2bi3ph6p]

I should also add having good Drs in general (generalists who spot when something is wrong, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists etc.). I left those out because in her case she only needed a surgeon as it was caught early 💙

[@Darkempress45]

That’s not for you to decide for other people, that’s your belief. People are free to do what works best for them

[@user-qj2bi3ph6p]

@Darkempress45 Yes, people are free to do what they feel works best for them. However, there is no scientific evidence that those things work, while there is ample scientific evidence that stage of cancer affects survival and that medical treatments do work. No, it is not my belief, the treatment of cancer follows guidelines and protocols that are the result of medical research.

[@Ceerads]

@@user-qj2bi3ph6p Thank you.

[@sandradalessandro2935]

I am so proud of this beautiful soul. Her journey is an inspiration. I say yes to Reiki yes to yoga. Yes to keto. Yes to prayer n meditation. Yes to positive affirmations. Why. Cancer is a battle it’s warfare. We need every weapon we can use in our favor. I am stage four at my Hail Mary pass last possible treatment for aggressive non H lymphoma. Tried it all over past two years. Including CAR. T. Cancer just ate a hole in my hip needed surgery. This beautiful girl has a great miracle with in her story. Miracles do exist and all of need hope to believe. Thank you for sharing. N god bless you 🌹♥️🌹🙏🏻🙏🏻🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

[@ThePatientStory]

Really appreciate you taking the time to share your own experience. If you want to be featured on our platform with your important message, please contact us at [e-mail]. Thank you.

[@DrRussell]

We need to hear this. It keeps us open minded. Thank you for making us better people.

[@Irishgrl59]

Thanks Kara for sharing your story ,prayers and blessings to you!!❤❤❤🙏

[@bryanlatham1144]

Sarcoma sucks.....my son had synovial sarcoma...prayers too all with Sarcoma..🎗

[@caroldenyer3948]

Kick Arse experience. I had similar miracle surgery last October for Bowel Cancer.

[@rleon8183]

I had a problem where I had strange itchiness and tingling and my doctor said it was allergies. When I visited my new Primary Care Physician, I told him I am feeling stranglely weird and wanted a blood test. He called me into his office the next day to show my tests were off the chart. There was concern about my pancreas after ultra sound and then a CAT scan. After an endoscopy, they found the blockage and they took a biopsy. It was confirmed as cancer. They did not know the size until they went in and visually discovered the size of the mass.

[@besskemp1055]

I’m so sorry

[@amybusch9253]

Thank you for sharing your cancer journey ❤ so glad you can still do all the things you love to do and are on the path to healing after perhaps a new understanding of how strong you are. I was inspired by your wonderful attitude!

[@kimhaas7586]

Weird, I didn’t have any bone pain with Neulasta. I didn’t have nausea with chemo. I was very lucky.

[@wowzatrishiebunz]

My cat just passed from feline injection site sarcoma from a normal routine vaccine and I had no clue about sarcoma until that event. It hurts to know anyone, even animal friends with sarcoma.

[@aerynstormcrow]

I’m so sorry to hear about your kitty. I don’t mean to pry but I’ve never heard of that before. Can you give any info on it? Is it just cancer from getting shots?

[@RowesRising]

Vaccines can cause cancers. It’s in the VIS- Vaccine Information Sheet that comes in the box but your MD never supplies it to you- or you wouldn’t take their jabs, and they won’t get a Caribbean vacation.

[@wowzatrishiebunz]

Yes, even flea medicine may trigger this and I had no clue. The FLV vaccine is what I and the Vet think caused the cancer however, it is something I never knew of and the guilt I feel is so heavy. I’m still trying to process this.

[@splash6427]

🙏 ❤️ 🙏 For You & All

[@Liz_678]

Thanks for sharing your story. Glad you are better🙏🏻💕

[@Damaris-oo2fq]

Kara, you're story is so amazing. Thank you for sharing it with the world. My second oldest brother was diagnosed with Mono-phasic Synovial Sarcoma, it was found within the metatarsals of his right foot, in 2003; he was barely 25 years old. His story started off with him thinking he had somehow sprained his foot. He was seeing a doctor for treatment, had been misdiagnosed for about 6 months (not blaming the doctor, just an odd situation- I never really asked for details on as I was a young teen at the time). He lived in Chicago and used city transit; one day he when was a bit behind and was attempting to run and catch the bus- the bone in his foot snapped. That is when he found out that there was a golf ball sized tumor growing within the bones of his foot. I believe his treatment options then were slim; early on he'd decided to amputate his lower right leg, just beneath the knee and donate it to cancer research. He had a heck of a journey over the time span of 7 years; he passed away in 2010 after his cancer had metastasized to his lungs and esophagus. My brother spent a lot of time in hospital specifically in an oncology pediatric ward, so seeing little children having to deal with the same types of treatment he endured really humbled him. Although he passed a month before his 33rd birthday he was very thankful to have been able to live as long as he did with this diagnosis; he left quite a legacy behind. When I read the title of this video, I felt so drawn in to hear your story. Again, thank you for sharing.

[@dpsuperduper]

Wonderful telling of Kara's patient story. Can I marry just Kara's hair because I love it.

[@SHARON.I]

I had an issue with my recommendation from my primary doctor. I just switched.

[@TaylorCrane1312]

Beautiful

[@katharina5159]

You are such a beautiful person❤❤❤

[@sandradalessandro2935]

Yes. I. Agree. Beautiful. Inside. N out ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@MMacAttack]

Wish you good health ! Beautiful woman ( when she was bald too)

[@user-jn5uc7eu8e]

Thank you for your insight n informative of symptoms that has educated me on various symptoms of various conditions that will give me future indications if need be!

