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Bear Cub · 06-24-2008, 01:31 PM

I was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma at age 20.

Finding it was a fluke. Bloodwork was normal, but my sister had been diagnosed years earlier. On a whim, she asked me to get an ultrasound done. That's when it was first discovered.

Same routine as mentioned above, fine needle biopsy, etc.

I had the surgery done at Yale Hospital by the best surgeons. Total thyroidectomy, partial parathyroidectomy, and a fair amound of surrounding tissue, especially below the collar bone, removed as well, because it had spread to the lymph nodes.

Again as before, it was followed up with radioactive iodine, largest outpatient dose allowed.

I just had a follow up ultrasound and total body scan performed. I am indeed still cancer free for another year until the next scan.

I will say this though, no matter what, just try to keep a positive outlook. Every member of my family was sobbing, and I was the last to find out. Never was I scared of the cancer, or upset about it, largely attributed to being desensitized by both my father's and sister's experiences.

I was however, very irritated, and still am, that I had to deal with it. I missed weeks of schooling, the constant doctors appointments, the pain of the night staff taking me off a 13 hour morphine drip to give me tylenol in pill form, and even just a few weeks ago, my thyrogen injections and follow-up scan could only be scheduled the week I was supposed to go to Las Vegas. It's a pain in the ass, and it always will be, from the pills I have to take every day for the rest of my life, to every other aspect associated with once having had it, and the possibility of it recurring. But like everything else, just laugh about it, and keep on keepin' on.

06-24-2008, 01:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bear Cub The Reverend Side Boob Location: Nofe Curolina	I was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma at age 20. Finding it was a fluke. Bloodwork was normal, but my sister had been diagnosed years earlier. On a whim, she asked me to get an ultrasound done. That's when it was first discovered. Same routine as mentioned above, fine needle biopsy, etc. I had the surgery done at Yale Hospital by the best surgeons. Total thyroidectomy, partial parathyroidectomy, and a fair amound of surrounding tissue, especially below the collar bone, removed as well, because it had spread to the lymph nodes. Again as before, it was followed up with radioactive iodine, largest outpatient dose allowed. I just had a follow up ultrasound and total body scan performed. I am indeed still cancer free for another year until the next scan. I will say this though, no matter what, just try to keep a positive outlook. Every member of my family was sobbing, and I was the last to find out. Never was I scared of the cancer, or upset about it, largely attributed to being desensitized by both my father's and sister's experiences. I was however, very irritated, and still am, that I had to deal with it. I missed weeks of schooling, the constant doctors appointments, the pain of the night staff taking me off a 13 hour morphine drip to give me tylenol in pill form, and even just a few weeks ago, my thyrogen injections and follow-up scan could only be scheduled the week I was supposed to go to Las Vegas. It's a pain in the ass, and it always will be, from the pills I have to take every day for the rest of my life, to every other aspect associated with once having had it, and the possibility of it recurring. But like everything else, just laugh about it, and keep on keepin' on. __________________ Living in the United Socialist States of America.