My stage 3 charateristics

January 5, 2003

Hey Gang,

My stage three characteristics,

First surgery April 18, 2000 a hernia repair....a pain in the gut turned to a

big pain in the neck.

Second surgery, May 3, 2000 was the removal of four right anterior cervical

nodes measuring from about 1.6 to over 2.7cm. The thyroid itself appeared normal

except for one 5mm nodule which was drained.

Pathology returned and confirmed thyroid cancer.

Third surgery, May 10, 2000 thyroid removed. Thyroid weighed 11 grams, 5.0 x 4.5

x 1.5. one lymph node was also removed with a tumor .7 x .5 x .5 cm. Pathology

states papillary carcinoma.

Fourth surgery, June 26, 2000 was a bilateral modified neck dissection in

Houston.

Removal on the right side carotid artery a tumors measuring 4.2 x 2.5 x 3.2 cm,

1.8 x .6 x .6 cm tumor, 7.5 x 3.0 x 1.5 cm.

Left neck jugular vein a tumor measuring 9.0 x 5.0 x 2.0 cm, also a 8 x 3.8 x

2.0cm . I had 2 large tumors and a total of 37 lymph nodes removed.

Fifth surgery, Aug 21, 2001 was a flop. I had a left neck dissection, 33 staples

for nothing. The radiologists gave the wrong location of the tumor to my surgeon

to remove the remaining tumor so he explored my left neck when the tumor was

actually located in the thyroid bed.

Sixth surgery, October 2, 2001, I had the radiologists put an x on the spot and

a 4.0 x 1.5 x 1.5 tumor was removed weighing 3 grams.

I guess to sum up why I was stages at 3 was because of my age at the time was 48

and the size and location of my tumors.

My surgeon gave me a colored 8 by 10 photo of my neck dissection. It is amazing

what the inside of your neck looks like. They have one chunk of the cancer held

with pliers showing it being removed.

I got my hair cut the other day and when she cut the hair around my ears my chin

tickled. I still have no feeling under my chin except for the tingles had the

other day.

I hope this explains my situation. It is hard for me to understand and I lived

through all this as an out patient.

A tough cookie to crumble

Gloria

Gloria &

Ranch

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