Sorry IC ... I never drawl while wearing my hat. ;\)

Southern Girl, Don't mind IC, he's just being....well..IC

IC, Miss IC - my advice is to go with the center whose protocol includes chemo before surgery. Micrometastases are your enemy (microscopic cancer cells that spread without being visible) and need to be treated aggressively. Osteogenic sarcomas have a good prognosis, as tumors go, especially if they're caught early, and chemo has improved survival drastically.

This is what we decided. From what we have learned as well as what you also confirmed is that these cells that spread are actually more of a concern to us than the tumor itself (from our own personal search, the lungs are a possible target) The doctors have been helpful, it's just knowing the right questions to ask.

One more thing. This is going to be an emotional time for your whole family, but you can do it together. Give yourself permission to be afraid, or sad, too. There is no evidence that attitude affects outcome. I don't say this to discourage you, but because the whole "he will beat this because he has such a great attitude" thing tends to irritate me, because it sends the message that you need to be cheerful and upbeat all the time or you lose ground. You don't. If you've done your research and have found a center and a treatment plan you're comfortable with you're off to a good start. Keep reading, join a support forum to talk to others in the same sitch. Never underestimate collective wisdom. Trust your doctors, but not blindly.

We've read that as well. With IC, it's not so much his attitude that I'm speaking of because he does get down, sad, angry...he doesn't dwell on it..but it happens. I don't know if you picked up on any of the HD-LD to HD thread where IC explained how his dad basically "gave up" his fight against cancer. IC may or may not beat this...{he's more at ease with this than me, but we both realize that it could happen} The thing with IC is it's not his "right attitude" to beat this that will help him, it's his drive and determination. I've known him 7 or 8 years now and He DOES NOT know the meaning of the word quit. If this does take him, he will be fighting it to the end \:\)


You sound like a wonderful family, and I know you won't lose sight of the little, but precious things in life as you go through this together. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

Thank you, I know it shouldn't take something like this to bring a family close but I'm happy to report that we are closer now than ever. It's still very hard for me to deal emotionally with the fact that I could lose him. I break down in tears at the drop of a hat...like now \:\( I know it's not going to get any easier but somehow I'll make it..we'll make it