萝莉社

Unfortunately for Joseph Leroy, a walking cane had become his best friend. The weakness in his legs was too much to bear unassisted. He also experienced stints of leg and abdominal numbness, as well as left arm weakness.

Examinations at showed that Leroy, 65, had kidney cancer, also known as renal cell carcinoma, which had spread to other parts of his body. A tumor was found on his spinal cord at the point where the neck meets the chest. The tumor was compressing his spinal cord, which was the source of the numbness and weakness. It also led to urinary dysfunction.

鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty common for tumors to spread 鈥� or metathesize 鈥� to the spine. We see it quite a bit,鈥� said Sassan Keshavarzi, MD, interim chair and assistant professor of at the .

Keshavarzi performed two surgeries to address Leroy鈥檚 spinal tumor. He first entered the back of Leroy鈥檚 neck to take pressure off the spinal cord and remove as much of the tumor as he could from the rear. He then installed screws and hardware to stabilize the spine.

For the second procedure a few days later, Keshavarzi went through the front of Leroy鈥檚 neck to remove the rest of the tumor, which had infiltrated the vertebra at the base of his neck. He then installed a special plating system and cage to reconstruct the front.

The numbness in Leroy鈥檚 legs and left arm has subsided and he鈥檚 much stronger now compared to before the surgeries. He鈥檚 able move his limbs freely, has control of his bladder and can walk without a cane.

鈥淢y legs are good. I can feel them,鈥� Leroy said. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad he鈥檚 the one who did surgery on me, I really am.鈥�

Leroy continues to undergo chemotherapy treatment, as the cancer has spread to other parts of his body. Though Keshavarzi isn鈥檛 able to offer a cure, he鈥檚 happy to know he鈥檚 helped improve Leroy鈥檚 quality of life. Without the spine procedures, Leroy would likely be in a wheelchair relying on the daily assistance of a caregiver. Keshavarzi said loss of bladder control would have continued to be part of his limitations.

But Leroy doesn鈥檛 use a catheter and has been able to maintain independence.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a dramatically different experience, and that is exceptionally gratifying,鈥� Keshavarzi said of Leroy鈥檚 restored freedom. 鈥淗e鈥檚 very much at a low moment and we get to come in and change his life in a significant way.鈥