They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. The perfect example of someone who follows this life perspective is one woman who is currently dealing with a low-grade tumor in her right foot. Though she is scheduled to have her foot amputated, she is not wallowing. Instead, she is encouraging people to get out and move, “whether that means going for a run in the rain if it’s crappy outside. Whether that means going for a walk on your lunch break, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. Enjoy being able to do it because there might be a time where you want to and can’t”, she said.
Let’s take a look at her inspiring story and how she’s dealing with her cancer since the diagnosis.
Woman with A Golf-Sized Tumor on Her Foot
Mommy blogger Jenn Andrews, 33, from Charlotte, North Carolina went to her nail salon one day when her pedicurist noticed a small pea-sized bump on her right foot. She described that it could only be seen when massaged.
At the time, Andrews was pregnant with her first child so as much as she desired to attend to the lump on her foot, she couldn’t. Instead, she decided to wait before doing any medical procedures to treat it. Fast forward a year later when she was pregnant again, the lump grew significantly bigger. She said, “It went from a pea-size to almost a golf ball on top of my foot. So, post-baby 2, I knew I needed to take care of this issue.”
She eventually got the tumor removed but later learned that it was a low-grade myxoid sarcoma, which is a rare soft-tissue tumor that has a misleading benign appearance.
Andrews strived to achieve full remission so that she can raise her two babies, one that is 17-month old and the other being 3-months old. She started with scheduled scans every three months, which then turned into every six months. By then, Andrew said, “This gave me more time to start feeling ‘normal’ again.”
She added, “normal as in living my life around ME and not the fear of testing every few months. Of course, every time it would get close to testing time – the fear would reappear. I know – this is normal. The last year, I was able to move to annual [scans], which was a big upgrade. I cried leaving the office in happiness knowing that I have a full year of normalcy without having to worry about appointment and testing.”
Andrews Decided to Get Her Foot Amputated
Unfortunately, this feeling of happiness was short-lived when she learned at her next appointment that her tumor came back differently and removing it was no longer an option. Andrews was filled with frustration and said, “I don’t want to miss out on my kids.” So, she made a bold decision.
At her next appointment, Andrews talked to her doctor about her options. She said, “I asked him if I didn’t want to deal with this again—what was my best course of action? His response was one that I never expected to hear. It was to eliminate my foot.”
Andrews decided to follow through with this procedure and has scheduled an appointment to have her foot amputated. From there, she plans to get fitted for a prosthetic and run a 5K later in the year.
Her mama warrior attitude continues to persist. She said, “so for now – it’s one day at a time. Take things as they come. This will by far be the hardest year of my entire life. I’m scared to death. I cry a lot. But I know in the end I will persevere—I will inspire. I will get myself back. And most importantly, I will be okay.”
Loved ones and even people who didn’t personally know Jenn heard about her story and took to the streets in the #MoveforJenn movement that she requested in a Facebook live video early March.
We’re all cheering her on for her bravery and her optimistic attitude to continue to live life not bound by her condition and future physical disability.
What You Need to Know About Myxoid Liposarcoma
As mentioned above, myxoid liposarcoma is a rare, soft-tissue tumor that’s typically present on the limbs. It’s characterized by round to oval mesenchymal cells, small signet ring lipoblasts, and a rich network of capillaries in a myxoid stroma. According to clinical data, it is so rare that less than 2 per 1,000,000 people have it. Unfortunately, the cause of development is unknown, and it is observed in both men and women, typically ages 30 to 50 years old.
Furthermore, it is observed worldwide with no known ethnic or racial preference. There are no clear risk factors for the occurrence of myxoid liposarcoma, but it’s always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.
Signs and Symptoms of Myxoid Liposarcoma
These are dependent on the location of the tumor. The indications include:
- Slow-growing and painless tumor. They’re also multifocal (occurs in more than one area)
- Frequently found on the limbs (arms and legs) and rarely in the abdominal region (retroperitoneal space)
- If the tumor is on the thigh, a painless lump may be observed. It may also cause leg pain and restricted movement
- If it forms in the abdominal region, the tumor may not cause any symptoms for a long time until it grows to a large size and compresses the adjacent organs in the abdomen
How Myxoid Liposarcoma is Diagnosed
Myxoid Liposarcoma may be diagnosed by using the following tools and procedures: (1)
- Physical examination, evaluation of patient’s medical history
- Radiological studies, such as x-ray, whole body CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound scan of the affected region
- Needle biopsy of the tumor
- Open biopsy of tumor: A tissue biopsy is performed and sent to a laboratory for a pathological examination, who examines the biopsy under a microscope. After putting together clinical findings, special studies on tissues (if needed) and with microscope findings, the pathologist arrives at a definitive diagnosis
Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.
Conclusion
Always pay careful attention to your body. When you notice something that’s out of the ordinary, it’s important that you visit your healthcare provider to get a check-up. Learn from Jenn Andrews’s story and take early measures to get treated for anything that could potentially hurt your health. As always, it’s good to maintain a healthy lifestyle starting with the food you eat to prevent any health problems. Check out this extensive healthy food list to help you get started.
