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Ankle Pain Hid Rare Cancer Diagnosis
6 Dec
Summary
- Persistent ankle pain and swelling masked a rare bone cancer.
- Insurance hurdles and initial misdiagnoses delayed crucial treatment.
- Amputation was the safest option to remove the aggressive tumor.
A server experienced severe right ankle pain and swelling starting in September 2024, initially dismissed as a sprain. Over four months, the pain persisted, worsening with activity, but lack of insurance prevented timely medical care. After regaining insurance in January 2025, initial X-rays and a diagnosis of chronic tendonitis were given, but the patient's insistence led to an MRI. This scan revealed an aggressive lesion on the tibia, later confirmed as cancerous Ewing sarcoma by late July 2025.
The diagnostic journey was fraught with challenges, including an unsuccessful biopsy and further insurance battles for a PET scan needed before chemotherapy. The patient had to be admitted to the emergency room to bypass insurance issues and begin treatment. Chemotherapy proved arduous, causing fatigue and nausea. This difficult period culminated in a below-the-knee amputation in early December 2025, deemed the safest option due to the tumor's size.
Despite the life-altering surgery, the patient expresses a sense of relief that the cancer was removed with clean margins, offering peace of mind. The experience underscores the critical importance of patient advocacy and trusting one's instincts when facing medical uncertainty. Supported by family and friends, the focus now shifts to healing, rehabilitation with a prosthetic, and the hope of returning to daily life, including chasing after their young son.
