Paul and Allison Liotti will be among hundreds of walkers at Plantation's Central Park on Oct. 18 for the Second Annual 5K Run/Walk for a Cure to benefit the Sarcoma Foundation of America.

The Tamarac couple have a vested interest in finding new cures for the rare and often deadly disease.

Their 4-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn, has already battled two rounds of sarcoma. Though she is in remission now, and thriving in preschool, the Liottis know firsthand that new research is crucial.

``My daughter is living proof that funding for these things can be beneficial for future children who are battling sarcoma,'' said Paul Liotti, a teacher and head baseball coach at South Plantation High School.

The Liottis first began battling Kaitlyn's cancer, known as a rhabdomyosarcoma, in 2007. Discovered in her bile duct, the cancer returned in a much larger tumor one year later. Her doctors decided to embark on an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy and radiation, but Liotti said there was a need for doctors to create their own road map for her chemotherapy because of the general lack of research into the disease and the unusual location of her tumor.

``There was no baseline for treatment,'' said Mike Mandell, the Florida chapter leader, and national board member, of the Sarcoma Foundation of America. He has waged his own battle with angiosarcoma..

So they will join an estimated 500 others in the Central Park walk, which organizers are hoping will raise $50,000. Last year's race raised $30,000 that was used to fund a grant in Boston for research into a cure for pediatric sarcoma.

``We hope the generosity of our supporters will allow us to fund two grants for next year,'' Mandell said.

This year's event will feature medals for men and women in a variety of age categories, as well as a free Kids' Fun Run for children under age 5, a bounce house, games and a DJ playing music. Mandell says he is optimistic that a bigger turnout for this second walk will mean greater awareness in the fight against sarcoma.

``People who were there the first year kind of spread the word a bit. Plus more people have become more familiar with the SFA as they've gone through their own battle with sarcoma, or they know someone that has'' he said.

According to the Sarcoma Foundation of America, this rare cancer appears in the body's connective tissue, including nerves, muscles, joints and bone.

Tumors are often hidden deep in the body, making it difficult for an early diagnosis. Almost half of all sarcomas are resistant to any medical approach, but the disease receives far less funding and attention than more common types of cancers.

Sarcoma accounts for only 1 percent of all adult cancers. It is responsible for an estimated 15-20 percent of all childhood cancers.

``Even though it is quite a rare cancer, with maybe 10,000 to 15,000 cases a year in the United States, the people who are affected by it are young, and the years of lost productivity and of lost life are great,'' said Dr. John Goldberg, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. ``It is really critical to advance the work in sarcoma because we can make a big difference and have people, who otherwise wouldn't make it, become active members of society.''

Goldberg said potential warning signs include any unusual lumps or bumps that should immediately be brought to the attention of a pediatrician. But if a biopsy is needed, he advises seeking out a surgical specialist who is an expert in tumor removal.

``I would say you should work with your primary care physician to see a specialist who will take a more experienced approach to it to make sure whatever biopsy that's done, is done correctly and done thoughtfully,'' he said.

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@