My sister with breast cancer has finished her treatment. Surgery, chemo, radiation. Was a champ through all of it, too. Since her COBRA insurance runs out in May, she pushed to have her thyroid removed. It’s been impeding her swallowing for a while and she wanted to have it done while she still had insurance. Also, while she was undergoing scans for the brest cancer, the guys doing the scanning remarked “Have you had your thyroid looked at? It’s not supposed to be like that.” She’d been trying for a couple years to get her endocrinologist to do something about it, and he’d done ultrasounds, but told her not to worry about anything, it wasn’t cancerous.
She had the surgery last Monday to removed most of it, and was told by the surgeon Friday that they did find cancer. She has to talk to her oncologist to see what she recommends, but the surgeon does think he got it all.
Wow…that’s a drag. Is it related to the breast cancer or is it a whole separate deal? I’ve never heard of BC moving to the thyroid, but that’s not to say it doesn’t happen. Wishing your sister the best.
Since the thyroid had been enlarged for a while, my WAG is that it’s either unrelated or actually came first. I do hope for “unrelated” since that has a better prognosis (yes, I know that sounds weird).
Kalhoun, Nava - My nephew had the same thyroid cancer last year, when he was only 23. Papillary carcinoma. And I think it’s probably unrelated to the breast cancer. In fact, last month when I had an ultrasound done of my thyroid, the tech was asking if I’d had either a biopsy or nuclear medicine scan of my thyroid. I go back to my doc at the end of the month to see what she recommends.
You know the line from Arsenic and Old Lace “Insanity doesn’t run in my family, it gallops!”? Cancer gallops in my family. My mother is one of eleven children. 6 have had cancer - she’s had it twice. My father, a non-smoker, died of lung cancer. It’s something that you sort of learn to live with.
My sister (38, two kids in diapers) is scheduled for a mascetomy tomorrow. Then the chemo, then the radiation. They may put it off since there is a “suspicous area” in the other breast, and if they both have to go…
She said “a year from now I’ll have new breast, new hair, and be a whole new woman.”
Dangerosa - Lisa what out shopping the other day and this little old lady complemented her on her great haircut and asked where she had her hair done. Lisa lifted up her wig and smiled and said it was the chemo special. Lisa’s radiation was really spiffy, done by inserting little tubes (like coffee stirrers) which delivered radiation precisely. She had to go in twice a day for five consecutive days and she was done. No radiation burns, no noticiable side effects. she did have to have the straws inserted, which wasn’t fun, but it went so smoothly and then they were gone.
I’ll keep your sister in my prayers, if that’s okay.
That would be fine. We are more “hope” people ourselves, but I figure directing that hope isn’t harmful. If you can spare a little more, her husband is much older than she is and morbidly obese…it sounds horrible, but I’ve laid awake more than one night recently wondering if I have four college educations to worry about instead of two. Her cancer however, is “one of the cureable kinds” nowadays - not the “no big deal” kind that almost always responds well but not the “get your affairs in order” kind either.
Her radiation will be five (or six) days a week for something like eight weeks - its long - and she has an hour drive to the hospital ever day to get it done.
My best wishes to your sister, Dangerosa. Until now, I hadn’t realized that the thyroid could be removed. I guess I just hadn’t thought about it. Out of curiosity, does having it out affect the sound of her voice at all? I’m glad things went well for her and hope they continue to do so. Judging by the “haircut” story you related, her sense of humor has remained intact, which is certainly a good thing.
I have a funny little thyroid story. I have a node on mine that my doctors say was due to a lack of iodine as a small child. I’ve had ultrasound done on it and you know what? On the pictures it looks exactly like the Playboy Bunny! I wonder if I could rent those pictures out to Hugh Heffner?
Anyway, my best wishes to anyone who is dealing with cancer issues, whether they are a patient or a friend or relative.
Dangerosa - I’m very glad to hear it! Although it does mean no double boob job. I’ll tell you what everone tells me - “Are you getting yourself checked?”
Tikki - It can be a tricky surgery because of everything in the throat, but neither my nephew nor my sister have had voice issues post-surgically. I have another sister that’s supposed to have her thyroid removed in May.
Marley - Thank you. I hope your brother continues to improve.
I actually meant that part of the post for you, StGermain, though I certainly do wish Dangerosa’s sister the best too. In a dingbat moment, I got my names mixed up. Stuff like that seems to be happening a lot lately. :smack:
Lisa’s radiation was really spiffy, done by inserting little tubes (like coffee stirrers) which delivered radiation precisely. She had to go in twice a day for five consecutive days and she was done. No radiation burns, no noticiable side effects. she did have to have the straws inserted, which wasn’t fun, but it went so smoothly and then they were gone.
I’ll be thinking good thoughts for everyone. Cancer sucks fetid armpits.