Here we share 6 stories of bone cancer fighters and survivors and their favourite quotes.
Ewing’s Sarcoma Patient Shares His Journey
Favorite Quote
“Try to change what you CAN control, not what you can’t control” –Tim Likos
Tim Likos was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in April 2016. He successfully defeated his disease but was again diagnosed with cancer in April 2018.
Diagnosis
“In April 2016, diagnosed after pathology results from skull resection came back positive for Ewing’s sarcoma. They couldn’t tell on the scans what it was.”
The Journey
“Up and down. I think being treated at Peter Mac has made a massive difference to my journey. They have a great support system for patients which I have utilised. It’s been tough to go through it physically and also mentally and watching my family worry about me.
I’ve had 2 surgeries on my skull, 14 rounds of chemo and 5 weeks of radiation (2016-2017), then re-diagnosed in April 2018 when I had a distal femur resection, emergency surgery for a massive bleed from a vessel in my leg where I lost 2 L of blood. Still have ahead: surgery to remove 2 spots on my lungs, radiation to my left hip, a stem cell collection, high dose chemo, then the stem cell transplant all to come.”
Motivation to fight cancer
“My family and the need to beat it to watch my kids grow up!”
Biggest hindrance
“I didn’t expect the recovery from my leg surgery to be so brutal. It’s been a battle learning to do things differently as I can’t do half the stuff I used to be able to do.”
Message to other cancer patients
“Believe, stay strong but also know its OK to have your shit days too.”
Ewing Sarcoma Survivor Now An Author

Favorite Quote
Do not make permanent decisions based off of temporary feelings” -Brandi Benson
The Diagnosis
“I was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in 2009 while I was deployed in Iraq at the age of 24.”
The Journey

“My journey of cancer was scary as we all can imagine. I was just 24 years old and was deployed fighting for my country. I discovered the tumor on January 17th after a workout I had and, this discovery propelled me into action. I was sent to Baghdad, Germany, and then finally Walter Reed in DC – where I received nearly 90 rounds/cycles of chemotherapy, where I learned how to walk again and where I had to test both my mental strength and faith. It was at Walter Reed where I made some great friends that would all pass away due to their cancers and where I discovered a new passion for my life.
During my time here, I wrote a journal that detailed my daily routines, my secrets, my failing marriage, my fears and my happy days. I vowed to myself that if I lived, I would turn this journey and journal into a book. I am proud to say I kept my promise to myself. I have published my book, and it is titled “The Enemy Inside Me” and can be purchased on my website: www.BrandiLBenson.com . My hopes of this book are to encourage others and not to get lost in the clouds of depression.
I was faced with a very rare and aggressive cancer. The doctors were scared for me and even threatened to amputate my entire left leg starting at my hip bone. They said I would never run again. They said my life would change forever. I am a testament that with my strong faith and my amazingly supportive family, I lived. And not only did I live, but I have my leg, I compete in long races, and my life is better after cancer. I was not ready to let the blanket of death cover me. My will to live was too strong and so should everyone!”
Motivation to fight cancer
“My motivation to fight cancer was my family. Particularly my nephew, Donavin. He was three at the time and I wanted to watch him grow up and play sports and be great. I did not want to leave this earth and my nephew barely knowing me or having any memories with me.”
Biggest hindrance
“My biggest hindrance with this journey was my faith. This event truly tested my faith. Before this experience, my faith in God was not strong, but I am here before you now to say that there is a higher power and a spiritual world at work that our five sense cannot comprehend. After this traumatic event, my goal is to become an ambassador and talk to patients and survivors to give them real hope and real advice.”
Message to other cancer patients

Osteosarcoma Survivor Now A Talented Dancer

Favorite Quote
“Dance, dance for today and dance for tomorrow.”
The Diagnosis
She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma on November 19, 2014, in left lower leg.
The Journey

Motivation to fight cancer
“My motivation was my family and my love of dance.”
Biggest hindrance
“Being away from family and friends and spending the rest of one year in the hospital.”
Message to other cancer patients

