'The Pebble' Has 'The Rock' in Her Corner
- 10-year-old Luna Perrone was diagnosed with a type of bone cancer called Ewing sarcoma just three weeks before turning 10.
- Perrone is currently undergoing chemotherapy, and has received lots of messages of love and encouragement along the way. Even “The Rock” sent the superfan, who calls herself “The Pebble,” an encouraging video message via Instagram.
- Ewing sarcoma is a type of sarcoma that occurs in bones or in the soft tissue surrounding the bones, and "lifelong monitoring" is generally recommended after treatment for the disease.
Perrone was diagnosed with the rare disease just three weeks before she turned 10. In a most recent health update, Perrone was in the hospital with a 102.9 degree fever after another round of chemotherapy and receiving platelets. But her hospital stay quickly turned around for the better after she woke up to a video message from "The Rock" after she had sent him her own video expressing her admiration for the actor.
Read More“You are such an inspiration to everyone around you and now to me,” he said in the video. “I’m pulling for you, the world is now pulling for you too.”View this post on Instagram
When Perrone found out her idol had sent her the video she was ecstatic, and her mother documented her reaction after waking up in the hospital to her special surprise.
View this post on Instagram
“I was SHOCKED to wake up and see @therock THE ROCK had posted a video wishing me well!!” her caption read. “I can't wait to make DJ's pancakes and try rock toast! It's like my dream just came true. I'm stuck in the hospital but I STILL haven't stopped smiling since I saw The Rock's video!”
Perrone has been a fan for quite some time. Similar to “The Rock,” she even has the nickname “The Pebble.” A couple weeks ago she posted a picture of her wearing one of Johnson’s “Warrior Mana” tanks and flexing her muscles.
View this post on Instagram
“Who wore it better?? The Rock or The Pebble??” she asked her Instagram followers.
Perrone also had the chance to meet soccer star Alex Morgan and golfing professional Tiger Woods. And while we don’t know how long Perrone will be battling the rare disease, we do know she’s got a lot of love coming her way. We also know cancer’s got nothing on “The Pebble.”
What are Sarcomas?
The term sarcoma is used to describe an array of more than 70 rare cancers that begin in the bones and the soft tissues. This diverse group of diseases accounts for only about one percent of tumors in adults and just over 10 percent of tumors in children.
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The main symptom of sarcomas is generally a slow-growing, painless mass, but symptoms can be hard to detect as soft tissue sarcomas are typically painless and bone sarcomas can be mistakenly diagnosed as orthopedic injuries.
"Unfortunately, most sarcomas do not cause many of the symptoms that may be associated with other cancers," Dr. Dale Shepard, director of the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute Phase I and Sarcoma Programs, tells SurvivorNet. "A mass the size of a golf ball or larger and growing should be evaluated as a potential sarcoma. It's important that patients who do have symptoms are not dismissive of them."
Sarcoma Survivor Kara Ladd found solace in Reiki, Meditation, and Energy Healing During Treatment
Understanding Ewing Sarcoma
Ewing sarcoma is a specific type of sarcoma that occurs in bones or in the soft tissue surrounding the bones. It is most commonly found in adolescents, but younger children, as well as adults (in their 20s and 30s) can also be diagnosed with this disease.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some signs and symptoms of Ewing sarcoma include:
- Pain, swelling or tenderness near the affected area
- Bone pain
- Unexplained tiredness
- Fever with no known cause
- Losing weight without trying
Treatment for Ewing sarcoma depends on the location of the cancer and the size of the tumor at the time of diagnosis. A doctor's course of action may involve a combination of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Sometimes the aggressive nature of these treatments can cause both short-term and long-term side effects. According to the Mayo Clinic, "lifelong monitoring is recommended" after completing treatment to watch for potential late effects of the intense treatment.
Exercise and Cancer
Luna Perrone has been determined to work out as often as she can in between treatments. Her favorite sport seems to be soccer, based on her Instagram, but she’s also posted content of her working out in the gym, riding her bike and hitting a punching bag with a smile.
When it comes to exercise and cancer, Dr. Sairah Ahmed, associate professor in the Division of Cancer Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, wants you to know that being in good shape during your battle can be very beneficial.
What to know about diet and exercise if you have cancer
"I think that, in terms of cancer, oftentimes patients feel that they don't have any control over any part of their life, and that's not true," Ahmed told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview. "The more physically fit you are going through your cancer treatment, the less side effects you'll have and the faster you'll get back to your normal quality of life."
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