Second cancer….

The thyroid is an interesting creature. I’m amazed at not only the location and shape of it, but all the major functions it is responsible for regulating. It is a butterfly shaped organ, located at the base of your neck, under the adam’s apple. In short it controls the speed at which the body’s chemical (metabolic rate) functions. It affects things such as bowel movements all the way to heart beats. I’d love to delve into it more, but the learning part of my brain is tapped out. I’ve learned more then I ever cared to about other cancers and I so need a break. You can find more information here…. www.cushings-help.com/thyroid.htm or here http://www.mythyroid.com/

Scan results picked up THREE nodules / lesions so far… ((UltraSound scan picture below))
I fought for a week to get an appointment with an Endocrine doctor. Which I finally got at the last minute. They called me in the late morning as I was going out the door for another appointment to come in just a couple hours notice, being an hours drive away. I jumped on that! I brought copies of my Ultra Sound scans with me. While my mother will understandably cling to a diluted of version what she read (which I completely understand), the doctor was able to view the actual scan and determine that I do fall into the "5% of all patients" category (and 75% of another category of radiation patients) and have cancer in my thyroid. Thankfully he doesn’t feel it’s something I have to be overly alarmed about at this precise moment. It doesn’t appear to be the most aggressive type at this point. He believes it to be Papillary cancer (which is still a carcinoma). I will be having a biopsy this Friday. The office doesn’t think they will have the results for at least a week, which seems like an awful long time to me. Thyroid cancers can like any other cancer, spread into the lymph nodes and/or metastasize into nearby tissues, including lungs etc. But I am breathing a little easier with the impression that this may be a slower spreader. I may be able to enjoy Christmas yet.
(of course, I’m finding biopsies of this nature may not be very accurate. What does one do with that information?)

In case anyone decides to argue or challange the doctor findings, below is a synopsis what was on the report AND an actual US picture of my thyroid.

Scan report: "At least 3 nodules in right lobe – 2 = hypoechoic solid mass w/ coarse peripheral calcifications & suggestion of microcallcifications \ 1 = cystic appearing w/ bright internal echo."

ALSO - Please say special prayers for Chuck & Rosie and their family. They could use a boost of good!

Feeling The Burn

I guess there’s two burns.

Radiation. (pictures below if you want to skip down with out reading)

And it seems Bobby’s night job is coming to a close. Sounds like the rest of the building is done. Thanksgiving or Christmas and he should be done there. So, that burn is on him.

I frequently am asked if I'll return to work. I want to. I enjoy working outside of the house. Yet there is a big part of me that is absolutely terrified I'll be wasting precious time sitting behind a desk when I should be enjoying my family while I still can. But I may not have a choice in that matter.

Radiation is almost over. Then a few doctor appointments and I start on medication to…. Help…. Prolong….. life…… (damn. That is really hard to say. Prolong.) With all the turmoil of driving to various therapies on a daily basis coming to a close, I sit back and think…. What do I do now? I’ve grown accustomed to this new way of life and I don’t know how to act anymore. I don’t know how to be normal anymore. I don’t know what normal even is anymore. What am I going to do? What am I supposed to do?

I’m heading into new confusing waters of the unknown. Where there are no guarantees.

Effects of radiation…. so far
Draw backs, yes. Especially with the price of gas. Thank God for all of us it has come down almost a dollar in the past weeks.

The pictures below show the burns that occur with radiation. Yes, they give you cream. It’s more a regular lotion with an oily feel to it. Did it help? Maybe it would have if I was a bit more diligent with it. I used it couple times every day, but that’s just not enough. Perhaps it’s the dose I received.

Does it hurt? It was uncomfortable, and now hurts more. Especially when the seat belt hits the spot on my shoulder. It’s not like a sun burn. It’s more like…. Have you ever scraped a large area of skin off, almost like road rash… forgot that scrape was there, touched it and it hurt in a burn sort of way? Or washed that area and it burned? It feels more like that. There's spots where it hurts to the bone.

But, I’ll take radiation any day over chemotherapy. Hands down.

Aren't I embarassed about showing everyone the girls? Showing boobs doesn't seem bother me as much as posting my face on the internet. Actually, it's really amazing the things we get used to. A lot of people have looked at the girls in the past 9 months.