Local teen fighting cancer

East Prairie teen Kenneth Boyd was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, this year. Here, Boyd goes through chemotherapy as treatment for the cancer. (Submitted photo)

East Prairie teen sees his life change after being diagnosed with bone cancer

jillb@standard-democrat.com

EAST PRAIRIE -- Cancer is a tough word to hear at any age, but when you are a teenager it can be devastating. Ask Kenneth Boyd.

Boyd was told earlier this year he has osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

When the doctor at Children's Hospital in St. Louis delivered the diagnosis, Boyd admitted he didn't know what to think at first.

"I cried a little bit ... I freaked out ... It tore me apart. I felt like all the dreams I was trying to go for were getting knocked down," said Boyd, who wants to be a football player and a powerlifter.

In a matter of weeks, he underwent surgery having four and a half inches of his right leg bone just above the knee cut away and replaced with cadaver bone.

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