At 67 years old, David Gonsalves moves with the energy of someone half his age. A lifelong resident of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, David is often found swimming in the ocean, skiing New Hampshire鈥檚 slopes, spending time with his grandkids, or planning his next whitewater rafting adventure. He鈥檚 been self-employed for 40 years as an electrical contractor and still works part-time as an inspector for the town of Westport. Retirement, he says, is 鈥渕ore of a suggestion.鈥�

David鈥檚 active life hit an unexpected roadblock in early 2019, when he began experiencing stiffness behind his right knee. His local orthopedic doctor suspected a Baker鈥檚 cyst鈥攁 fluid-filled swelling that鈥檚 common in athletes鈥攐r possibly arthritis. But despite their reassurances, the discomfort slowly worsened until David could barely bend his leg.

After years of worsening symptoms and visits to different orthopedic doctors, one finally decided to try a procedure to drain what had long been assumed to be a minor issue. But that changed everything. When the doctor began the ultrasound, he stopped almost immediately. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 what I thought it was,鈥� he told David, and ordered an MRI. Later that day, David received a call: the scan revealed a large mass behind his knee, stretching up into his thigh and measuring over 20 centimeters.

The tumor was later identified as a low-grade sarcoma鈥攁 rare, cancerous growth that develops in the body鈥檚 connective tissues, such as fat, muscle, or bone. While low-grade sarcomas are less likely to spread beyond their original location, they can still grow or spread at a slower, more gradual pace compared to high-grade sarcomas and require treatment by cancer specialists.

David was quickly referred to Dana-Farber Brigham 天美传媒, where he met Brigham and Women鈥檚 surgical oncologist , an expert in soft tissue sarcomas and complex gastrointestinal tumors. After reviewing the scans, Dr. Fairweather explained that the tumor needed to be removed and walked David through the potential risks, including nerve damage and long-term mobility issues. The tumor was pressing against the sciatic nerve and entangled with nearby muscle, making surgery delicate. Still, Dr. Fairweather鈥檚 calm and confident approach reassured David that he was in the right hands.

In May 2025, David underwent an intricate, ultrasound-guided surgery using advanced techniques. The tumor鈥攁bout the size of a softball鈥攚as successfully removed, while the sciatic nerve was skeletonized鈥攁 highly precise process in which surrounding tissue is carefully dissected away to preserve the nerve鈥檚 function. This was critical, as the sciatic nerve controls movement and sensation in the leg, protecting it was essential to avoiding long-term mobility issues.

The recovery, David said, was 鈥渙utstanding.鈥� After two weeks with a drain and some help from visiting nurses and physical therapists, he returned to Dana-Farber Brigham to have his sutures removed. Just 30 days after the procedure, Dr. Fairweather gave him the green light to return to swimming.

鈥淚 asked him, 鈥榃hen can I swim again?鈥� and he said after 30 days. I took that literally,鈥� David said with a laugh. 鈥淭hat day, I was in the ocean.鈥�

And he hasn鈥檛 stopped since. Nearly every day, David swims a mile or more off the South Coast鈥攔ain or shine. He walks a mile each evening and recently returned from a week in New Hampshire where he hiked, swam, and enjoyed playing with his grandchildren.

鈥淚 feel like I have my life back,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t just under two months post-surgery, my mobility is almost totally restored. No pain, no restrictions. I鈥檓 not a guy who sits still, so this has meant everything to me.鈥�

One of the most unexpected parts of his experience was the connection he formed with Dr. Fairweather鈥攏ot just as a physician, but as a fellow athlete.

鈥淲hen he told me he does triathlons, that really struck a chord,鈥� David said. 鈥淚 swim in the ocean almost every day. We talked about fitness, pushing yourself, and recovery. That bond really meant a lot to me鈥攊t made the whole experience more human.鈥�

Dr. Fairweather believes that 鈥渙ne of the most critical aspects of patient care is connecting with your patients in order to build trust, relay compassion, and to help set expectations for recovery and overall outcomes.鈥�

鈥淭he technical and anatomical considerations of surgery are the foundation of what we do as surgeons, however, we do not underappreciate the role we play in patient鈥檚 lives and the humanistic approach to medicine,鈥� Dr. Fairweather added.

Now back to work part-time and enjoying summer with his wife Cathy, their two children, and five grandchildren between the ages of one and seven, David is looking forward to what鈥檚 next, including another whitewater rafting trip in Maine and a fall getaway to the White Mountains.

He also has a message for others who might be facing a similar situation.

鈥淚f your doctor says Dana-Farber Brigham, don鈥檛 hesitate. Don鈥檛 worry about the drive or the logistics鈥攋ust go,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 worth it. You鈥檒l be in the best hands.鈥