Gary Lezak, former Extraskelatal Osteosarcoma Patient.
- Gary broke his right wrist roller blading in 1999, just weeks after he became Chief Meteorologist at KSHB. He had a cast and 4 weeks into wearing it he got a new cast. When he went into doctor to get new cast, he noticed a growth on his left arm. He had an ultrasound and biopsy.
- Gary was directed to Dr. Howard Rosenthal at the University of Kansas Cancer Center.
- He was diagnosed with Extraskelatal Osteosarcoma… an infrequently diagnosed soft-tissue sarcoma subtype
- “If I don’t break this wrist, I’m probably not here.”
- (Gary about Dr. Rosenthal) “To this day…one of the greatest people I have ever met.”
- Gary did a lot of his own research. He was scared but determined to beat it.
- “Kansas City was just a huge part of staying positive because I got such great support from viewers.”
- Gary is cured.
Dr. Howard Rosenthal, Medical Director of the Sarcoma Center, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
- All sarcomas are rare. 80 types of sarcomas, both bone and soft tissue. They equal less than 1 percent of all cancers. Osteosarcoma is most common bone forming - bone cancer. Only 500 cases in the country – 80% in children.
- Extraskelatal osteosarcomas, what Gary had, are extremely rare. 500 cases over 30-year period.
- They are an aggressive cancer with a high mortality rate because they quickly spread to other organs.
- Treated by surgery and chemotherapy, sometimes radiation.
- 30 percent of patients with extraskelatal osteosarcoma are treated with amputation. In the early 90’s it was more common.
- Dr. Rosenthal specializes in limb preservation.
- Follow-up is long term. Exams, cat scans, MRIs every 3months for 2 years, then every 6 months. After 5 years, annual visits. Dr. Rosenthal follows his patients for life.
- “We actually are curing the vast majority of osteosarcomas as well as most other sarcomas…very exciting for me.”
