You had CANCER?

So after posting my new blog last month, in which I briefly catalog my first three years in San Diego, I have had a lot of response about my cancer.  So, I'll touch on it briefly to get it out of the way.  Sorry for the scare!

I moved to San Diego in September of 2006, as is noted in my profile, and started the incredibly tedious process of finding a network of new professionals: optometrist, dentist, doctor, etc.  In May of 2007 I found a doctor and went in for my annual check up.  When she was checking my glands (aka: squishing my neck to see if anything made me wince) she found a lump on the left side of my throat.  Since she was new to me as a patient she shrugged it off a bit and said "could be a roll of fat" (just what any weight-sensitive 26 year old wants to hear, right?) but recommended I have my blood tested and have an ultra-sound done on my thyroid gland.  At the time I didn't know my thyroid gland from my... well... any other glands I have.  So here's a quick picture for you to figure it out.

The blood test showed that my blood-sugar level was a little high - I could have guessed that.  At the time my diet was terrible.  However, the ultra-sound showed at 1-1/2" growth on my left thyroid gland.  There was potential that it would be benign, and just be a goiter (not a sexy alternative in the least) but rather than risk this being something worse the specialists sent me for a fine needle aspiration.  Up until this test I'd kept my cool.  This test got to me.  It started with the fact that my doctor was ominously named Dr. Gurney (I only wish I was kidding) followed by the fact that said doctor's anesthetist didn't give me enough anesthetic for the procedure and I could feel all of the needles sticking into my throat.  I hate to admit it, but I cried after this one - they got blood on my brand new shirt; that would make anyone cry, right? Right?  No?  Oh...

The results came back with inconclusive results; basically the cells were abnormal, which oftentimes means cancerous, so the decision to operate was made; better to have it out in case it is cancerous, and no harm done if it's not.  Shortly before my surgery my friend named my nodule.  In May of 2008 I had "Norbert" removed.  Oddly enough I wasn't sad at his departure!

Once the biopsy was done I went back in to the hospital for my check up and consult with the surgeon.  I had papillary cancer.  Wonders never cease: the enlarged nodule that was suspected of being cancerous was completely benign but the cells around the nodule were cancerous.  SO... time for surgery number two.

In October of 2008 I went in for my second surgery to remove the entire thyroid.  Unfortunately the surgeon mis-read the original surgical report (at least that's what I'm told) and wasn't able to entirely eradicate the gland due to a large amount of scar tissue.  Had he tried to remove it all surgically he would have run the risk of damaging my vocal chords rendering me voice-less, EEP!  So, to get rid of the entire glad I received a single dose of radiation after in February of 2009 to knock out the rest of the thyroid gland.  There was a small, local metastases in a lymph node but the doc figures it's going to be taken care of with the radiation.  I did set off the radiation detectors in the Calgary airport on my trip home in March of 2009 but since then have been fine.

Here I am just two days after my surgery - not so bad, eh?

So, I think we're all caught up to speed now.  I've been playing with the levels of Levoxyl and almost have it right.  I'll likely go in for more radiation testing in February of 2010 to make sure it's all taken care of.

Thank you all for your concern.  I'm doing good, and am positive I'm past this whole "c-word" business!