“Love every day like it’s your last and enjoy now.”
Chondrosarcoma Survivor Now A Block Print Artist

Favorite Quote
The Diagnosis
“I was forty-one years old when I was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma. My son likes to say that yoga saved my life: I went to the doctor after experiencing limited mobility in yoga class. What I assumed was a labral hip tear turned out to be a rare form of pelvic bone cancer.”
The Journey

“It’s quite possible that I unknowingly lived with a slow growing pelvic tumor for twenty-five years (beginning in puberty). I learned of its existence and lived with the knowledge of having bone cancer for forty-five days before it was cut from me. My type of bone cancer was not receptive to chemo or radiation so surgery was my only option. I had four inches of my pelvis removed in 2016 with a limb salvage surgery that allowed me to keep my leg while removing a grapefruit sized tumor from my pelvic bone and inner thigh. One large skin graft and 180 stitches later, I re-learned to walk and am now two years cancer free.”
Motivation to fight cancer
“There are still so many thing I want to experience in this life, so many things I want to share with my kids!”
Biggest hindrance
“Wrapping my head around all the unknowns was challenging. Giving up control and surrendering to anything and everything that was happening felt impossible. Most days I felt like I was a bad actress in a terrible movie. I also had no idea what “recovery” looked like after my surgery, so embracing the “new normal” through recovery was something I had to practice.”
Message to other fighters

“Be gentle with yourself. Find others so you don’t feel alone. Allow yourself a full range of emotions. Find what motivates you and fight for your life!”
Ewing Sarcoma and Leukemia Survivor Shares her Journey

Favorite Quote
“ You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.” -Max Ehrmann
The Diagnosis
Ewings Sarcoma -August, 8, 2008 Leukemia- February, 26, 2010
The Journey

Motivation to fight cancer
“My main and only motivation to fight was my family. I fought for my parents who didn’t leave me out of their sight. I fought for my two younger sisters who lost their childhoods being passed from neighbour to neighbour so my parents could be there with me the whole time. I fought for the possibility to one day have a family of my own.”
Biggest hindrance
“I cannot even begin to list them all. I have had so many side effects and surgeries and V.O.D and two bouts of graph versus host disease. I have extreme osteoporosis and osteonecrosis that have caused me to have several joint replacements. I also now have ovarian failure and cannot have children.”
Message to other cancer patients
My message to fellow cancer patients would be: Allow yourself to feel all of your feelings. We are so often told to be positive and to ignore our feelings of anger or sadness because “Being positive is half the battle!” If you don’t want to grin and bear it, then don’t. Your feelings are valid and you need to feel them in order to heal.”
Ewing’s Sarcoma and Lymphoma Survivor Story

Favorite Quote
She never seemed shattered; to me, she was a breath taking mosaic of the battles she’s won.”The Diagnosis
“Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: January 2009, age 16. Diagnosed after having severe chest pains. Discovered a tumour in my chest that was later confirmed as HL stage 3b in the abdomen, chest, neck, and face. Ewing’s Sarcoma: October 2015, age 23. Diagnosed after having my stomach extending. Initially misdiagnosed as a 5 & 1/2 month pregnancy. Instead, a very large tumour was found attached to my uterus and other organs in that area. I had to have a total abdominal hysterectomy in order to remove a tumour safely, leaving me infertile. It was confirmed as Uterine Ewing’s Sarcoma, a very rare case with not many cases out there.”
The Journey

“My journey with cancer was difficult, but it gave me such an appreciation for life. When you almost lose your life you realize how quickly it can be taken away and how valuable time is. I still have my moments of sadness and I am still discovering myself after having two cancers, but every day is truly a gift.”
Motivation to fight cancer
“I knew deep down it was not my time to leave. I have things to do, people to be here for, and dreams to chase! “
Biggest hindrance
“Depression and losing my fertility.”
Message to other cancer patients

