Hello, my name is Crystal. I am a three time cancer survivor. I had Hodgkin’s disease at age 14, schwannoma at 18, and thyroid cancer at 26. I had the treatments of chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow. I have had my spleen removed, and a lump removed from my neck. This …
Read More »Valerie’s Story (Thyroid Cancer, Fibromyalgia)
My name is Valerie Serrano and I am 26 years old (for only 11 more days). I am currently battling Thyroid cancer, fibromyalgia, Hoshitmotos Thyroid Disease, along with some other health problems. My mom passed away 4 1/2 years ago from small blue cell carcinoma, and my dad had melanoma. …
Read More »Does it Ever Really Go Away?
In February 2010, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. In September 2010, I was declared in remission. In December 2010, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and was told I would have to have the other half of my thyroid removed. In February 2011, I had it removed, and was told that it …
Read More »Life Moves On
A year ago today, I went for my end of treatment PET scan, which would go on to show that I had reached remission. As I’m sure you can imagine, the relief was wonderful. After seven long months, to find out that I had the all clear was the best news we …
Read More »Rachel’s Story (Multiple Illnesses)
Here I am, another sleepless night. I like to blame it on all of the anti-convulsants I am on for my trigeminal neuralgia. A facial pain disorder which started about six months ago. The pain is so bad that at times I end up in the ER begging for pain …
Read More »Invisible Scars
I have many visible scars from various diagnostic procedures over the last 18 months. I have a scar on my ribcage from my chest drain, a scar just under my arm pit, and a scar just underneath my right breast, from my Hodgkin’s biopsy. I also have scars on my …
Read More »Bye Bye Thyroid!
One week ago, I had the second half of my thyroid removed. This leaves me on medication for the rest of my life. I am also taking calcium tablets as my levels dropped in hospital, so I’m having them rechecked next week. I had a meltdown in hospital on Sunday. …
Read More »Starting a New Fight
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned here before that I had to have thyroid surgery recently? When I was having my PET scans for my Hodgkin’s, they found a hot spot on my thyroid which didn’t change with treatment. I was referred to ENT and after a biopsy came back inconclusive, they decided to operate. …
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