GCT Connect

Giant Cell Tumor Network

Theresa
  • 32, Female
  • NYC
  • United States
Share 

Theresa's Friends

Theresa's Groups

Theresa's Discussions

Question for the female GCT patients or men if you may know the answer
5 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Christina Alamirie Oct 9.

Why so many young women with GCTs (of the sacrum)? Any thoughts? Your ideas are welcome.

Replied Feb 24

Tiredness?

Replied Jan 15

 

Theresa's Page

Gifts Received

Gift

Theresa has not received any gifts yet

Give Theresa a Gift

Latest Activity

Theresa and Bryan are now friends
August 12
Theresa added a discussion
Question for the female GCT patients or men if you may know the answer
Are any of you on birth control pills? My Dr advised against me taking them due to the Estrogen. Has anyone ever heard this?
July 8
Theresa and Prashant are now friends
May 21
Sandra and Theresa are now friends
March 2

Profile Information

About Me:
I am 32 years old. I live in NYC. I am a wife and mother of a beautiful 4 year old girl. I was diagnosed with GCT of the left foot, first metatarsal in June of 2007.
How do GCTs affect you?
GCT patient
Location of primary tumor:
First metatarsal of the left foot
Date of diagnosis of primary tumor:
07-07
Treatment of primary tumor:
I had what is called a resection. They removed the tumor and added bone graft from my iliac crest and put in a metal plate and 8 screws. After 8 weeks in a soft cast I was moved in a walking boot but non weight bearing for 12 weeks, I was then moved to partial weight bearing (using crutches). After 6 months I was told my graft was nonunion and that I would need a 2nd surgery. I had my 2nd surgery in March 2008 they took more bone from my right hip and grafted into my foot. It has now been 16 months since my 2nd surgery and my bone has still yet to heal. I am able to walk on it and have pain but that is all fine with me just as long as this tumor never comes back!!
Facility treated at for primary tumor:
NYU but Dr has switched to Mt Sinai in NYC
Would you recommend this facility and it's Doctors to another GCT patient?
Yes I would recommend both facilities. I also had my 2nd surgery at Hackensack Medical Center which I would highly recommend.
Recurrence? If so, where?
Thankfully no recurrence
Metastasis? If so, where?
No metastasis thank the Lord.
Tumor free?
It has been 23 months since my first surgery and thank the Lord I am tumor free!
Current GCT Status:
After 2 surgeries I am still nonunion, but the good thing is I have not had a recurrence. Of course I would love to be walking and running and wearing my heels but all that will have to be put on hold for some time.
Website:
http://giantcelltumor.blogspot.com

Theresa's Photos

Loading…

Theresa's Blog

Theresa

Update on my first metatarsal

My last Dr's appt didn't go as well as I would have liked. I had a Xray and CT Scan and both showed non union of bone graft. I am so disappointed. I was giving the walking boot and told to walk with both crutches for 2 weeks then go down to 1 crutch for 2 more weeks and then I can go solo. I will be seeing the Dr again the first week of September. He did say that there may be a chance I can walk on my foot even though it is not healed, but then there is also a risk of the metal and screws breaki… Continue

Posted on August 6, 2008 at 12:44pm — 1 Comment

Theresa

SURGERY THIS FRIDAY

So it is finally here, my second surgery to fix my nonunion of bone graft. This is just another bump in the road, I know this will be my last surgery, I will be walking like a pro by summer time. Even though I know what to expect I am still scared to death. Recovering from my first surgery was terrible. Not pain wise but I was having major anxiety attacks and hallucinations. The Dr says it could have been after effects from anesthesia or just from felling trapped b/c I could barely move. I hate… Continue

Posted on March 26, 2008 at 6:47pm —

Theresa

Some News On MRI

OK I got some news on my test. I work for the mammography center a local hospital here in NY. The place that I had my MRI done is right next door. My friend printed out the results and showed in to one of the Drs I worked with. She called me to tell me that it is a fibrous lesion. Which in her words she says is probably from some inflammation from surgery or from walking on it the wrong way. I am relieved although I still need to hear back from my oncologist. He said it was probably not a GCT bu… Continue

Posted on March 13, 2008 at 6:18pm —

Theresa

SURGERY DATE SET

March 28 is a go for my 2nd surgery. I have a great feeling about this one. I am thinking positive and this graft will take and with the love of God I will be walking by summer. I also have MRI tomorrow for the lump on the bottom of my foot, which I hope is nothing that way all I have to worry is about surgery. Please say some extra prayers please!! Hope you guys are all doing well.

