Guest guest Posted February 23, 2002 Report Share Posted February 23, 2002 I can't imagine a doctor (or anyone) telling someone with any other kind of cancer (a ton if which if caught early are " curable " ) that they have a " good cancer " ... Cancer is cancer is cancer - its scary and to put it bluntly it sucks - no matter what kind you have. And while all of us on this list are survivors and WE'RE ALL GOING TO MAKE IT (that's a promise to you newbies!!!) there are people who do DIE from THYCA...how good was this cancer for them????? > > I asked her if she new of a support group in our area. > > She said no that there is not a need for one because the type > > of Cancer that we have is the GOOD ONE and that you really don't > > need to worry about anything. > > If anyone with thyca feels like they need a support group.....they may > have to start their own! That's what many others on the list have done > because ours is a unique situation. > > I remember feeling overwhelmed in the beginning, so I called my > hospital and asked about support groups for cancer patients. I > attended exactly two meetings... that was all I could handle. Many of > the others in the group had no hair and were skeletons from > chemotherapy. Others had skin that was burned from EBR. Several were > terminal and literally waiting to die while trying to figure out how to > put their lives in order. After attending two meetings, I felt guilty > for even being there. What could I possibly have to complain about? I > couldn't taste anything? I had to be hypothyroid for over a month and > gain 10 lbs. while eating bland food? My salivary glands were sore & > swollen? Seeing what everyone else had to deal with definitely made an > impact on me & put my cancer diangosis into better perspective. There > was no doubt in my mind after attending those two meetings that I > definitely had the GOOD cancer. > > We certainly have unique problems with thyroid cancer, but most of > those problems are more inconveniences & nuisances than serious, life > altering situations. Getting used to the idea of having cancer takes > time plus mental & emotional juggling, but in the end most of us do > well. You will too. > > If you need additional support, seek out others with thyca to bolster > you. Many of the other cancer groups are very disheartening for those > of us who soon find we will not only survive but will thrive after > diagnosis. In exchange for having the GOOD cancer, we get to deal > with it forever....but at least our lives return to 'normal' at some > point and we get to live full and fruitful lives. > > Marilyn (dx '94-pap w/lung metastases - 5 pos scans/435mCi's - scans 6 > & 7 clean) > > > > > > > > > For more information regarding thyroid cancer visit www.thyca.org. > If you do not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by > sending a blank email to thyca-unsubscribe > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2002 Report Share Posted February 23, 2002 Here's a positive bit on this topic: I am so thankful for my doc who has never discounted me by saying anything like this is the good cancer to have. He is very straightforward, gives me the statistics flat out, says " people do die from this and we have to stay on top of it " and such. He does it in such a way that I don't feel overly frightened nor discounted. So there's at least one sensitive and tactful doc out here. I'm going to a new doc because mine is not a specialist on thyca and mine has gotten to be sort of a complicated case, and I do hope the new doc is sensitive and tactful too! Also, I have found that all my acquaintenances and friends offer me so much help and support and empathy/sympathy that sometimes I feel guilty and I find it's ME that's saying to THEM that " oh thyroid cancer is really not a very bad cancer " toreassure THEM that I'M OK. And then of course I have all of you on this list who understand EXACTLY how it is. So anyway I feel supported and understood even though I'm not glad to have this. -Alyssa in Idaho Falls gayle@... wrote: > > I can't imagine a doctor (or anyone) telling someone with any other > kind > of cancer (a ton if which if caught early are " curable " ) that they > have a > " good cancer " ... Cancer is cancer is cancer - its scary and to put it > bluntly it sucks - no matter what kind you have. And while all of us > on > this list are survivors and WE'RE ALL GOING TO MAKE IT (that's a > promise > to you newbies!!!) there are people who do DIE from THYCA...how good > was > this cancer for them????? > > > > > > I asked her if she new of a support group in our area. > > > She said no that there is not a need for one because the type > > > of Cancer that we have is the GOOD ONE and that you really don't > > > need to worry about anything. > > > > If anyone with thyca feels like they need a support group.....they > may > > have to start their own! That's what many others on the list have > done > > because ours is a unique situation. > > > > I remember feeling overwhelmed in the beginning, so I called my > > hospital and asked about support groups for cancer patients. I > > attended exactly two meetings... that was all I could handle. Many > of > > the others in the group had no hair and were skeletons from > > chemotherapy. Others had skin that was burned from EBR. Several > were > > terminal and literally waiting to die while trying to figure out how > to > > put their lives in order. After attending two meetings, I felt > guilty > > for even being there. What could I possibly have to complain > about? I > > couldn't taste anything? I had to be hypothyroid for over a month > and > > gain 10 lbs. while eating bland food? My salivary glands were sore > & > > swollen? Seeing what everyone else had to deal with definitely made > an > > impact on me & put my cancer