Rob's Story
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Tumor Site: Right Forearm
Age at time of Diagnosis: 19
Date of Diagnosis: March 25, 2005
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Hospital:
University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hospital
Oncologist:
Dr. Arthur Staddon
Surgeon:
Dr. Lackman
His Story:
Rob was a very happy young man who enjoyed his family, friends, and life. His smile could light up the world.
Cancer Experience:
The cancer experience was short, only 9 months. He was staged at 3 then went to 4 during treatment as it
had spread to his lungs. Rob had a history of lifting weights and keeping himself in
shape. In the beginning of 2005, he had noticed that his arm in the elbow area had started to hurt. Believing
that this was a pulled muscle due to lifting weights, he tolerated the pain. Once the pulled muscle should
have been feeling better and wasn't he went to see his Doctor. On 3/25/05 Rob was dx with stage 3 Alveolar
Rhabdomyosarcoma with a 6cm tumor in his right arm. His treatments began with 6 cycles of heavy duty chemo
consisting of Adriamycin Ifex, Vincristine and Mesna. He also had 38 treatments of radiation to his arm to
shrink the tumor, which it did, to 5cm. He then had 25 days of cpt-11/irmotecan and vincristine. In the
beginning there was only a speck in his lungs and he was told not to worry.
Rob's Legacy:
Written by Rob November 15, 2005: "so yea leave it to me to get a sickness that also causes u to be in pain while u run a fever and feel all
of the other symptoms of being sick. kinda seems cruel if u ask me, like sorta kicking u while ur down, damn...
lol but thats what makes me me i guess. i mean life is all about a story, ur life story. i mean thats what we
all are really here for isnt it? its like everyday we do things, go out, be with loved ones and friends to have
fun, make memories, make new stories. there are all types of stories out there, so some will be amazing, some
not so good, some tragic, and others hilarious, thats what life is all about. its fun to live life, and its
even better to re-live life over and over again thru our stories and memories. like we all have our favorite
stories where we bring them out when we meet new people to either entertain them, or to make a good impression
that will hopefully stick in the back of their minds until the next time u meet that person again. its fun to
be known for something either stupid or funny that u have said and done, but in all honesty if we choose not
to repeat it to others, than the story dies, and never becomes a memory. so anyway im kinda rambling on here,
but all of this was brought to my mind by someone telling me today that u cant let things stop u, not even
physical health. i mean we all know how it feels to be sick, so sick where u dont think u can actually function
right, but if u choose to stay in and block the world out, just think of all of the things and memories that
u will be missing out, never to actually get back."
You are in my heart forever and I love you and miss you
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