brandon and sarah: Thyroid Nodules and Cancer

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Thyroid Nodules and Cancer

Howdy Folks, January (also known as Thyroid Health Awareness Month) has come to a close, and I have yet to blog about thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer.

I'm going to be completely honest...I am in "flight" mode right now. I don't want to talk about my thyroid. Why? Because my 6 month-follow-up scan is suppose to happen sometime this month. This scan will tell us how well my I-131 (radiation) treatment in August worked.

So I really, really don't want to talk about this right now, because I'm nervous...

BUT...

It's important. I want people who (might) have thyroid problems to be aware and seek doctor advice. I want others who have thyroid cancer to catch it early, like I was lucky enough to have happen.

Thyroid nodules are lumps on the thyroid.

Thyroid nodules are common. "...up to half of all people have at least one thyroid nodule, although most do not know about it." (source)

95% are benign (source)

My doctor found my lump at my 6-week postpartum appointment (click the link for more info).

My doc could see and feel the lump.

Looking at old pictures I can see it now too (I had a thick neck)

LESSON: GET A YEARLY PHYSICAL!

If you have a nodule and your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is NOT normal then you most likely have different thyroid conditions that can be treated with medicine. If your TSH IS normal then typically further testing is required. My TSH was normal, so I ended up having a Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy to determine if it was cancerous, and it was.

Okay, White Collar is on and I can't focus. And I really don't like talking about this right now. Like I said, "flight mode".

***This post is part of a series I am doing because it's Thyroid Health Awareness Month. I am not a physician, nurse, or anything like that. I am a woman who's had to learn a lot about her thyroid in the past year. My almost-lawyer-husband would be so proud that I'm including the following: I am not liable for this information nor for the decisions you make based upon what I post. My hope is to teach people some basic thyroid information but if you have real concerns talk to your doctor!***

1 comments:

Butch and Lydia said...: We're with you no matter what. Always have been, always will be.; February 1, 2012 9:09 PM

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The Things They Say

May 9, 2012- While waiting outside a McDonalds Payt asks, "What's that Mommy?" I am busy proofing one of Brandon's papers and just say that it's a store. He replies, "uh, that no store Mommy!" I say, "Oh, it's a restaurant, Payt." Payton then starts laughing like I am the silliest person ever. He says, "It's no rest-aunt, it's please nuggies room!" Payt calls chicken nuggets 'please nuggies' :)

March, April, May 2012- Payt has recently become a dirt-a-phob. He is constantly yelling for a "PAPE-A TOWEL" when ever the smallest thing gets on him. With his British accent he sounds so sweet and funny.

May 4, 2012- Me: "Payton, you do not yell at me!" Payton: "Only Daddy yell at Mommy?" Me: (a little stunned) "Umm, no. No one should be yelling at anyone." ...to be clear, Brandon NEVER yells, but it was a shocking reminder that we need to be careful with our tone around our little ones!

May 3, 2012- While playing in the bathtub Payt was holding a green plastic (semi transparent) scoop over his penis... Yes, I just wrote that... I asked him what he was doing, to which he exclaimed "Makin' my pee-nas geen Mommy!" I thought that surely I had heard him wrong, so a few minutes later when he did it again I asked again. This time he spoke even more clearly with a, "Look, Mommy! My penis is green!" Gotta love little boys!

Jan. 2012- We ate at Jose Peppers, where Payt got a balloon. Once in the car, he managed to get it untied from his wrist; thus when the car door opened out went his balloon. He was, of course, upset and wanted his balloon back. I told him that the balloon was going home to go to bed. Payt starts crying "I want my balloon. Jesus home. My balloon. Balloon go to Jesus home." haha. Earlier in the week he'd asked me where Jesus' home was and I said Heaven and pointed up.

Payt 1/18/12- while Payton was saying the dinner prayer Derek started babbling. Payton growled "my turn, Derek (which actually sounds like 'dang it'), my turn" then he returned to praying in such a sweet voice. Again, Derek talked and Payt screeched "MY TURN, DEREK!" and then sweetly returned to blessing the food.

Payt 1/17/12- I ask Brandon what he's doing, to which he replies "just farting around." Payt calls out "I wanna fart, too, B!"

Payt 1/15/12- passing the fire station on the way to church Payt says, "B, where fire gucks?" I say I don't know, maybe they're sleeping or out helping someone. Payt says, "No, they at store buy bandaids."

Payt 1/9/12- on the way to the doctor's office I ask Payt what doctors do; he replies "put bandaids on ouches"

Payt 12/11- Recently Payt learned the word "ouch" and "touch". Now, when ever he sees a razor he says, "No touch! Ouch, ouch!" and holds up his hand. For the longest time I couldn't figure out how he knew that, but then we remembered that almost SIX months ago while on vacation he got in my make-up bag and sliced his hand on my razor.