Ewing’s Sarcoma Survivor Runs A Blog To Spread Awareness

“I had cancer but cancer never had me.”
Julia Spurge-Salerno was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma on November 6, 2016. She has successfully defeated her disease. She runs an amazing blog- thesarcomadiaries.
The Diagnosis
“I found my lump accidentally because I bumped into it when getting up from my couch. The lump was located in my breast and chest wall. I went to 3 different doctors to confirm that there was definitely a lump and was sent for various tests including a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy. As I suffer from panic disorder, I told my dr when he received my results to tell me over the phone regardless of the outcome. He told me I had cancer over the phone. At first, my diagnosis was metaplastic breast cancer but after 3 rounds of chemo to shrink my tumor I had surgery. Following surgery, they examined my tumor further and changed my diagnosis to Ewing’s Sarcoma.
The Journey

“I went through 9 rounds of aggressive chemo that was 3 days per month and 9 hours per day. I also had a lumpectomy to remove my tumor that was located in my left breast and chest wall. My final diagnosis was Ewing’s Sarcoma. I lost all of my hair after my first round of chemo. I also dealt with extreme fatigue, stomach cramps, headaches, body aches, bone pain, chemo brain (forgetful and confusion), numbness in my hands, and anxiety.
It was extremely hard on my children and family as cancer takes its toll on the entire family. I was lucky that my chemo worked and I was able to pull through. I had amazing doctors and nurses who helped me through the entire process as well as my counsellor who treated myself and my family to cope with all the changes and fear. I am now cancer free for 1 year and 4 months.”
Motivation to fight cancer
“My motivation was definitely my 3 children. I needed to fight my hardest to beat my cancer so I could be with them as long as possible.”
Biggest hindrance
My biggest hindrance I would say was the emotional side of things. It can sometimes be very hard to stay positive when you are basically at war with your own body. You have to find ways to cope and power through because it can be very easy to succumb to depression. It is ok and very normal to have bad days but if you feel it’s getting out of hand you need to seek out help. I started counseling during this time by myself and with my family. That helped immensely as did my writing.
Message to other cancer patients

“Listen to your gut always. If you feel that something is wrong, please get it checked out immediately. Fight with everything you’ve got and don’t surrender to this disease. Seek out support from those who have been there or are still going through it. I used online support groups and they definitely helped me to see there were others just like me and that I was not alone. You can’t be positive all the time and if you have a bad day it’s okay and completely warranted.”
Bone Cancer Survivor Shares His Motivational Journey
Favourite quote
“If it doesn’t work today, doesn’t mean it won’t work tomorrow. It means, keep doing good things and focus on healthy lifestyle. Even if we got sick”
Alvin was diagnosed with bone cancer in April 2018. He has successfully defeated his disease. He is a fitness enthusiast.
The Diagnosis
“April 2018. I had bumps on my ankle since November 2017”
The Journey
“It started at Oct 2017, sometimes I felt pain on my right ankle
At November 2017, appeared bumps on my ankle
At December 2017, It got worst, I can’t use shoes
At January 2018, I did ankle roentgen and there was fleck above my calcaneus bone
At January – February 2018, done several treatments from doctors
At March 2018, done MRI and several blood test. And the result, led the doctor to diagnose Bone Tuberculosis
At April 2018, underwent Debridement Surgery (the removal of damaged tissue or foreign object from a wound) and doctor took sample to biopsy
After a week, the doctor gave the result of biopsy, it was Chondrosarcoma grade 3
I checked several doctors in Indonesia, KL, & Penang and the result still the same.
Every doctors gave me 2 solutions:
- Calcaneus Bone reconstruction (10-15% recurrence)
- Amputation (0% recurrence)
Did PET scan, and the result was no spread of cancer cell
And I got amputation surgery on June 2018”
Motivation to fight cancer
“I’m not ready to die. I wanted to survive and be the living proof of cancer survivor. So, I can help others to fight against cancer”
Biggest hindrance
“Choices of Reconstruction or Amputation.”
Message to other cancer patients
“First of all, we should be ‘accepting’. Accept that we are in sick condition. If we are accepting our condition, then we can be positive. We can focus on healing process. It will be helpful. Don’t regret for every single choice that we make, just be thankful.”