Hello all,
I've been lurking for a while, trying to find an appropriate newsgroup
to talk about my husband's cancer.  This group is the best of what I
found so here goes:
Background -
Husband age 40, lump removed from the thenar eminence of the left hand
(fleshy part of the palm for the non biology geeks) on January 9th.
The lump was preliminarily diagnosed as a synovial sarcoma at the
pathology lab at Blanchfield Army hospital.  The Armed Forces
Institute of Pathology confirmed the diagnosis.  We asked for a
molecular study of the tumor (genetic testing) by AFIP.  Before that
request could even be processed we found that the tissue samples had
been sent to the Mayo Clinic by Blanchfield for just that test.  :-)
The result confirmed that the specific mutation that is the signature
mutation for a synovial sarcoma was found.  That eliminated even our
last unreasonable doubt.

Based on the diagnosis, and the size and location of the tumor (5.5 cm
in the largest dimension, primary tumor extended into the carpal
tunnel), the surgeon's consultations with a number of institutions and
oncologists elicited a unanimous recommendation of amputation of the
hand.  We gulped, but made the most sensible decision.  The amputation
was performed on March 9th.

Lung CT and bone scan showed no sign of metastatic disease.
(Synovials like to make a beeline for the lungs)

Chemotherapy is to begin any day now.  The local oncologist
(Tennessee) is consulting with MD Anderson and Sloan-Kettering before
he begins treatment.  Due to the uncommon nature of the cancer he's
only seen a few personally and wants to ensure that the treatment
regimen recommended by the oncologist in Ohio is the one based on the
most up-to-date data.

The agents being vetted as the most probable are:
Ifosfamide (with a side order of Mesna)
Doxorubicin
Dacarbazine

It could be all three, the first two, or some other combination should
the consultations turn up other possibilities that have shown promise.

This will be on top of the medications he's currently taking for pain
related to the amputation surgery.  Howard has always been a
disgustingly healthy man.  He's an active duty soldier (20 plus years
in) and used to a high level of health, energy and strength.  The
surgeries (January and March) have put a little dent into his
reserves, but I suspect we've only seen the tip of the iceberg and
would like some sense of what we might expect during chemo.  He's
recommended for 4 21-day cycles of the drugs.  Tips on how to make all
this a little easier would be greatly appreciated.  Especially the
needle part.  As odd as this may sound the very same man who kept his
cool in Iraq when under fire has a problem with needles and blood.
Such are phobias - inexplicable.  He's being seen by a doctor for the
phobia but frankly there just isn't time to wait for talk therapy.
The stress of the cancer journey has come disproportionately from the
blood draws and IVs involved.

Thank you and take care,
Carmen