The Big Follow-Up

I don't think I've ever blogged two days in a row before but damn, there's a lot of you to thank. 24 hours after sharing my last blog post, I've got 78 messages, multiple texts, private messages, and even some voicemails. You all know how to make a girl feel loved in a tough situation.

THANK YOU!


I saw my second opinion doc today (who was actually the one my PCP recommended). If I had seen her first, I might not have bothered going downtown. In hindsight, I was overreacting. Look, when I heard CANCER, my doctor brain said "Well then, you're going to the big cancer center downtown - no bones about it." So I made the appointment with the ENT department at UPMC and hoofed it downtown so very early in the morning last Wednesday. He was not unpleasant and he did a great job of explaining everything and stopped multiple times to give me a chance to compose some questions. I have no doubt that he's an excellent surgeon and I'd receive amazing care downtown. However, word of mouth from trusted sources led me to believe the doc I saw today would be something special. She did not disappoint. We spoke in depth about my choice between a full thyroidectomy and a lobectomy (only removing half the gland). She is supportive of either decision and ultimately didn't lead or corral me in any direction. I said I'm leaning toward lobectomy - she said something to the effect of "Sure, I'll support that and I think it's a good decision for you. If you change your mind, all you have to do is call." We discussed even biopsying the other nodules on the left side prior to surgery just in case they might be an issue, but ultimately we decided (or I decided, with her blessing) to just monitor them. I'd rather not get poked all over the neck again and frankly if the results come back as indeterminate (which is fairly likely) then I will have no further useful information. If these other nodules misbehave at some point, I will have to have the other half of my thyroid removed at that time. Current available evidence supports the assertion that my overall prognosis will be no worse if that happens, so I'm not worried. I'm happy I won't have to take levothyroxine for the rest of my life :)

Aside: multiple people individually have mused with me on what would happen in a post-apocalyptic world in which thyroid hormone is no longer readily available. "What would we do??? Would we eventually die of hypothyroidism? Would we just get fat and picked off by zombies??? Would it be like in the movies where people kill each other to get their hands on more medicine??" We wondered and lamented together. This is the true reason I don't want my entire thyroid removed. I'll leave it up to you to determine if I'm joking or not on this one.

I'm only slightly unsettled that doc #2 doesn't feel a second ultrasound is needed. Certainly having more testing makes us feel safer but it's difficult to know, really, if it's necessary. Ultrasound is not 100% accurate at locating metastatic disease. I'll consider the fact that my tumor is small as well as the fact that doc #2 has done a lot more of these surgeries than doc #1 and I'll trust in her judgement while simultaneously praying on it, in case the BIG BOSS has something different to tell me.


So currently I'm scheduled for surgery at Heritage Valley Sewickley on Monday February 18th. I'll take that week off from work to stay home and be tortured by... I mean cuddle my children. It will be glorious and I'll be healed :)

Two weeks and three days.

Two weeks and three days ago my doctor called to tell me that I have cancer.

Two days before that, I had spent an uncomfortable morning at the local hospital having a nodule on my thyroid biopsied.

Ten days before that, I had an ultrasound at the same hospital to investigate the thyroid nodule my doctor had first found during a routine annual physical exam at her office ten days prior.

I want that to sink in for a second. Not the big scary C word. That one takes a long time to sink in. What I want you to see is that bit about "a routine annual physical exam". If I hadn't gone in for my routine annual physical I would still have cancer and I wouldn't know it.

People. Go to the doctor. At least once a year. Find one who actually DOES a physical exam on you AND GO.

So far here's what I know. The 1cm nodule in my right thyroid gland is a papillary carcinoma. It's a scary set of words for a wimpy ass cancer. It grows slowly. It likes to spread to lymph nodes but even if it does, it almost never becomes a life-threatening issue. I'll take those odds. If I had to have cancer, I guess papillary carcinoma is the way to go.