diangosis into better perspective. > There > > was no doubt in my mind after attending those two meetings that I > > definitely had the GOOD cancer. > > > > We certainly have unique problems with thyroid cancer, but most of > > those problems are more inconveniences & nuisances than serious, > life > > altering situations. Getting used to the idea of having cancer > takes > > time plus mental & emotional juggling, but in the end most of us do > > well. You will too. > > > > If you need additional support, seek out others with thyca to > bolster > > you. Many of the other cancer groups are very disheartening for > those > > of us who soon find we will not only survive but will thrive after > > diagnosis. In exchange for having the GOOD cancer, we get to deal > > with it forever....but at least our lives return to 'normal' at some > > > point and we get to live full and fruitful lives. > > > > Marilyn (dx '94-pap w/lung metastases - 5 pos scans/435mCi's - scans > 6 > > & 7 clean) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > For more information regarding thyroid cancer visit www.thyca.org. > > If you do not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by > > sending a blank email to thyca-unsubscribe > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2002 Report Share Posted February 23, 2002 Dear all, Thanks Marilyn for pointing out that we need to get this into perspective. No cancer is " good " , agreed - but from my own perspective some ARE less bad than others. My GP has warned me for years that nothing was more likely to kill me than my smoking habit. I chose to ignore him. Eighteen months ago I was referred to a pulmonologist with loss of energy, fatigue, asymptomatic pneumonia and a suspicious-looking lung x-ray. It looked like lung cancer. My doctors were sufficiently convinced of this not to deny it, when I asked them. Prognosis: about one year. I went through the most intense three days of my life waiting for a bronchoscopy and other tests which, fortunately, showed that the symptoms were caused by an extremely bad chronic bronchitis exacerbated by smoking. The energy problem turned out to be caused by something else which has since been cured. Thyca has confronted me with my own vulnerability, but I believe it's also made me a much stronger person than I might otherwise have been. It's not going to kill me. Something else will, one day (but there's a diminishing chance that it'll be the smoking - I gave up one year, five months ago today). Good luck to all, Judith - in Holland dx pap thy ca T4-N1-M0 1965 recurrence 1982 ....and still here! > <snip> Seeing what everyone else had to deal with definitely made an > > impact on me & put my cancer diangosis into better perspective. There > > was no doubt in my mind after attending those two meetings that I > > definitely had the GOOD cancer. <snip> If you need additional support, seek out others with thyca to bolster > > you. Many of the other cancer groups are very disheartening for those > > of us who soon find we will not only survive but will thrive after > > diagnosis. In exchange for having the GOOD cancer, we get to deal > > with it forever....but at least our lives return to 'normal' at some > > point and we get to live full and fruitful lives. > > > > Marilyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2002 Report Share Posted February 23, 2002 How have the years been sice your found out you had tyca? I know it was along time ago but since reacurrance have you had any problems? I am very new on this journey and am afraid my life will never get any better than it is right now,which since finding this out hasn't been so great. I had my thyroid and 1 lymph node removed on Jan. 16th and test came back showing papillary cancer stage 1, I'M 37 yrs old with 2 children and this really wasn't in the plan,but then when is it. Hypo has been rough, good days and some really bad days. I go for my first RAI treatment in a week and am really nervous about it. It's good to hear from someone who has had this and is still here many yrs later. RENEE Re: No Cancer is Good Dear all, Thanks Marilyn for pointing out that we need to get this into perspective. No cancer is " good " , agreed - but from my own perspective some ARE less bad than others. My GP has warned me for years that nothing was more likely to kill me than my smoking habit. I chose to ignore him. Eighteen months ago I was referred to a pulmonologist with loss of energy, fatigue, asymptomatic pneumonia and a suspicious-looking lung x-ray. It looked like lung cancer. My doctors were sufficiently convinced of this not to deny it, when I asked them. Prognosis: about one year. I went through the most intense three days of my life waiting for a bronchoscopy and other tests which, fortunately, showed that the symptoms were caused by an extremely bad chronic bronchitis exacerbated by smoking. The energy problem turned out to be caused by something else which has since been cured. Thyca has confronted me with my own vulnerability, but I believe it's also made me a much stronger person than I might otherwise have been. It's not going to kill me. Something else will, one day (but there's a diminishing chance that it'll be the smoking - I gave up one year, five months ago today). Good luck to all, Judith - in Holland dx pap thy ca T4-N1-M0 1965 recurrence 1982 ...and still here! > <snip> Seeing what everyone else had to deal with definitely made an > > impact on me & put my cancer diangosis into better perspective. There > > was no doubt in my mind after attending those two meetings that I > > definitely had the GOOD cancer. <snip> If you need additional support, seek out others with thyca to bolster > > you. Many of the other cancer groups are very disheartening for those > > of us who soon find we will not only survive