Redcliff man raising awareness for rare cancer diagnosis

“The doctor said there’s a 20 per cent chance of it actually doing anything, and I’ve chosen to have quality of life over quantity,” he says.

Doctors estimate James only has weeks left to live. Being the optimistic person he is, James and his wife Crystal are doing what they can to raise awareness and bring light to James’ condition in the hopes of finding a cure.

“We’re pretty much trying to shout out to the world to see what’s out there,” Crystal says. “The doctors are working on that, and we’re actually trying to find that out too, is there something out there, anywhere.”

Dr. Omar Khan, an oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, says diagnosing myxofibrosarcoma is a difficult process.

“There’s no screening tests,” Dr. Khan says. “For example, we have screening for breast cancer or cervical cancer. With these tests or cancers, it’s really based on the original symptoms these tumours cause.”

Khan says treatments for this type of cancer are complicated, and require a multi-disciplinary approach of physicians, surgeons and radiation therapy.

Don’t let it control your life. Live your life. _{-James Graham}

Since his diagnosis, James spends most of his time around the house or reading, but wishes he could enjoy the things he used to, like camping or eating a full meal.

“I miss being able to go out and do stuff, right? But because of the cancer and all the chemo and the muscle loss and the weight loss and the lack of eating, it doesn’t give you a lot of energy,” James says.

James and Crystal remain optimistic, and vow to make the most of the time they still have together.

“We just take each moment and you live it to the best that you can,” Crystal says. “The little things in life is what counts, not the big things.”

“Come to terms with it early, live with it. But don’t let it control your life. Live your life,” James adds.

Crystal plans on writing a book in the near future about her and James’ life together, and plans on donating every cent to sarcoma research.

by Gates Guarin

Redcliff man raising awareness for rare cancer diagnosis

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