Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox

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Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba,

and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, a community near Vancouver on Canada's west coast.

An active teenager involved in many sports,Terry was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with

osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) and forced to have his right leg amputated

15 centimetres (six inches) above the knee in 1977. 

Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox

While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering

of other cancer patients, many of them young children, that he decided to run across Canada to raise

money for cancer research.

He would call his journey the Marathon of Hope.

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Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox

After 18 months and running over 5,000 kilometres (3,107 miles) to prepare,

Terry started his run in St. John’s, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980 with little fanfare.

Although it was difficult to garner attention in the beginning, enthusiasm soon grew, and the money collected

along his route began to mount. He ran 42 kilometres (26 miles) a day through Canada's

Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario.

It was a journey that Canadians never forgot.

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Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox

On September 1st, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles),

Terry was forced to stop running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because cancer

had appeared in his lungs. An entire nation was stunned and saddened. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at age 22.

The heroic Canadian was gone, but his legacy was just beginning.

To date, more than $400 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry's name through

the annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world.

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Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox

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OSTEOGENIC SARCOMA’S DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

Osteogenic sarcoma, also called osteosarcoma, is the most common type

of bone cancer in children. It arises in the ends of the bones.

The bones most frequently involved are the large bones of the

upper arm (humerus) and the leg (femur and tibia).

Osteogenic sarcoma usually occurs between the ages of 10 and 25

and is more common among males than females.

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Young people with this type of cancergenerally complain of pain and swelling,

which they sometimes blame on an injury. Diagnosis can be difficult,

because the disease is easily confused with local infection, effects of injury, glandular deficiencies, arthritis,

vitamin deficiencies, and benign tumors.

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OSTEOGENIC SARCOMA’S DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

Although osteogenic sarcoma may be suspected by the way

the bone looks on x-rays, diagnosis can be confirmed only by biopsy.

Because the disease commonly spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body,

especially the lungs, chest x-rays, lung tomograms, CT scans of the chest,

and an x-ray skeletal survey or bone scan may also be done before treatment.

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OSTEOGENIC SARCOMA’S DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

Surgery (amputation or limb-sparing) is the primary method of treatment,

followed by a course of chemotherapy using one or more anticancer drugs.

A prosthesis (artificial limb) and physical rehabilitation

may be important parts of therapy.

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OSTEOGENIC SARCOMA’S DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

In medicine, a prosthesis is an artificial extension that replaces a missing body part.

Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by injury (traumatic)

or missing from birth (congenital) or to supplement defective body parts.

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PROSTHESIS—ARTIFICIAL EXTENSION

There are many styles and types of artificial limbs (the prosthesis).

They usually have the following parts:

For above knee amputation (thigh level):

•Suspension (what holds the prosthesis on) •Socket (the part of the prosthesis

that fits around your stump) •Knee joint (artificial)

•Pylon (the pipe) •Ankle/foot (artificial)

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PROSTHESIS—ARTIFICIAL EXTENSION

For below knee amputation (calf level): •Suspension (what holds the prosthesis on)

•Socket (the part of the prosthesis that fits around your stump)

•Pylon (the pipe) •Ankle/foot (artificial)

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PROSTHESIS—ARTIFICIAL EXTENSION

Once the prosthesis is completed,it will be covered by a material to match

the shape of your other leg. This material cover may be a soft foam,

protected by a special stocking or it may be a hard shell.

The team will help you decide which cover is best for you.

The cover will not be added until the team is sure that no

other adjustments to the prosthesis are needed.

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PROSTHESIS—ARTIFICIAL EXTENSION