Sarcoma walk has already saved a life
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Susan Erikson (left) and the Greiner family - (front) Liam, (middle, l to r) Cameron, Andrew, Angela and (back) Eoin - gather to support Andrew's fight against cancer. PHOTO/KEN POWERS

Hudson - Usually, when a charitable organization puts on a fund-raiser to aid research into a fatal disease that has taken the life of a loved one, ideally it hopes the money raised will indirectly save lives by funding research into a cure.

 

While the fourth annual "12,402 Steps to Cure Sarcoma Walk" will certainly be able to do that, based on the $319,000 it's raised in its first three years, with more coming from this year's walk, it has already saved a life - directly.

"I'm alive because of the sarcoma walk," said Andrew Greiner, a Worcester resident recovering from a malignant sarcoma. "Had it not been for their organizer, Susan Erickson, I would have gone on for months thinking I just had a bruised leg. I sincerely believe I'm here today and able to be with my wife, Angela, and my sons, Cameron, [8], Liam, [7], and Eoin, [4], because of Susan and her organization."

While talking to Erickson last year for a story she was working on for "The Community Advocate," reporter Angela Greiner was hit by a frightening realization.

All the symptoms that Erickson's sister, Jennifer Hunter Yates, in whose memory and honor the walk is held every year, had when she was diagnosed as having a sarcoma in her right hip were the same symptoms that Andrew was exhibiting.

"I remember stopping Susan as she was talking and saying, 'This is really unprofessional, but my husband is, right now, going through all these things that you're describing,'" Angela said. "It really freaked me out."

In the months preceding Angela's meeting with Erickson, Andrew had two full examinations, complete with blood work, and was told that he was in perfect health and that the bruise was just a hematoma that would take a year to heal.

Despite being told that, Erickson recommended that Andrew have an MRI test on the area.

The MRI showed a large mass in Andrew's right thigh that had grown completely around his femur. A few days after the MRI, doctors performed a needle biopsy on the growth, which revealed the sarcoma.

"It was incredible," Angela said. "In less than a month, Andrew went from being in perfect health to being told to get his affairs in order."

When doctors informed the Greiners that Andrew had cancer, they suggested a surgical biopsy on the mass. After that suggestion, Angela called Erickson and mentioned the proposed surgical biopsy.

"I told her: under no circumstances have that surgery, because if the entire sarcoma isn't removed, it accelerates its growth and causes it to spread. Andrew might be dead today if he had gone ahead and had that surgery," Erickson said. "I also referred her to David Harmon at Mass. General, the doctor who treated Jennifer."

That was on a Friday. The following Monday the Greiners met with Harmon. That Friday, Andrew began chemotherapy.

These days Andrew's wavy brown hair is long gone, he's had a portion of his right femur removed and replaced, and he is nearing the end of chemotherapy with a positive prognosis for recovery.

One of his many goals, he said, is to get healthy enough to participate in the sarcoma walk, striding alongside Erickson, the woman he believes saved his life. This year's walk will be Sunday May 3 at Hudson High School.

"I've been searching for a cause, for something to get behind and get involved with," Andrew said. "I could never find something that I didn't cynically think was being exploited in order to line someone's pockets.

"But seeing the work that Susan and her organization do, and the fact that about 95 cents of every dollar goes into sarcoma research," Andrew continued, "I'm very committed to this organization."

For more information about the walk, visit www.jenniferhunteryatessarcomafoundation.org, call Erickson at 978-371-7351 or send e-mail to her at sarcomasteps@yahoo.com.