Surgery Date

After much thought and discussion with family and friends, I have decided to have my surgery as soon as possible and not wait until the summer.  I want to get this over and go on with my life.  I always put work and my students before myself.  If there is one thing I have learned, it is that nothing will fall completely apart without me.  I need to take care of myself first.

So, the date is April 18th which is the Tuesday right after Easter.  I'm happy because we have that week off from school.  If it is a four week recovery then I will only be out of work for three weeks.  I feel very relieved now that I have scheduled it.

Thyroid Report

I had my thyroid biopsy last Thursday.  It wasn't such a bad procedure.  They do it with no anesthetic because that would hurt worse than the actual biopsy needle.  And it really didn't hurt.  It was uncomfortable because they dig around in your throat and I couldn't stop swallowing even though they asked me to try not to.  A tranquilizer would have been nice. 

 

Anyway, my doctor called Monday night with the results.  They did not find cancer cells.  But they did find atypical cells.  So, he says I need to have surgery to see if it is thyroid cancer.  They will remove the right side of the thyroid and check my left side and lymph nodes to see if they are OK.  He said it is a 1-3 day hospital stay.  Recovery is about 4 weeks because I won't be allowed (or able I guess) to talk much because I will be hoarse.  He said that if I wanted to wait until the end of the school year it would not put me at any risk.  He said if it is cancer, I have caught it so early so that is good.  He also said that this cancer has a 99% cure rate.  So I told him that I will also get input from my lymphoma doctor then discuss it with Steve and my family before I decide when I will have surgery.

 

Mentally, I am OK.  I prepared myself for this.  I am not upset, it's almost like doctor's and procedures have become part of daily life.  It has to end one of these days.  Although, I am getting tired of it all.  But I do believe everything happens for a reason even if I don't understand it now.  I will let you all know when I decide about the surgery and get a date.

The Latest-3/06

I went to Sloan-Kettering on Thursday and Friday after repeating the CT scan last week.  Friday, I saw my oncologist.  Basically, my lungs look good (as good as they can look).  There will always be scarring so I will never have a perfect scan.  But I am off the prednisone for three weeks now and I don't need it anymore, so that is very good.  I am happy to say good-bye to my "moon face"!  I will repeat the scan three months from now.  But I must tell you what the doctor said to me because I don't think anyone has ever described me this way.  He said after seeing how I dealt with my treatment that I am "tough as nails".  I thought that was very cool.

 

Thursday, I went to see the ENT.  He checked me and said that the only way to know what is going on is to do a fine needle biopsy.  So, this Thursday I am scheduled to have that done.  He said that he does not operate unless there is something.  But he said the good news is that if it is "something" I will not die from it.  Thyroid cancer is very easy-you just cut it out and it is over.  I'm not afraid of the biopsy, and I don't think it will be cancer.  So, I am not worrying about it at all.  But prayers are good, so keep them coming!