[@CynthiaWord-iq7in]

Too vague, wish it were more specific about her type of cancer, would have liked that knowledge. she didn't know what malignancy was? Chemo for breast cancer was similarly for me, painful, ice cold I.V. especially. Glad you have motor function of your foot. Sterility without children changed my life. Methotrexate--not told.

[@SHARON.I]

There's a pinned post to a link

[@Ceerads]

I, too, was very surprised that she didn’t know what “malignancy” was. And surprised that the sarcoma didn’t show up on the MRI. Anyone with sarcoma should be treated by a sarcoma specialist. Of course, they didn’t know at first that she had a sarcoma.

[@FloutchBW]

It's insane how many young people are getting it. Now, at the slightest little symptoms I freak out because I lost my mom from it not even 2 years ago, and I could witness first hand how the doctors purposely butcher you and mislead you to make sure you keep giving them profits as much as possible. They even told my mom that she could keep eating sugary stuffs no problem if she wanted to, when everyone knows cancer feeds on sugar to grow stronger. And you know what's worse? Those were Doctors from a quite reputable hospital in Monaco of all places.

[@Ceerads]

“Everyone” knows wrong about sugar and cancer. That idea has been debunked. Your mother’s doctor is right.

[@cjhulin8154]

❤

[@ruthgoff3540]

I didn't like the comment that you were allowed your test results. Of course, YOU are allowed the results! THERE YOUR RESULTS! IF YOU DIDNT WANT TO KNOW, YOU SHOULDNT HAVE asked For them!

[@jodeeblue9663]

❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏

[@carolbruno7731]

🙏🏻🙏🏻📿📿🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@SHARON.I]

Wait did I miss that she had a biopsy??

[@user-qj2bi3ph6p]

No, she didn't have a biopsy, but the surgical pathology (meaning a pathologist examines the tumour removed during surgery) determined it was malignant and not benign as it was incorrectly assumed prior to surgery. My guess is she had it removed due to the symptoms it was causing, and it's good that she did! Sometimes surgical pathology is the only way to confirm that a mass is malignant, and biopsies aren't always 100% accurate or recommended due to potential complications. I also had surgeons tell me to wait and watch a renal tumour found incidentally but had it removed (biopsies are not recommended for kidney tumours) to find out it was malignant and aggressive, so I'm glad that I insisted on surgery and got it done by one who listened to me. Maybe some people can live with uncertainty that something malignant was growing inside them, but I couldn't. The most important thing when faced with a tumour of unknown status is to find a very experienced and technically superior surgeon and one that won't use you as a guinea pig just because you're so 'eager' for what they may incorrectly assume is an unnecessary surgical intervention for a 'benign' tumour (which it may not be). I think there is a tendency for some surgeons to use patients like this for practising and this is what is causing all these 'overtreatment' harms which the patient gets blamed for and which drives regulations to cut down on 'unnecessary' surgery which then delays cancer diagnosis when adopted in medical guidelines. Whether or not a tumour is malignant shouldn't influence the surgical error rate.

[@user-qb8qm4mp5n]

I've never heard of this type of cancer. I wonder if she had a foot injury?

[@SHARON.I]

They pinned a post to a link

[@anaferguson5135]

Its a RARE cancer.

[@Ceerads]

There are MANY, MANY different types of sarcoma.

[@gdiup9241]

Hopefully AI will help point dtrs in a better direction before having to see 6 doctors

[@carolbruno7731]

Seems like when someone is young they may not jump right to the possible cancers it can be!

[@lovesJesus448]

God made our bodies magnificent❤hey everybody please ask Jesus into your heart today while you still have time ❤

[@gelandersen]

You're so beautiful 😍

[@truthprevails7085]

Arrogant doctors… aren’t they just the best.

[@user-nx6qr1mt6f]

I can’t listen to most young women speaking today… They have the trendy uplifting tone on the last words which makes their sentences sound like questions, or they “grind & growl” the last words as if they’re heavy smokers. I’m assuming this is a mimicry of the Kardashian’s, not sure.

[@sewmeonekenobi639]

I found out recently it’s called “vocal fry”. I agree, sometimes it sounds exaggerated and fake and manipulative.

[@sdd123]

I HATE how the young generation says Everything with a ? They have made the English language unrecognizable. I am so glad that someone else thinks the same way!

[@lisaanderson7322]

Finally, others hear it and are irritated by this form of vocalization, I thought it was just me 😂 Even so, lovely girl and I wish her the best 😊

[@user-nx6qr1mt6f]

@@sewmeonekenobi639 “vocal fry”… I’ll remember that! Thanks

[@user-nx6qr1mt6f]

@@sdd123 I’ve received lots of agreement on this observation, I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s bothered by this annoying trend. I thought I was being too picky and anal. Maybe it’s because I’m 61. Listen to a civil war veteran on a recording from the 20’s, or a woman speaking from the 30’s; they’re clear, sharp and don’t begin each sentence with “so”

[@Peace-tk3gr]

Not watching. Too much 'woo - woo', not enough medical science (info obtained from the comments section). I lost a good friend who wanted to listen to a fricken quack and she died in agony, leaving 6 children and two grandchildren behind! Yes, there ARE certain things you can do. Cut sugar out. Eat healthy. Breathe properly. Get a little dose of sunlight and exercise- if you can. But, take the treatment offered by the surgeon and/or oncologist. 🙄 Stop following every social media trend! Use your brain. Feck's sake. Your life is at stake.

[@sheliafarmer]

WHY THE BIG OFF THE WALL WORDS, MALIGNANT IS A WORD EVERYONE KNOWS, RAKI IS WITCHCRAFT

[@susankamaka745]

🙏🙏🙏❤️