I'll see a second ear nose and throat doctor tomorrow for a second opinion (you know, because I'm a doctor too and I don't make decisions like this without hearing at least two opinions from other doctors). The first doc suggested a surgery to remove only the half of my thyroid that has the nodule and leave the left side intact. This makes me happy for a couple of reasons: Firstly, it's an outpatient surgery with no overnight stay. Secondly, the potential serious side effects are cut in half because they're only messing with half of my neck. Lastly, I won't likely have to take synthetic thyroid hormone replacement after surgery (at least not until my genetically predispositioned Hashimoto's sets in and my thyroid goes the way of every other woman's thyroid in my family - that is to say "south", "kaput", or plainly "useless"). What worries me about the partial thyroidectomy (AKA lobectomy) is that I do have nodules in the other half of my thyroid that will need to be monitored. It's possible that I'll need to have a second surgery to remove the other side if those nodules aren't behaving, or possibly even sooner if the histopath on my papillary carcinoma shows that it's one of the more ugly variants.

I was panicking a lot until I read the American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Adult Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. If you think the name of the publication is cumbersome, you should see the actual article. It has over 1078 references, yo! OVER A THOUSAND papers cited. DAMN. Those human docs like to do it up!

I've got an ultrasound appointment this Tuesday afternoon to check all those pesky lymph nodes. I'm scheduled for surgery on February 19th at a big hospital downtown with the fancy cancer surgeons. It's a Tuesday and I'll take the rest of the week off.

Sorry if I didn't tell you all of this news in person or on the phone. Something like this inevitably creates a lot of questions and conversation. It's not that I don't want to talk about it but having to see the shock, concern, worry, and fear in my friends' and family's eyes as I tell the story for the 17th time wears on me. I want to talk about it but without the negativity and fear. So get that all out of your system before you see me or talk to me again - because this momma has NO ROOM for downers.

With your prayers and support, this will be a breeze. I'm ready and God is with me. He's got this.

The Aftermath

The aftermath from my successful bid to finish the Pittsburgh Half Marathon has been epic! Since finishing that half, I've added the following bits to my fitness resume:

• Took a few weeks to let the effusion in my knees resolve after the Pittsburgh Half.
• Ran on the beach in Destin, FL
• Managed not to pass out on the hottest day of the year during the Moon Glow 5k. Let the record also show that I was suffering from a miserable cold at the time. It was so ugly I thought I was going to pass out. Or puke. Or maybe both? My time was pathetic for the effort I put in.
• Set a PR a few days later on a cooler day in Lucinda at the St. Joseph's Liberty 5k. Still haven't broken 30 with a time of 30:14
• Completed 80 Day Obsession while simultaneously running 3-4 days a week (it hurt so good AND I looked like a goddess on the beach in August!)
• Conquered the Barber Beast finishing half an hour faster than last year and with NO WALK BREAKS aside from obstacles.
• ONE WEEK LATER: Conquered the Morgantown Thirteener - YES, IT'S HILLY. My time was slower than Pittsburgh but I was damn proud of my performance on this very difficult course. This medal is still hanging from my rear view mirror in my car.
• Won my first age group medal (3rd place) and a 5K PR in my hometown at the Stop Drop & Run 5k, FINALLY breaking the 30 minute mark! Not just breaking it, actually, but smashing it with a time of 28:40. Immediately following the 5k Joe and I ran the 4 mile obstacle course with Cami. We placed dead last HAHAHA!
• The next day, ran the Mario Lemieux 6.6k with a good friend - took it easy and just enjoyed the ride.
• Started bringing my puppy May May along with me on runs up to 4 miles.
• Completed Liift4 - I really loved it and I got to sleep in on all those off days!
• ANOTHER 5K PR on Thanksgiving Day at the Beaver Turkey Trot: 28:27. This is my current best time.
• Dropped a water bottle on my toe mere hours before the last 5k of 2019 - the Harmony Sylvester. I ran anyway, because, you know, I'm stupid. Dead last in my age group but I had GREAT company!
• Mourned my busted foot but enjoyed some snuggle time with my new dogs - May May and Rockit.

I really wish that I had blogged more during all this, but I was a busy lady. Busy getting down to living and enjoying every moment! I feel I've not wasted a moment! God has blessed us greatly in this season :)