A rare and deadly cancer was found in the pelvis of an Army veteran who had been experiencing chronic knee pain. Doctors used state-of-the-art 3D technology to perform life-saving surgery, preserving his limb and giving him a sense of normalcy again. This is his motivational tale.
During his 2018 tour in South Korea, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rayshaun Smith initially experienced slight knee pain, which he discounted as a result of his intense training.
The pain was treated with over-the-counter drugs for years, but Smith didn’t learn the real cause of an aggressive grade 3 pelvic sarcoma until 2020, while performing in a stateside part.
Following the diagnosis, Smith recalls, “It was terrifying,” as the disease had spread to the entire left side of his pelvis. His path led him to the orthopedic oncology team at Cleveland Clinic, which is headed by Dr. Nathan Mesko, despite initial recommendations that suggested amputation.
Mesko suggested a novel alternative to removing his pelvis: a specially made 3D-printed implant. Doctors were able to remove the malignancy while saving Smith’s leg thanks to this creative method. Ten hours of surgery and weeks of recuperation were necessary for the intricate treatment.
Despite the difficult healing process, Smith persevered because of his willpower. He is now able to enjoy life, but he still needs to get frequent scans to make sure the cancer doesn’t come back. A recurrence in 2022 was detected early and eradicated with little difficulty.
Smith attributed his second chance at life to his tenacity and the development of modern medicine, saying, “I’m just happy to be alive.” His tale serves as a tribute to optimism, tenacity, and the potential of medical advancement.
