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Heather’s Story (Thyroid Cancer)

Heathers Story Thyroid CancerI’m a 33 year old mother of 2 beautiful girls. In 2012, after losing a baby towards the end of a pregnancy and then 3 months later, finding out that my husband had 2 bleeds on his brain and required brain surgery and a year off work to recover, I thought all my “life isn’t fair” cards had been dealt. Turns out I was wrong.

In May 2014, just when we thought everything had started to get back on track, my husband pointed at my neck and said, “You have a lump on your throat.” I noticed a small lump sitting just where my voice box would be. I laughed and said that I might just have a bit of an Adam’s apple. He casually said that I should have it checked out the next time I was at the doctor’s. I “hmmmmed” and didn’t think much more of it.

The next time we were in the doctor’s office, I mentioned it. He said that it was probably a nodule and that these are normal and common, but it should be checked. Off I went for an ultrasound which came back with “multi nodular thyroid with no suspected malignancy.” Perfect. My doctor and I were both pleased, and he mentioned that it would need monitoring, and he would refer me to an ear, nose and throat specialist. I’ve always been one to wait for the best specialist, so I had a 6 week wait. On my first consultation with the ENT, he too was not concerned, but sent me for a FNA (biopsy) and CT Scan.

Whilst having my lump biopsied, the doctor looked and me and said, “There is one more area that I would like to biopsy.”
“Another nodule you mean?” I said. He looked at me, and I noted the kindness in his eyes. “No, a lymph node.”

I laid as still as I could as tears rolled down my face. “One more sting…… One more sting.” I will never forget him telling me that over and over as he stuck the 12 needles into my neck over and over again. Sure enough, the following week I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes on the right side of my neck.

On June 5th, 2014, I had a total thyroidectomy and neck dissection. The surgery wasn’t as bad as I thought, and I had fantastic support. I was home after 3 days and back to work 2 weeks later. If I could have afforded to take the month off between surgery and my radioactive iodine treatment, I would have. My pathology results came back with Papillary Thyroid Cancer with 1 out of 30 lymph nodes affected.

After withdrawing from thyroxine and turning into a puffy, lunatic, crazy person, I had the scan that confirmed that there were only a few cells remaining at the surgery site and nowhere else. Perfect. The oncologist thought it would be best that I had a low dose of radioactive iodine ablation (RAI) just to kill any of those cells.

The RAI was great. No side effects. I was well cared for at Peter Mac Cancer Centre in Melbourne and on my way to getting back on track. The following week, I had a follow-up scan that should have shown that the uptake of iodine was just in my throat area. However it showed that the cancer had spread to my left lung. However it was microscopic and could not be seen on a CT Scan at 1mm sections.

So now I get to fight like a girl. My version of fight is pray, hope, become a wellness warrior, and live a better, simpler, happier life, and hope that this horrible, horrible disease is gone come Feb. 2015 when I’m due to go back for another check up.

Update 3/16/16: After her last scan on March 16, 2016, Heather has officially been declared cancer-free! There are no remnant cancer cells in her neck or lungs where it had previously metastasized. No more scans, no more radioactive iodine, and no more cancer. She fought like a girl and won!

Heather
Australia
Submitted 09/30/2014

The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

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4 comments

  1. Michelle L.

    Keep fighting. Thank you for sharing your story. I also have papillary thyroid cancer of the follicular variant. I found out Nov. 2013 and had a TT in Dec. Life is crazy dealing with the ups and downs of hormone therapy but we have to just keep pushing forward and fighting. I’m doing great and I try my hardest not to use my cancer card that often but I do use it once in a while to get a foot rub! (well deserved in my opinion)

    • mani

      Dear How r u ppl feeling now??
      .i also ve pap thyroid ca in feb15..then TT and after 1 mnth
      radioactive iodine treatment…

  2. honey

    hi i also’d follicullar variant papillary. i had opertion on 14 july 2015,6 lymh nodes were effected. had radioiodine.

  3. Christin

    In November 2015 I started feeling very bad with heart palps and no energy.
    I went to the ER and they told me it was only anxiety. Put me on an anti
    anxiety medication which was not for me! Before I left the ER they said oh
    by the way your right thyroid is enlarged have your GP check it. I told my GP what they
    said he replies with your thyroid levels are fine . One month passed back in ER with heart palps
    I was given a heart monitor for 30 days and was sent to a cardiologist. Everything with my heart
    looked fine I did a stress echo and was normal. Was sent back to my GP Doctor and he was out
    so I seen a NP who referred me to go get a sonogram of my thyroid. After sono two days later
    I was called back in to disguss my results . He we go they found a 4.5 centimeter nodule on me
    right thyroid. This was in January of 2015. Was sent for a FNA which came back suspicious for papillary
    carcinoma. I was sent to a surgeon and scheduled for surgery on Feb 18 , Woke up from surgery with
    Half of a thyroid ?, He explained to myself and my family that he did not see cancer! But we where still
    waiting for the final pathology report . Two weeks later final report showed positive for papillary carcinoma.
    I was referred to an endocronogist and had to wait three months to get in there . He suggested that
    with the size that it is the recommend having RAI. Which meant having a second surgery for a TT . I as of June 2 2016 do not have a thyroid and am trying to get adjusted to these meds ! I do not
    know when I will have to do RAI yet but am assuming 6 to 8 weeks! I am a 36 year d mother of 6 beautiful
    children . I have been fighting like a girl and continue to fight and not give up !

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