My journey started in December of 2011, a year ago today. Although it wasn't/isn't me that was diagnosed with follicular variant of papilary, it was my 13 year old daughter. She had a FNA done in late December, and because of the holidays there was a delay in getting her results. The worst part was the waiting. The biopsy was looked at by 2 pathologists because of her age, and it came back as suspicious for Papilary Carcinoma. The big "C" word is all I heard, and no matter what the doctors said to us about it being the "good cancer" I too believe that there is no such thing as a good cancer.
Her surgeon ENT an amazing surgeon suggested we wait no further and schedule her in for a partial thyroidectomy. Late January of 2012 my daughter went in for surgery, the frozen section showed some follicular cells, but could not guarantee that it was in fact a carcinoma. We were really hopeful at that time. He said her lymp nodes were all clean. Less then a week later we received the CALL. I will never forget that day. We were called in for an appointment the next day. Her ENT told us that the biopsy came back as her having a well differentiated carcinoma. Again my daughter went into surgery to remove the other lobe. 2 surgeries in 2 weeks. She had the I131 treatment, and 6 months later a smaller dose to be able to have this whole body scan. Her TSH has been undetectable, and she seems to be doing fine. Today she asked when she was scheduled for more blood work, and I stated we were going this week, and asked her why. She believes she needs a higher dose of synthroid, because she feels tired, lethargic, and can't really concentrate or focus. At the same time she is a straight A student, and her grades have not dropped. I don't know if she needs a higher dose, or if this is just a teenage thing. I will be calling her doctor first thing in the morning.
Now I really can't seem to comprehend why people keep refering to this as a good cancer. The follow up is horrible, the worrying, and wondering if any little thing is worrisome. Is the cancer coming back? What do you do next? Is is a good thing that my 14 year old (now) daughter is being exposed to this RAI treatment, even if it's just for scanning purposes. Will she get some other form of cancer later on in life, sure it beets the alternate, but to me the good cancer is No Cancer at all.
I really enjoyed reading all of your stories, and I hope that perhaps some of you ladies can explain the effects that my daughter has been getting in the past 2 weeks. Although I have read many blogs, and posts, we are still very new to this all. She is a teenage girl, and as much as I would be able to explain or tell my doctor how my body is acting/feeling, it isn't the same to her. It is so hard to try and understand how she feels, and what she is going through.
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My journey started in December of 2011, a year ago today. Although it wasn't/isn't me that was diagnosed with follicular variant of papilary, it was my 13 year old daughter. She had a FNA done in late December, and because of the holidays there was a delay in getting her results. The worst part was the waiting. The biopsy was looked at by 2 pathologists because of her age, and it came back as suspicious for Papilary Carcinoma. The big "C" word is all I heard, and no matter what the doctors said to us about it being the "good cancer" I too believe that there is no such thing as a good cancer.
Her surgeon ENT an amazing surgeon suggested we wait no further and schedule her in for a partial thyroidectomy. Late January of 2012 my daughter went in for surgery, the frozen section showed some follicular cells, but could not guarantee that it was in fact a carcinoma. We were really hopeful at that time. He said her lymp nodes were all clean. Less then a week later we received the CALL. I will never forget that day. We were called in for an appointment the next day. Her ENT told us that the biopsy came back as her having a well differentiated carcinoma. Again my daughter went into surgery to remove the other lobe. 2 surgeries in 2 weeks. She had the I131 treatment, and 6 months later a smaller dose to be able to have this whole body scan. Her TSH has been undetectable, and she seems to be doing fine. Today she asked when she was scheduled for more blood work, and I stated we were going this week, and asked her why. She believes she needs a higher dose of synthroid, because she feels tired, lethargic, and can't really concentrate or focus. At the same time she is a straight A student, and her grades have not dropped. I don't know if she needs a higher dose, or if this is just a teenage thing. I will be calling her doctor first thing in the morning.
Now I really can't seem to comprehend why people keep refering to this as a good cancer. The follow up is horrible, the worrying, and wondering if any little thing is worrisome. Is the cancer coming back? What do you do next? Is is a good thing that my 14 year old (now) daughter is being exposed to this RAI treatment, even if it's just for scanning purposes. Will she get some other form of cancer later on in life, sure it beets the alternate, but to me the good cancer is No Cancer at all.
I really enjoyed reading all of your stories, and I hope that perhaps some of you ladies can explain the effects that my daughter has been getting in the past 2 weeks. Although I have read many blogs, and posts, we are still very new to this all. She is a teenage girl, and as much as I would be able to explain or tell my doctor how my body is acting/feeling, it isn't the same to her. It is so hard to try and understand how she feels, and what she is going through.
Thank you all for listening
December 11, 2012 - 5:52pmThis Comment
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