Stories of Hope 

In the spring of 2012, while awaiting the birth of her second son, Beth was incapacitated by a growth on her right foot. Unable to receive treatment because of her condition, she persevered until the pain became unbearable. Tests revealed a tumor, and biopsy results confirmed the growth to be Synovial Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Beth underwent an emergency Caesarian section. Little William was delivered safely, and received wonderful care in Windsor Regional’s NICU. Beth was then admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, home to a world renowned Sarcoma clinic. Dr. Peter Ferguson performed surgery to remove Beth’s right leg below the knee.

In late 2018 and 2019 I was complaining of fatigue and shortness of breath. Many would have attributed it to the fact I was out of shape, and needed to lose some weight.

I am happy to be able to say that I’m a sarcoma cancer survivor with a story to share. Not so long ago, I wasn’t sure that would be the case. I remember waiting patiently for my doctor to return and tell me about the details of my first ever surgery. I was a very fit and healthy twenty seven year old who carefully watched what I ate and exercised nearly every day, with something approaching religious fervour. I didn’t smoke, and I drank socially on a very rare occasion. The doctor entered the examination room in a rush.

Sarcoma. Very rare. Chronic. Incurable. Stage 4. I think every single one of those words is enough to strike fear in your heart, but in combination, it is enough to change your life. It certainly did mine. It was November 1st, 2017. I had had a dry cough. Nothing horrible, but it persisted for a couple of years.

So where does my journey start? November 5, 2009, is when cancer first impacted my life. After several operations and two years of misdiagnosis I finally had an answer to why I’d been in so much pain. I had a Synovial Sarcoma in my left arm, 2 cm in size. Although a great shock, I finally had an answer and realized I wasn’t going completely insane.

“I just want to be a Mom,” I said with a cracking voice and eyes filled with tears after the doctor diagnosed me with the unexpected C word.

I was in Orlando visiting my parents with my husband and our two sons in December 2015, when I realized something was not right.

In March of 2013 the large tumour on my right groin was determined to be cancer. It was a form of cancer I had never heard of before - liposarcoma. "You have the same type of cancer Terry Fox had", the Oncologist said, "only in the fatty tissue". Everything in my world was about to change.

Back in 2008, I had a terrible pain in my lower back and right leg. None of the doctors I went to could figure it out, and my physician at the time only took an X-ray of my back. After about a year of trying different forms of treatment for the pain, a pain specialist sent me for a total body bone scan. That was when I was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, in December of 2009.