Bringing Sexy Out of the Thyloset



I started my blog "stupid thyroid cancer" in order to remind myself of what I've been through, how I got through it, and share 'what worked for me'.  I am excited to be a part of the dearthyroid community and share about my experience through the blog tour!
• What kind of thyroid cancer were you diagnosed with? How many years have you been a survivor?

In July of 2007 I went to the doctor because I was tired. I expected her to tell me that was normal because I had a 1 year old son and worked full time. I'm so lucky that she didn't. She had my thyroid checked, which led to an ultrasound, which led to a biopsy, which ultimately led to me finding out on my birthday that I needed surgery because they weren't sure if the tumor was cancer or not.
On November 5, I had my first surgery and two days later, found out it was follicular thyroid cancer. I had total thyroidectomy on November 12.  I have been a survivor for almost 3 years now.  I also had hashimoto's and because my thyroid was so inflammed, I lost all parathyroid gland function and now live with hypoparathyroid, which gives me chronic low blood calcium.  It's almost been 3 years and I'm getting ready for my yearly checkup and tests.

• September is thyroid cancer awareness month. What does that mean to you? Why do you think awareness is important? How do you spread awareness?


Throughout the year I tell my friends and family not to forget about their own health and to make sure they go to the doctor for a full checkup. We can't forget to take care of ourselves in our busy lives!  It's so easy to check your neck for lumps. I had no idea, but my throat felt tight throughout pregnancy and after, and talking sometimes hurt, both signs that something is wrong.  This disease can happen to anyone at any age, and I think that's the tricky thing about it for young women.

• Many thyroid cancer patients have been told, “If you have to get cancer, thyroid cancer is the one to get.” What do you think of that statement? When you’re told this, how do you respond?

I have been told so many times that "If you have to get cancer, thyroid cancer is the one to get."  Doctors, friends, family have all made this statement.  When you are going through this horrible thing, nothing makes light of it, nothing!  It is so easy to say that, to try to make someone feel better, and I'm sure their intentions are good, but I just remember thinking to myself "That's BS!".  At the same time, I would actually repeat it to make someone worry less!  I was kidding myself, I was scared, I was exhausted, I was sad, but nobody knew because I was "lucky".  Lucky?  I would not wish this upon anybody!

• Dear Thyroid is constantly working to dispel the myth that thyroid cancer is the good cancer or the easy cancer. What other myth would you like to dispel regarding thyroid cancer?

One myth I want to dispel is how easy it is to recover from thyroid cancer surgery. 
Most think you take a little pill the rest of your life, and your fine.
For me, not so much. My parathyroids are all dead now, so my body completely shut down. I spent a week in the hospital and have been back to the ER calcium IV's. If I get the flu, I expect to end up in the ER to replenish my calcium.  Not to mention my 'badge of honor'.

Balancing medication has been the most difficult thing about it. I give blood every 3 months to ensure I'm okay.  That's not normal! I take up to 8 pills a day to be normal. 
Synthroid: for thyroid hormone
Calcitriol: for calcium absorbtion
Microzide: so I don't get kidney stones from all the calcium
Calcium: 1800 mg/day=3 huge pills
Ambian: cause I can't fall asleep anymore
Celexa: to cope

• What one thing would you tell the world about thyroid cancer?
Cancer sucks, no matter if you have to get chemo, radioactive iodine, surgery, whatever! There is no good cancer!  Reach out and spend quality time with your friends, talk openly about it, it helps.

• What advice would you give to a newly diagnosed thyroid cancer patient?

Don't question your gut feelings, call your doctor if you don't feel well. Also, get some counseling, this is a traumatic event in your life, and you need help coping.  Also, don't believe everything you read, it will freak you out!

• Do you have a funny thyroid cancer-related story you are willing to share?

A few months after my surgery I got the Radioactive Iodine (RAI) treatment. I went to the Nuclear Medicine Lab to receive my dose.
They took me into a room and the physician assistant walked in with a pill box in a steel cup on a tray. She had gloves and a mask on. She told me to take the cup and without touching them, swallow the pills. She then walked all the way to the other corner of the room.  "I'm just going to stand over here" 
I'm thinking, you are standing way over there and I'm swallowing this???  Wow, this cannot be good for you.  Over the next three or four nights, my pillow turned yellow. Gross!!!


About Dear Thyroid:
Dear Thyroid is a thyroid support community and literary brand. Our goal is to connect patients with each other, to create awareness for thyroid diseases and cancers, and to give all thyroid patients a voice. We come together as a united front to invoke change on behalf of thyroid patients worldwide. Thyroid patients are invited to submit letters to their thyroids, thyroid rants and raves, and other literary creations. Help us to create awareness for thyroid diseases and cancers by wearing your disease on your sleeve and by requesting one of our free awareness bands. Visit DearThyroid.org to learn more!