A cancer diagnosis gave Troy a second chance at life

Troy never expected that a simple family outing in the summer of 2020 would lead to a life-changing diagnosis. He had taken his kids to a nearby river to enjoy the outdoors, one of the few safe escapes during the pandemic. As he scooped up his son during a typical four-year-old tantrum, he felt a strange crackling sensation in his shoulder. It wasn’t a pop or snap, but something unfamiliar.

“I remember saying what every dad in his late 30s says: ‘Getting old sucks,’” Troy recalled. “I figured I’d pulled something and didn’t think much of it.”

But a year later, during a workout, he felt the same unsettling sensation. That’s when he knew something wasn’t right. A visit to an orthopedic doctor quickly escalated. The X-ray didn’t reveal much, but it raised enough concern to prompt the team to order an 'emergency' MRI. The results of that scan led to a phone call that would change everything." 

“The doctor told me, ‘I’m not the guy for this. You need someone who deals with rare orthopedic tumors’,” Troy said. “That was the moment everything shifted.”

As it turned out, there was a guy for this — Daniel Lerman, MD, a nationally recognized orthopedic oncologist with HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke’s - a part of HCA HealthONE. Although Dr. Lerman was on vacation at the time, he reviewed Troy’s scans right away and ensured he had the first appointment on his schedule when he returned.

“That told me everything I needed to know about the kind of doctor he is,” Troy said. “He took it seriously. He made me feel like I mattered.”

Dr. Lerman diagnosed Troy with chondrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. Surgery was the only option for treatment as neither chemotherapy nor radiation would be effective. The tumor had overtaken Troy’s shoulder blade, and the procedure required would be both highly specialized and life-altering.

“He told me, with honesty and compassion, ‘This is a rare and serious cancer, but we’re going to take care of it,’” Troy said. “His confidence and clarity gave me hope.”

To eradicate the tumor, Dr. Lerman had to perform a procedure to remove Troy’s entire shoulder blade. Since scapular implants aren’t standard or readily available, a custom prosthetic had to be designed and manufactured. But waiting eight to 10 weeks posed too great a risk. Dr. Lerman performed the resection first, inserting a temporary cement spacer to preserve Troy’s muscle structure while the implant was made.

“Dr. Lerman was incredible. He was honest about the challenges, but never once made me feel like the situation was hopeless,” Troy said. “He explained everything and made decisions with me, not just for me.”

Six weeks later, Troy received the custom implant and began the long process of rehabilitation. The team told him that the most functional recovery would happen within a year; that whatever strength and flexibility he gained in that time would likely be permanent.

So, Troy got to work.

He leaned into physical therapy and adapted his lifestyle. Yoga helped him regain flexibility. Strength training helped rebuild muscle. He even incorporated swimming — a feat that once seemed unimaginable.

“Today, I swim for an hour at a time,” Troy said. “I sent Dr. Lerman a photo and he said, ‘I don’t even know how you’re doing that.’”

Troy’s gratitude extends far beyond physical milestones. Just 98 days before his diagnosis, he had completed a rehab program for alcohol recovery. The diagnosis came at a fragile but transformative time.

“I walked into my therapist’s office and said, ‘I know this was supposed to be my discharge meeting, but I just found out I have cancer. Can I stay a little longer?’” he shared. “That kind of support paired with the care from Dr. Lerman and his team is what helped me stay grounded.”

Now 42, Troy lives in Lakewood, CO, with his wife Kelsey and their two sons. He left his high-pressure career in craft distillery sales to focus on writing and coaching. He authored a book, No Silver Bullets, about his journey through cancer and recovery, and now mentors others navigating life-altering transitions.

He credits his second chance to Dr. Lerman and the entire care team. “They gave me more than a surgery — they gave me back my life,” he said. “Because of them, I can lift my kids, open a door, play, swim, wrestle. I can live.”

Most importantly, Troy learned that healing doesn’t always mean returning to the old version of yourself. It means building something stronger. “Things don’t always look the way you thought they would,” he said. “But I’m still here. And that’s what matters.”

Cancer care in Denver

When you need compassionate cancer care, we're always here for you. At HCA HealthONE hospitals, we provide comprehensive, compassionate cancer care programs. Our specialized teams of cancer doctors (oncologists) work together with many other specialists. They provide you with an individualized care plan that can include both nonsurgical and surgical treatments.

We partner with Sarah Cannon Cancer Centerto provide individual, innovative cancer services. Our care teams work individually with you to schedule consultations with specialists — such as surgeons, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists. Have cancer questions? We can help. askSARAH is a dedicated helpline for your cancer-related questions. Our specially trained nurses are available 24/7, and all calls are confidential. Contact askSARAH at (303) 253-3225.