Posted on March 10, 2008 at 6:00pm — 1 Comment

Theresa

Not So Good News

I had my follow up visit yesterday. My graft is still nonunion so I need more surgery. My Dr said he will take bone from my right hip this time. I am pretty bummed, but what can I do? I developed osteosporosis in my foot from not using it, so he wants me to swim. I also have a lump on the bottom of my foot that needs to have a MRI. He said it can be GCT but it is not characterisitic of one so he is thinking maybe it is Plantars Fibroma. There is a chance that this graft wont take either and in t… Continue

Posted on February 15, 2008 at 8:16am — 5 Comments

Comment Wall (14 comments)

You need to be a member of GCT Connect to add comments!

Join this social network

At 10:22pm on March 11, 2009, Prashant said…
Hey Theresa,
I have a similar condition as you and wanted to sync with you on your condition. I just had my allograft surgery and wanted to ask you if there were tell tale signs of non union. Please do update your blog with your latest report and i do hope that the news is positive :-)
At 11:12am on February 27, 2009, Heather said…
Hi, Theresa! How are you? I haven't heard from you in a while. I hope you're doing well. I'm good as long as it doesn't snow. When it snows the pain in my implant area where they put the metal plate absolutely kills! But I can't really complain. I'm pain free most of the time. I hope you're well! Talk to you soon.
At 8:20pm on January 2, 2009, junebuggie said…
Hi Theresa. I was relieved to see im not the only one left in a cast post-op. I have numerous questions for my doc, but seeing your pics, I felt a bit relieved to find I'm not alone. Im loading my pics soon.
At 2:58pm on December 26, 2008, saoirse said…
I am from Queens. he made it seem like it was something basic that he could treat for the time being. dont know which bone but based on my scar i would guess the metatarsal next to the baby toe.
At 8:04am on December 23, 2008, saoirse said…
Hi, theresa. Heather said that i sould talk to you since we are both in the NY area and we also have GCT on the foot. mine is on the right foot. i was wondedring if you could suggest any doctors up till not i have only been seeing my podiatrist. but since i didnt have the proper surgery to remove the tumor in the first place and he doesnt want to do anything until there is a noticable mass again i thought it was time to start looking around. hope you are well and that the operation went well for you. i look forward to hearing from you happy holidays
At 7:17am on November 6, 2008, Theresa said…
My bone graft did not unionize so it did not fuse. This has been a very long road and I am reay for it to be over!
At 4:48pm on October 31, 2008, Raphael said…
Hi, I'm not very good with all those terms but I'll try my best to answer you. If I'm not mistaken vascularized fibula graft means taking "vascularized (blood-rich) bone from the fibula". The fibula is" the smaller bone located in the lower leg and because it is not a weight-bearing bone".
If above def is correct, yes, my Dr used vascularized bone from my left fibula. The fibula was made into a T-shaped graft in my sacrum area. Later steels and screws were used to lock the whole area.
You said you bone graft did not work? You mean your body rejected the bone graft? How you Dr sure it was rejected? My Dr didn't mention anything about rejected or accepted in my last follow up (in Oct) and I thought I might be interested to know bout this.
At 1:17am on October 27, 2008, Heather said…
Hey there. I haven't talked to you in forever. Sorry for being out of touch. How have you been? Send me a regular email and give me the update! I'm doing well after surgery. I have a check up tomorrow.
At 4:21am on June 4, 2008, Emely said…
I have been tumor free since february 2006 when I first removed the tumor. Luckily it hasn't come back and I don't think it will. It has gone more than 2 years and the risk is very small for it to reoccur. My bone has healed fine around the cement and is stronger than ever.
I'm producing and directing music videos and working extra as a waitress and enjoying life!
All the best wishes for you and hope you are healing fine this time.
Cheers
Emely
At 4:28am on June 1, 2008, Emely said…
Hi Theresa,
I'm so happy to find this awesome forum for GCT patients. Sometimes you have these thoughts other people won't understand, it is nice to share them with people who experienced similar things.

How did your last operation go? Have you healed properly this time?

I remember you were worried about not being able to wear high heels again, what do the doctors say?

All the best!
cheers
Emely

View All Comments

 
 

About

Heather Heather created this social network on Ning.

Create your own social network!

Badge

Loading…

Get Badge

 

© 2009   Created by Heather on Ning.   Create Your Own Social Network

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Privacy  |  Terms of Service