No Such Thing As "Good Cancer"
By Some of ThyCa's Lifetime Members
We've all heard it at one time or another: "If you have to get cancer, then this is the one to get." "Thyroid cancer is good cancer," and similar statements. These comments fail to take into account just how serious and complex thyroid cancer can be.
Those of us who have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer know these statements aren't true. There is no "good cancer."
Telling someone diagnosed with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer that he or she has an excellent prognosis for a long life of living with thyroid cancer is reasonable. Telling the same person that he/she has "good cancer" diminishes both how dangerous the disease can be, and what the person diagnosed is going through.
Medical professionals need to speak to us in the same way they discuss any other cancer, so that we will realize how important lifetime monitoring is even when we have a good prognosis. Not clearly delivering this message can lead survivors to not understand how important lifetime monitoring and follow-up are to managing their thyroid cancer.
To put things in context, when someone feels poorly and goes to the doctor for a checkup, the doctor may say, "you have a bad cold." How can a person be told he or she has a "bad cold," but can have "good cancer"?
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment25 Comments
After having my father, mother, one brother and one sister die of four different cancers, I did not appreciate being told that papillary thyroid cancer was the good cancer. I'm already dealing with Crohn's Disease, COPD, Reactive Airways, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and I found out this year I also have Osteoporosis.
Cancer is Cancer!
None of it is good!
P.s. currently in rehab recovering from a partial hip replacement.
September 30, 2013 - 2:13pmThis Comment
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
I had papillary thyroid cancer and (sorry all) I was glad to hear it was a 'good' cancer. During my treatment time- which lasted about 8 months- my 18 year old neighbour died of leukemia after a long battle of many years.
November 7, 2011 - 5:49amPeople moaning about the 'Good Cancer' tag need to wise up and take a look around, you had a Cancer so now what? encourage others who are newly diagnosed to get through it instead of all this useless negativity.
This Comment
Nobody on here has said that their thyroid cancer is worse than leukemia or any other cancer. Our comments are just aimed at giving comfort to each other and sharing some of the hardships we've endured with our cancer. Thyroid cancer isn't experienced the same by everyone. With mine, new tumors seem to be appearing near my lymph nodes, near my carotid, so the testing and waiting becomes so worrisome that is starts to impact my life with my young children and family. Others have constant problems keeping their TSH numbers where they need to be.......so many different problems a screwed up thyroid can cause. Your particular pap thy cancer may not have caused you problems........good for you. GREAT for you! But, sometimes the best medicine for a good attitude is getting to share your situation with others, which is what I am doing on here. You're saying we should "quit moaning." I'm saying YOU can take your crappy attitude to some other site where someone gives a (*&*& about you.
November 7, 2011 - 6:53amThis Comment
I'm so thankful for this article finally someone understands I'm 24 years old and I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer 10 months ago and trust me theirs nothing good about this Cancer and I hate it when people diagnose it as being good.
September 20, 2011 - 10:41pmThis Comment
Thank you for this Valerie. I have been dealing with Thyca for over a year now and it drives me crazy to hear good cancer. People who have had any type of thyroid disease understand the vital role it plays in the every day activites of life and replacement hormones are never as good as the real thing. We will put up with constant monitoring on our medication for the rest of our lives and if we stop taking it for a while, we would be lucky to get out of bed. Enough of my rambeling... Thanks for this article.
September 17, 2010 - 5:18amThis Comment
Anon - Thanks for writing and sharing with us. I hope you will stick around and take advantage of the many articles we have on the site to help you manage your health. So often cancer survivors don't get all the follow up support they need, and we have a lot of free resources you can tap into.
September 17, 2010 - 4:34pmTake care,
Pat
This Comment
Thanks so much for writing this. I was diagnosed a couple of days ago with pap thy cancer. I was SO relieved when the endo told me there was such a high success rate with this disease. I had already done my homework and was hoping that if I had it, that Papillary was the one. On the other hand, learning that you have cancer is terrifying......we all know there are variables in every thing in life. I've been so grateful for all the support my friends/family are giving me. But, then there have been two people that just nonchalantly stated, "well, that's a good cancer, it's no bigee." On one hand, I understand what they are saying, but on the other, it felt like a slap in the face.....like they were unconcerned.....as if I have a scrape on my knee and am just being a baby to worry about it. It made me feel like maybe I shouldn't reach out to anybody about it.....maybe my worries are silly. But, I know that if one of my children were diagosed with it, even knowing the high success rate it has, I would still be super concerned about them and I would hate that they have to go through it all. It's nothing I would wish on my worst enemy. So, I guess I'm going to decide right now not to let those people get me down. I'm going to take comfort where I need to and take care of myself right now. They are either trying to console me in their own way even though it's thoughtless or maybe uneducated, as I myself have been about some things in the past. I agree, cancer is cancer with a seriously big C....nothing to shrug off.
June 18, 2010 - 12:11pmThis Comment
Hi Anon - I'm so glad that you found EmpowHER and that this thread was helpful to you, especially in the early days of trying to understand and deal with your diagnosis. For many people with cancer the diagnosis date becomes a "cancerversary" date, with life divided into the "before" and "after" period, no matter what type of cancer or the stage of the cancer at diagnosis. We are all in a special club that we did not choose to join, and those who are not in our club often have no idea what dues we pay.
June 18, 2010 - 4:23pmI'd like to extend an invitation to you to stay in touch here and to also come back and post to this thread in six months and share your thoughts about what others say...or don't say. If you are like me and most other cancer patients I know your HEALTH is going to be your top priority and a lot of good information and tools are going to come into your life, as well as some great people who you don't even know yet who will surprise you and delight you with their comfort and support. You will be able to sort out the people who have your best interests at heart; the people who are uneducated but mean well; the people who are clueless and always will be and the people who are good for your soul. What I'm trying to say is that all of that stuff will sort itself out, and isn't worth your time and attention as you deal with the impact of this cancer on your life and your family.
If you have specific concerns and questions along the way I encourage you to join the site and submit an "Ask" or "Share" so that we can help you get the information you need. We don't know you - yet - but I can assure you we are concerned, we do get it, and we will help you in your journey.
Take care, Pat
EmpowHER Cancer Guide
This Comment
Thanks so much for putting it the way you did! It's only been 3 days since I was diagnosed and I'm already learning so much about "my approach" to serious issues. You're right, it's already becoming much clearer who I can lean on and who has been there for me all along.......very enlightening. Not everybody knows how to deal with this.........I've been one of those people before. I'm going to deal with this seriously even though a couple of people have made me feel "funny" about it. Thanks so very much for encouraging me! You've helped to build a foundation in how I deal with this.......I am grateful! (-:
June 18, 2010 - 8:08pmThis Comment