Coping with life after thyroid cancer
Posted on: Tue, 02/12/2008 - 14:45
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Coping with life after thyroid cancer
I was diagnosed in jul 2004 at the age of 26, I thought my life was over. I had my thyroid removed and had Radio Active Iodine treatment, which was hell. After that I was pretty confident that I was done with cancer, as Docs kept telling me that I was 'lucky', thyroid cancer was easy to cure, the best cancer to get! Seriously, I wonder how they would feel about that if it was them or their family who had it! I had regular blood tests to check up on things and soon had other problems to worry about. I had a fall in 2006 and ended up bed-ridded for 8 months and required spinal surgery to fix it. Cancer was not even a thought at the time! Then just after my spinal op, my blood tests results showed a cause for concernt, so I had numerous tests, scans and biopsys. Eventually in dec 2007 I was told that the cancer was back in my lymph glands and I would require further surgery and radiotherapy. B4 the op, I was made aware of poss complications that were a 'real possibility', I could have facial nerve damage, damage to vocal chords, trachiotomy and god know how many other things. Luckily I got off lightly. Surgery took 11 hours, they removed 42 lymph glands, 10 had cancer, they also took the main muscle and vein from the right hand side of my neck. I have a huge scar, but that will fade. I then had 7 weeks of radiotherpay, was tired and picked up a throat infection but I got thru. It has now been 6 months since treatment finished and I am trying to get used to how things are now. I get colds really easy, and they go straight to my throat. At the moment I have laryngitis and cant talk. I get tired all the time, taking thyroxine makes it difficult to lose weight, I cant tolerate heat, i am REALLY forgetful and can cry for no reason! People who havent been thru this dont know that it can take months or years to get over what has happened, it is the scariest thing that I have ever gone thru and I still wake up in the night crying, thinking about what has happened or what may happen in the future. MY doctors have already told me that they can do more treament if they need to but it will be drastic. I now have to learn to cope with the threat of this coming back, and try to give myself the life I deserve.
Hi Gayley Girl
I am 26 also. I was referred to the hospital after one of my gland stayed swollen in my neck after a virus. During the scan last week, the Doctor was clicking away far too much and I asked him what was wrong. Straight after he said I had four lumps not one and he thought is was thyroid cancer that may have spread to my lymph glands.
I was shocked to say the least! I didn't have any symptoms, apart from a 'husky' voice.
I am going for my FNA biopsys tomorrow and am not looking forward to it.
Did you have any symptoms at all? Did they say what caused it?
Hi
I was diagnosed with papillar thyroid cancer in June 2008 and had a total thyroidectomy and neck dissection to remove lymph nodes followed by RAI treatment. I too was told 'well if you could pick a cancer to have you would chose this one' as I sat sobbing after just receiving the bombshell diagnosis. I'd had no symptoms, not been ill in any way and was referred after a swelling in my neck didnt go away.
It has been 5 months now since my operation and I still find it hard to come to terms with the fact that I have cancer. Ive gone back to work and am trying to get back to normal but I too suffer with tiredness that comes and goes. Some days I feel absolutely normal, like I did before my op but then I have days when I find it hard to get out of bed or I get home from work and just sleep. My husband doesnt seem to understand that its going to take a while to get my medication right and often doesnt know what to do when I start crying for no apparent reason. I mentioned to my endocronologist that I was very teary and emotional and he responded with the pearl of wisdom that was ' well its quite a big thing having cancer' I was flabbergasted!
I also have been struggling with my weight since being on thyroxine and can be mid sentence and forget what Im actally talking about but this doesnt happen as often as it did when I first had my op. I just try to stay as positive as I can and concentrate on what I can do which seems to help me get through this.
Hi, I know how scared you must be, the waiting is the worst!
I didnt have any symptoms, just a lump in my neck. They told me it was nothing to worry about for almost 2 years b4 i nagged them enough to remove it! Thyroid cancer is aparently quite rare, thats why u wont find alot of support groups or anything. My consultant has told me that the cases of young women being diagnosed is rising but they dont know why. I cant stress enough how much you need to talk to people about this, dont keep your worries to yourself. When I 1st found out I was gobsmacked. My mum was with me and she cried but i just sat there staring at the doctors. I called my boyfriend and friends and just said ' i have cancer, talk to you later'. It took a few days for it to sink in and then I cried and got drunk. 2nd time round i had a macmillan nurse who was amazing, she helped me so much just by talking to me. It helps to just get it all out, even the silly things. IF they find out u do have it, take any support they offer, ask to be put in touch with macmillan nurses. U can also get in touch with me anytime, i will try to answer any questions you have.
Take care, i will be thinking about you.xxx
Its funny isn't it when they say... if you could pick any cancer, this would be the best one! Somehow it doesn't make me feel any better. When I had my scan last week, I left my partner in the waiting room so I was on my own when they told me. When they told me I just broke down and was almost hysterical...the poor Doctor didn't know what to do with himself! Saw him again today for the FNA's and he was really nice. Will get my results next week.
I've told my close family that I may be poorly and a few other people, but going to tell the rest next week.
Has anybody noticed they have put on weight before they were diagnosed? I have put on nearly two stone in a year and a half, have changed my diet slightly over this time, but didn't think I could put on weight that quick.
I have been trying to be abit more healthy and have my five a day... very disappointed to hear that the grapes in red wine don't count though lol. I have tried not to go out and get drunk as I know I will end up getting upset xx