In his junior year of university, Kyle Miller was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma cancer. “I Googled it and Terry Fox’s picture came up,” he recalls. “I was just devastated. I was 21 at the time, on a lacrosse scholarship.”

He returned to Canada from Cornell University where he was studying, and learned about new surgery and new hope from Dr. Jay Wunder, Surgeon-in-Chief and head of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at Mt. Sinai hospital in Toronto.

Dr. Wunder, Leadership Sinai Chair in Surgery and Rubinoff/Gross Chair in Orthopaedic Oncology, explains that a lot has changed in sarcoma treatment since Terry Fox’s battle with the disease. “The biggest advance in the past 15 years has been the addition of multiagent chemotherapy to treatment which, together with better radiology and advances in surgical techniques, has led to much higher rates of cure.”

“We developed a chemotherapy unit for sarcoma on our surgical ward and this provides great continuity of care for patients and families during their journey through biopsy and staging (classifying the tumour), chemotherapy, surgery and rehabilitation. Our Sarcoma Program has a long history of research-based advances which have led to major improvements in outcomes, including advances in limb-sparing surgery that result in better function and quality of life for patients.”

In May of 2003, a 13-hour surgery performed by Dr. Wunder saved Kyle’s leg so that he could continue to live an active and healthy life.

Kyle returned to the field for Cornell during his last year of Urban Planning studies, and then tried out for Team Canada. “Making that team — that’s when I felt like I’d conquered cancer,” he says. Winning the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship was the proverbial icing on the cake.

These days, as he pursues a career in commercial real estate, Miller draws on his sarcoma and sports experiences to speak to schoolchildren across Canada about overcoming adversity and setting goals. One picture that really inspires the kids shows Miller in 2008, five years after his surgery, carrying the Olympic torch in Shanghai.

He’s carried the Olympic torch and he’s won gold at the Lacrosse World Championships, but if you ask Kyle Miller to pin down the absolute best thing he’s ever seen in his 28 years, he’ll say, “My toes.”

Sarcoma Survivor Teresa Bell:

My name is Teresa Bell and I am a sarcoma cancer survivor. I was born in 1968, grew up and now raise my family in Prince Edward County which is a lovely rural community close to Belleville, Ontario, Canada. My husband and I have 3 children and own a printing company where we enjoy working together every day.

My cancer story began the fall of 2003. As my youngest child turned one year old, I was frustrated with my body and just couldn’t seem to lose my baby belly. In fact, people were starting to think I was pregnant again! So, with much embarrassment, I went to my doctor, pointed to my stomach and asked, “Is this normal?” Thank goodness my doctor was quick to take the situation seriously; he examined me and sent me for an ultrasound. The test showed a large mass and next I found myself at the Kingston Regional Cancer Clinic being told I had a tumor that needed to be removed. They thought it was ovarian in origin but no further tests were done to diagnose the tumor. Within a month of that first ultrasound, I was undergoing surgery to remove a watermelon-sized tumor. The pathology reported it as myxoid liposarcoma and the oncologist said no follow up radiation or chemotherapy was recommended.

At this point I was extremely uninformed about my disease. I was not offered any further education about Sarcoma, nor did I think it important to do any of my own research. It seemed like I had a close call but it was all taken care of and I went back to my regular life. However, in Jan. 2007 a routine follow up CT scan showed masses in my abdomen. They were small and in Feb. 2007 I found myself back in the operating room for what I thought was a biopsy but instead became a resection of 4 small masses, all of which the pathology reported as myxoid liposarcoma. Again, the oncologist said no follow up radiation or chemotherapy was recommended. This time, however, I decided to learn more on my own about Sarcoma and concluded that my close call meant that I should start to take better care of myself and my life.

In 2007 I went through many changes - lost weight, exercised regularly, ate better, and by summer of 2008, just months before my 40th birthday, I felt I was in the best shape of my life. Cancer, however, does not seem to respect good intentions and my June CT scan showed another mass. The August scan revealed three quickly growing tumors. At this time I sought a second opinion at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. A September scan confirmed the masses were still growing rapidly. On October 31st, a date engraved forever in my mind, I was told the tumor board had reviewed my case and unfortunately my condition was inoperable, and radiation and chemotherapy were not options for cure.

Not wanting to take no for an answer, I continued to seek treatment and in December 2008 found an oncologist in Mexico where I was treated with doxorubicin chemotherapy and radiation. By January 2009, the tumors were reduced to 50% and in April 2009, I underwent surgery back in Kingston, where the remaining tumors were successfully removed by a skilled surgeon. I was now seriously researching Sarcoma, networking with cancer patients, learning and asking.

My research helped me to be better prepared for my recurrence in 2010, and I sought an opinion at the Segal Cancer Center, at the Jewish General Hospital. An August 2010 scan showed a tumor growing as well as nodules scattered on the abdomen wall. I underwent 7 cycles of MAID chemo, administered in-patient over 48 hours. An April 2011 scan showed no evidence of disease and a celebration took place in my heart.

Currently there is a potential that I have a recurrence and the team at Segal is considering stereotactic radiation. I continue to fight the good fight, living joyfully each and every day.

Sarcoma Survivor David-Kirk McCleary:

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.

“We will operate and take the lump out of your arm. And once your arm heals, we will begin your chemotherapy”, he stated without preamble or greeting. “But chemotherapy is for people with cancer”, I said looking up at his impassive face and the slightly abashed faces of the residents that stood nervously behind him. “Exactly”, he said and then promptly left the room.

A million thoughts ran through my head, so many things left undone and so many dreams left, yet to be realised. I looked down at the golf balled size lump in my arm, now more alien and menacing than anything else I had yet faced in my short life.

The next few days were a whirlwind of activity in preparation for my ensuing journey through the valley of the shadow of death that cancer represented to me at that point. Had it not been for the loving and prayerful support of my family, and dear friends, hell bent on keeping me active and wonderfully distracted as well as informed about community resources and other help, I am sure that the already terrifying cancer prognosis would have been more than I could have easily borne at that point in my life.

I am thrilled to say that years later, I am a survivor living a happy and healthy life that I now have even more appreciation for. Surgery saved my life and my friends and family allowed me to get back to living and enjoying it.

Thanks to the efforts of the Sarcoma Cancer Foundation of Canada, my experience is more likely to be an aberration and a thing of the past. In their efforts to advance the treatment of Cancer and advocate on behalf those being treated for cancer, I am confident that not only the research, but also the quality of life during and after the experience of being treated for sarcomas will be markedly improved.