but will thrive after > > diagnosis. In exchange for having the GOOD cancer, we get to deal > > with it forever....but at least our lives return to 'normal' at some > > point and we get to live full and fruitful lives. > > > > Marilyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2002 Report Share Posted February 24, 2002 Judith, I to am an x smoker. I loved smoking so much my friends would say " what would make you quit? " I tried to think of the worse thing I could think of and told them when someone stuck a needle in my neck!!! Well guess what. I haven't smoked since Oct, 2000. I also had a male coworker who had thyroid cancer (I don't know what kind) he was treated at Sloan in NY and about a year after he had scanned clean twice he developed a fatal cancer and died about 6 months into it. I don't know if the cancers were related and all my doctors say that he was a rare case, but it doesn't make me feel very comfortable. Toni CT pap thyca lymph node involv. TT 10/00 150 RAI 11/00 Tg positive, scan negative Nov. 01 200 RAI Dec 4, 01 3 hour body scan Dec. 11. uptake in mediastinum area MRI Dec. 17 showed spots on liver, enlarged lymph nodes in chest area Ultra Sound January 7, 02 inconclusive results except polyp in gall bladder MRI of liver scheduled Feb. 6, Dr. said not to worry, could be blood spots instant replay same time 6 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2002 Report Share Posted February 24, 2002 And I! I quit my 24 year habit 6 years ago. I have wondered how many thyca patients were smokers at some time in their lives - and how many weren't. Does anyone have statistics on that? I mean, I knew it was hurting me and that I would probably get sick someday, but just couldn't quit until I was finally able to. I've been wondering why there is so much thyroid cancer these days - I had to wait in line for my RAI appointment! dx 1/02 tt 2/1/02 papillary/follicular with mets to one lymph node and connective tissue RAI scans begin 4/9/02 Re: No Cancer is Good Judith, I to am an x smoker. I loved smoking so much my friends would say " what would make you quit? " I tried to think of the worse thing I could think of and told them when someone stuck a needle in my neck!!! Well guess what. I haven't smoked since Oct, 2000. I also had a male coworker who had thyroid cancer (I don't know what kind) he was treated at Sloan in NY and about a year after he had scanned clean twice he developed a fatal cancer and died about 6 months into it. I don't know if the cancers were related and all my doctors say that he was a rare case, but it doesn't make me feel very comfortable. Toni CT pap thyca lymph node involv. TT 10/00 150 RAI 11/00 Tg positive, scan negative Nov. 01 200 RAI Dec 4, 01 3 hour body scan Dec. 11. uptake in mediastinum area MRI Dec. 17 showed spots on liver, enlarged lymph nodes in chest area Ultra Sound January 7, 02 inconclusive results except polyp in gall bladder MRI of liver scheduled Feb. 6, Dr. said not to worry, could be blood spots instant replay same time 6 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2002 Report Share Posted February 24, 2002 " Tony @ " <rwheele4@t...> wrote: > How have the years been sice your found out you had tyca? I know it was along time ago but since reacurrance have you had any problems? I am very new on this journey and am afraid my life will never get any better than it is right now,which since finding this out hasn't been so great. I am not the one to whom this was dirrected but I thought I would respond as I have some history with Thyca. I have had Thyca for better than 15 years and I must say that life on the whole has been and is good, further that I expect it will remain so. I was in my thirties when I discovered the lumps in my neck and it was a couple of very difficult years learning about Thyca- -however I did not have the support group or information that is available here to help me at the time. It is here for you and I both now. I am not going to tell you that Thyca is easy, fun or with out risk but I will tell you your, life will be good if you let it be. Love your life, appreciate the gift that it is and know that Thyca will not change that. Good luck in your treaments. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2002 Report Share Posted February 24, 2002 Thanks for responding. I am very glad to hear from people who have been dx with tyca alot of yrs ago. Please tell me about your experience. Have you had any reacurrances? I am awaiting my 1st RAI treatment in about a week and am feeling very nervous. Did you have that done. Did you any lymph nodes removed? Sorry so full of questions. Thanks again for caring. RENEE Re: No Cancer is Good " Tony @ " <rwheele4@t...> wrote: > How have the years been sice your found out you had tyca? I know it was along time ago but since reacurrance have you had any problems? I am very new on this journey and am afraid my life will never get any better than it is right now,which since finding this out hasn't been so great. I am not the one to whom this was dirrected but I thought I would respond as I have some history with Thyca. I have had Thyca for better than 15 years and I must say that life on the whole has been and is good, further that I expect it will remain so. I was in my thirties when I discovered the lumps in my neck and it was a couple of very difficult years learning about Thyca- -however I did not have the support group or information that is available here to help me at the time. It is here for you and I both now. I am not going to tell you that Thyca is easy, fun or with out risk but I will tell you your, life will be good if you let it be. Love your life, appreciate the gift that it is and know that Thyca will not change that. Good luck in your treaments. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.