The doctor examined my neck but something felt "off". I was scheduled for an ultrasound of my neck, all was well, just nodules. I had those every six months after that first finding, to monitor for any growth. I eventually had a biopsy but all was still well. After a couple years, that changed. Unfortunately, the nodules grew and I was sent for another biopsy at a pathology place almost two hours away.
This biopsy was a tad different from a previous one. The doctor came in, I remember how incredibly tall she was compared to me. I had to lay completely still(and not swallow). The tool she used looked like a nail gun, only it had a huge needle at the end. She applied numbing gel on my neck(thank God) and started the procedure. I felt her pushing and pulling the needle back and forth into my neck. After a few moments, she was finished. She left the room to see the results. I remember my parents sitting in the room with me, I felt so uneasy about the whole thing. I knew something was wrong.
The doctor came back into the room around 20 minutes later. Her face looked concerned and serious at the same time.
"It looks like papillary carcinoma".
I was shocked, is this some sort of joke? Me? Cancer? At my age?!
I didnt shed any concern to my parents, actually, I don't think I said anything.
We left the doctors office and stopped for something to eat at IHOP. My neck felt sore and was bruised from the needle. I didn't feel like eating because I was still processing what was said to me.
I went back to my PCP and he made the appointment with my surgeon. Is this real life??? Surgery??
I met with the surgeon in the middle of July of 2012. He was a kind man. He explained how the procedure would go and what would need to be done after the surgery.
"We can do it this Thursday if you want."
No. I waited another week to have the surgery. It gave me too much time to think about it, although I was working at the time still.
August 2nd, 2012 at 5:15 am
I couldn't sleep the night before. I wondered how painful I would be afterwards and how much cancer was eating away my thyroid.
I was brought to a room, I changed into my hospital gown and went over my procedure with different medical staff. My heart was racing.
"Are you nervous today?" the nurse asked.
"Yes."
I remember her shooting medicine into my IV.
"This will relax you some."
That's the last thing I remember before surgery.
I woke up, so drowsy. The nurses cracking jokes about how young I looked and I thought it was the funniest thing I ever heard. I laughed so hard.
They took me to my room, I didn't see my parents waiting for me so I was concerned. The nurses assured me that my parents were on the way.
I remember falling asleep and waking up with the urge to vomit. I tried to yell but alas my throat was entirely too sore to do so. I ended up getting sick all over my bed sheets.
The nurse came to my rescue, changed my sheets and gave me nausea medicine. A few hours later, I ended up sick again. They assured me it was just side effects from anesthesia.
They monitored me through the night. My calcium was low so they had given me tums. I had to stay until I was in the normal range.
The doctor had taken my whole thyroid out. I had cancer tumors on each side. I was told they were slow growing but unsure how true that statement was.
Anyway, I was released the next morning. I felt like I had strep throat...only it was way worse. I had to do neck exercises to avoid any stiffness. I also couldn't eat any solid foods for a little while.
Days passed, and I met with my endocrinologist. The man was smart and knew what he was talking about. He asked how I felt and the first words I said were "I'm exhausted."
Understandable.
He then explained I had to do RAI, which is radioactive iodine. Yes, it's a form of radiation. RAI kills the remaining thyroid cells that may have been left behind.
The RAI, in short, absolutely sucked. I had passed out the morning after taking it. Luckily my brother helped me off the floor. I remember being so weak. I couldn't stand by myself.
I started taking my thyroid medicine(rest of my life) and had another appointment with the endo. He examined my neck but he felt my lymph nodes were still swollen, which was odd. He knew immediately which tests to run.
Guess what? I had mono! It was active in my body. So not only had I went through hell with a surgery and RAI but now I had mono?? My body was beyond exhaustion. Also, there's nothing you can really do for mono. You let it run its course, rest, and take Tylenol for any fever. Mono remains in your body for the rest of your life, unfortunately.
I had a body scan done, everything was clean. I returned to work that October. I caught every sickness under the sun when I did.
I've had hundreds of bloodwork over the years it seems. Over a dozen ultrasounds to make sure my thyroid wasn't growing back. I still have to have checkups. It took twelve years to be put on the right dosage. I'm finally feeling normal again.
So, happy cancer free birthday to me.
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