Okay, here goes...so the day before I got my MCAT results (34 - woohoo!!) someone in the OR noticed that there was a bump on my thyroid. Yesterday I found out that the bump is medullary thyroid cancer. I didn't know that our family had a history of any thyroid problems so this came as a real shock to everyone involved. Medullary thyroid cancers are most often hereditary and are very rare (hence the name of the blog). Yeah, I always like to beat the odds...and I'm going to continue to do so. On with the story - my aunt told me today that a couple of my grandmother's young cousins died of a "neck tumor" so it seems possible that we have the "special" gene. Thankfully that happened 40 years ago and medicine has come a long way.
Because this tumor is rare and associated with a syndrome called multiple endocrine neoplasm whatever I am going to see a specialist at Barnes. My first appointment with the specialist is Oct 3rd. I will have to have my thyroid removed and the lymph nodes in my neck evaluated. I don't really like the idea of being on that end of the knife, but I'm really tired of the tumor. I don't know much about MEN (the syndrome or the gender) because I don't think any syndrome with multiple and neoplasm in the name sounds like fun. Actually I'm intentionally not looking it up because I'm not going to scare the crap out of myself over something that I don't even know that I have. The only reading I'm doing is about spine surgery. For now I'm going to let the doctor be the doctor so I can do things like eat and sleep. This was the advice of some very courageous cancer survivors that I work with and damnet I am going to make it just like them...I've got plans you know. I do know that some people live with it for years. They have kids. They have lives. I'm focused on that.
I've been told this is treatable. Not as friendly as a teddy-bear-like papillary carcinoma, but fightable and fight I will do. It is weird. At the beginning of the day yesterday I was scared I had cancer and by the end I just wanted the normal one. I guess I just need someone to tell me I have a GBM or pancreatic cancer or an anaplastic tumor to put this in perspective. Thankfully I don't have those.
I wanted use this blog as an easy way to disperse information about what is going on. Feel free to ask me questions. Understand that at this point I'm intentionally not learning loads of new information so I may have no idea and not really want to find out.
I love you guys! Thanks so much for all the support.
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27 comments:
praying for you!!!
MEN! What a pain in the neck they are! Ugh! ;)
I love you, babe! I'll talk to you soon!
hey! you're in my prayers for serious!! *hugs* you'll do great.
go kick some arse.
in HIM,
Jenny
You will definitely beat this! I'll be praying for you!
Elana
Just wanted you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Remember that God is the Great Physician!
Take care, and keep us informed as to where you are in this battle. You are a special lady!
Marie, Kelly's Mom
You know I'm praying for you and care so much for you. Let me know of ANYTHING that I can do. I love you.
Charity,
Now that Miss K is in TX, you are now my project in MO!
And yes, pancreatic cancer is shit, so I'm doing a happy dance that we are now dealing with treatable!
Unicorns and lollipops to you, C.
Whatever you need, doll.
you, Charity, are now commanded to contact me so that we can hang out. if i didn't have enough incentive to make you my friend before, i DEFINATELY have it now. so, call, email, send up smoke signals, ye shall be hangin' with the crazies and bandit! now that we have that straight, you know i'm praying/blogging/thinking/ loving you a lot.
ps if you don't have my #, i'm in the phone book! woo hoo, so CALL me!
natalie
Charity
Let me know if you need a meal, a chat, or just a good ol mamogram hug :)
You are being prayed for.
:) LIz
yep, well, I'm a dork who has a quick trigger finger. As I was saying before I rudely interrupted myself......I feel like I know you through Kelly...and to know you is to love you. So, I'm sending you some love from WA. Praying, thinking happy thoughts, and just believeing the best for you, my friend.
i'm so glad i get to see you in actual person and don't have to hear about this only through the internet. much love to you.
I'm a faithful reader over at Kelly's blog, and I've read about you so much, I feel like I know you!
I just wanted to say that I am so sorry you're facing this, but I am so glad it's treatable and that you have your fighting shoes on you! You CAN beat this!
And we will be here to cheer for you!
Hugs and prayers!
Charity! Sweet Charity! Much love to you from Nashville! You're in my prayers. Kick that pain in the neck right out of your life :)
hey Char! praying for you, if you need anything let me know :)
I'll be praying for you!!! You have such an amazing attitude :)
16 comments (now 17) with your first post! How popular are you!!!
Make sure to write entries about "cookies" and crazy driving adventures and OR stories and med school applications. We want to hear all that crazy stuff too. Inquiring minds want to know! :P
you probably have received enough messages from me already :). thanks for writing about it!
love ya!
Hey Charity! I'll be thinking and praying for you. Love you!
hey babe, this is crazy! but if anyone can handle it, its you. you are definitely one of the toughest, most awesome woman i know! (i have a degree in english, so i can break all the grammer rules i want...its pretty much the only perk). Barnes is a great hospital so you will be taken care of well there.
Char we are definitely praying for you!!!!
PS- Loved the comment about MEN :) You are such an awesome individual and we love you!
I know you'll beat this! You are one of the bravest people I have had the privilege of meeting.
I love you so much!! I want to let you know that anything you need I will be happy to get it for you! You are one of the strongest people I know!
Love ya girl
Rachel!!
What can I say...a friend stands by and holds you up with you forget how to stand. LIVE...do not stop starting just because someone said 'cancer'. BELIEVE...you are surrounded by some knowledgeable people and some not so wise ones (discernment necessary). TRUST...tell your friends and family and doctors what is really going on so we can figure out WITH you how we can help you on this journey. I care about you and plan to be on-call 24 hours 7 days a week to be an ear or an arm or a hand ;) Your name is not a coincidence and you are a blessing. May the example of tender care from your church family surround you with healing for your spirit and joy beyond the circumstances of the moment. Praying for you!
I'll be praying for you!
CharBear-What can I say...what everyone else said here is so true. You are such a strong woman and that MEN won't even know what hit it! Kick some hiney! You have always had such a positive attitude that there is no doubt in my mind that you will get through this with flying colors. And you have such a huge support group - we're nursing school buddies! You can call on me whenever you need something(but especially when you are at Barnes -or in the STL- and I can come meet up with you since I'm definately in the area). I'm just a phone call away! Brian and I are saying our prayers! Love ya girl!
Emily Sicking (the former Emily Bryan) ;)
Char!
I love you so much and wish I was near to you. You have an amazing spirit and I love your attitude, I always have. Thanks for creating this blog to share with all of us.
How did you first appointment go?
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