Giant Cell Tumor Network
New here, hello!
Hey everyone,
I didnt know forums like this existed till recently. As for introductions, I'm David! I had a GCT in my left wrist. Had my first surgery Oct, 2007. The GCT turned out benign, and the doc attempted to save what was left of my wrist. Due to some complications, fractures and new material they used, my wrist did not heal correctly and thus I had to get another surgery March, 2008. I now have a metal plate, where my left wrist was and no mobility. Its strange at first cause I still have recollection of how to move the wrist but can't. Part of my wrist is still there, but the other part is gone. Its so frustrating at times when I think about it.
When I was first diagnosed with this tumor, I was still attending college at UCLA. I do not know why but I decided not to take time off from school while I had my operations. School in a way helped keep me busy, so as I would not worry so much about my situation. Graduated '08 and am now still looking for a job. Im contemplating grad school, if the job search continues to fail.
What frustrates me the most is explaining my situation to my family. I say tumor and alot of my family members honestly don't know what it is. Family-wise its mostly language, as I know how to speak more English than Chinese, I can't explain it to them in a way they can understand. I felt horrible seeing my mom suffer and cry knowing something was wrong, knowing that something could be cancer, but not knowing what the full issue was.
Dang, that was a long rant/intro.
Hey everyone, nice to meet you and its comforting reading all your posts
I didnt know forums like this existed till recently. As for introductions, I'm David! I had a GCT in my left wrist. Had my first surgery Oct, 2007. The GCT turned out benign, and the doc attempted to save what was left of my wrist. Due to some complications, fractures and new material they used, my wrist did not heal correctly and thus I had to get another surgery March, 2008. I now have a metal plate, where my left wrist was and no mobility. Its strange at first cause I still have recollection of how to move the wrist but can't. Part of my wrist is still there, but the other part is gone. Its so frustrating at times when I think about it.
When I was first diagnosed with this tumor, I was still attending college at UCLA. I do not know why but I decided not to take time off from school while I had my operations. School in a way helped keep me busy, so as I would not worry so much about my situation. Graduated '08 and am now still looking for a job. Im contemplating grad school, if the job search continues to fail.
What frustrates me the most is explaining my situation to my family. I say tumor and alot of my family members honestly don't know what it is. Family-wise its mostly language, as I know how to speak more English than Chinese, I can't explain it to them in a way they can understand. I felt horrible seeing my mom suffer and cry knowing something was wrong, knowing that something could be cancer, but not knowing what the full issue was.
Dang, that was a long rant/intro.
Hey everyone, nice to meet you and its comforting reading all your posts
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by tina puterbaugh on -
Hi, I am new here as well. I am 20 years old, and attending college. I have a suspected GCT on my right radius. It hurts very badly and is quite pronounced. I am getting a referal to see an orthapedic surgeon Friday. This mass makes everyday activities very difficult. If anyone has any insight, I could use it. I am very nervouse as I have never undergone surgery.
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Permalink Reply by Anita P on -
Hi David, I'm new here too. Like yours, my parents don't speak much English so explaining to them what a GCT is was really hard. Do you have any other siblings who can help you explain it to them? Or you might want to use an internet translation program, write down what it is, and have them read it. My parents are pretty old school and it took them a really long time to understand that it's a tumor but not cancerous. My mom freaked out when I mentioned tumor because in our language tumor=cancer but hopefully they get it now.
It's awesome that you got to continue with school while undergoing treatment. My tumor is in my left femur so mobility is an issue for me and I can't really continue my rotation and see patients when I can't really walk. I really wish I'd complained about the pain in my knee sooner so that I could've dealt with it before it got so bad but oh well. How is your job hunting going? What fields are you looking to go into? Good luck with it!
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Permalink Reply by Nikki Wegman on -
Hi, I have had a smiliar outcome to yours. Only I'm not able to make much use of my Left Thumb not my wrist. Its very frustrating at times but I can say that being out of a cast makes it that much easier. I had two surgeries also, the first to remove the tumor and the second was a bone graft from my hip to replace the metacarpral bone they removed. The tumor was closer to my palm so the bottom two joints in my thumb are no longer there. Its been tough (esipcially in a job where typing is involved in almost every thing we do) but ive found ways to get around it. Hopefully over time thing will get easier, its just all about learning how to use your hand in a different way. Good luck with your job search, I hope everything works out well.
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