Stories

Nov 17, 2024, 21:24

Solange Sierra’s Journey with TGCT: Helping Patients with Rare Tumors

From Patient to Provider: Solange Sierra’s Journey with TGCT and Her Mission to Support Sarcoma Patients

After years of suffering from undiagnosed leg pain, Solange Sierra, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) was eventually diagnosed with a tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT), a rare, non-cancerous growth that affects joints and tendons. Her journey, marked by misdiagnosis and delayed treatment, ultimately led her to become an oncology nurse practitioner.

Drawing on her personal experience, Sierra now helps patients navigate the complexities of sarcoma – another rare and often elusive tumor type – offering the guidance and support she wishes she had received.

“I know firsthand the frustration of navigating a rare tumor diagnosis. I am grateful to be able to share my story with patients and reassure them they are finally in a place that will provide the comprehensive care they need.” – Solange Sierra

About Solange Sierra

Solange Sierra’s Journey with TGCT: Helping Patients with Rare Tumors

Solange Sierra, APRN, specializes in Medical Oncology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. She has extensive experience as an Emergency Room Nurse, having worked at the University of Miami Hospital at the Emergency Room.

Additionally, she served as an Emergency Room Nurse in clinical practice and practiced in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Nicklaus Children’s Health System and gained further experience in aesthetic plastic surgery at ResultsMD. A dedicated healthcare professional, she holds a Master’s degree in Family Practice Nursing from the University of Miami and provides care for patients with sarcomas.

Solange Sierra and Cancer

Solange Sierra first began experiencing leg pain as a teenager, which she initially attributed to a sports injury. As the pain worsened over time, she consulted an orthopedist, but an MRI didn’t provide clear answers, and her doctor suggested she simply “live with the pain.”

Solange Sierra’s Journey with TGCT: Helping Patients with Rare Tumors

“Believing I had no other option, I managed the pain with Tylenol, stopped exercising, and focused on my dream of becoming a nurse. In hindsight, I wish I had pressed harder for answers.”

After completing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing at the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies in 2014, Sierra noticed a lump on her leg. With her enhanced medical knowledge, she decided to pursue further testing and was diagnosed with TGCT. Fortunately, the tumor was operable and successfully removed.

“For the first time in six years, I was pain-free. I was so fortunate to have an excellent team of multidisciplinary experts at UM that were able to diagnose and treat my tumor.”

Now an oncology nurse practitioner at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System, she uses her personal experience to support patients with sarcoma, another rare and often difficult-to-diagnose tumor.

Sarcomas, including TGCT, are rare and often misdiagnosed. These tumors, which typically develop in the soft tissues or bones, most commonly affect the extremities or abdomen. With over 170 different types, sarcomas account for about 1% of all cancers, and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center treats around 10% of these cases.

Solange Sierra

Due to limited awareness among both patients and healthcare providers, many individuals go undiagnosed for extended periods. A painless lump or bump on the arm or leg is often mistaken for a muscle strain or minor injury. Physicians may mistakenly diagnose it as an infection or injury, directing the patient to a non-sarcoma specialist rather than a musculoskeletal oncologist or surgical oncologist with expertise in sarcomas. This delay in diagnosis can lead to the tumor spreading.