Annual Visit

Today I had my annual appointment.

He still likes the way that everything looks, my levels have been ok, but are starting to change due to my pregnancy. He increased my Levoxyl, and I'll keep checking my levels every 2 months.

I'm going back for a follow up appointment in 6 months (October), which I am assuming is because of the pregnancy. We'll see how that all goes.

It sounds like he's still happy with everything, so I'm happy!

Pregnant!

I'm excited to announce that Josh & I are having a baby in September!

It's such a blessing to be able to be pregnant after the journey that I went on 3 years ago!

All Clear!

I had my check up this past Thursday, and after a rough morning (I woke up with a bad cold and my car was pouring gas out), I got amazing news.

I had already gotten a thyroid ultrasound before the appointment and had a thyrogen test (just the 2 injections of TSH and 2 days of blood work).There is no residual thyroid tissue, and the thyroglobulin levels are untraceable! I don't need tests for 3 years! This news was not exactly unexpected, but it's always great to hear!

I feel so blessed that not even 2 years after being diagnosed, that I am completely free of cancer!

So, even though I was a slacker and didn't post much on this blog, I'll be even more scarce until my next appointment next year, or possibly until my next test in 3 years. I thank you for following me through my journey!

Scan Results

So, I was hoping to post more during my scan week, but I was busy preparing an unplanned trip to Florida to help take care of Josh's grandma & her husband.

I didn't get the results of the scan right away, and had to wait until the Monday after (3/28). The results seemed good. Compared to my scan results in July, it looks good, and the blood work looks good compared to the last one. There is a faint spot of thyroid tissue, and they'll be doing an ultrasound at my next appointment (which is tomorrow).

I'm not sure what that means, but I think that since the blood work is good, there's no problems right now. I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

Nothing too major, but still a lot more info to get. I'll let you know after my appointment what happens, when I can get all the info.

Almost done!

I really meant to write evreryday this week, but I'm a major slacker when it comes to blogging. I had my 2 TSH injections yesterday and today, and the worst of the check-up process is finally over! The first shot really burned, and my arm is still sore. The second shot, which I had today, didn't really burn it all.

I took a 3 hour nap yesterday, and a 10 minute nap today. Tomorrow, I go in for blood work & to get the RAI. Hopefully everything is going to go well, and nothing is abnormal. I found out that the coconut milk that I had had a few times I probably shouldn't have had, which is making me nervous. We'll find out in a couple days.

I'll update you on Friday after my scan!

Day 3

I am on day 3 of the low iodine diet. I decided to take an extra week and do this diet, partially so I could start on March 1 and it would be easy to remember, and partially so I can lose a little more weight. I put on everything I lost before the wedding.

So far, I'm doing well. It's only been 3 days, so it's been a pain, but not unbearable yet. I should have gotten myself a little more prepared with food, because there are some times that I don't have something I need. Oh well, I'll get myself prepared!

6 Months and 2 Days

It has been 6 months and 2 days since I've had my surgery to remove the cancer. It's hard to believe that the time went by so fast.

I'm feeling much better than I did, but still have a ways to go regarding the medication. I was depressed for about 2 months, and now that I've increased the dosage, I'm kind of in between. I feel anxious, but still have some hypo symptoms. I won't be getting blood work done again until just after January, when I FINALLY get to have insurance again.

Hopefully in the next couple months we can figure out the medicine and get it straightened out. I really wasn't expecting this part to be this hard, and it's hard asking for thoughts/prayers because they think it's all over with. It really shouldn't be, and it's been a hard 6 months, even though the hard part was in June/July. I would just love to not be exhausted after doing laundry or dishes, or anything else that takes relatively little effort.

I'll still keep you posted on how everything is going! There's not too much to update on at this point, other than blood work and medication changes, but I'll let you know what happens!

Radioactive Precautions...Again

Yesterday I wrote about an AP article a friend sent me about people not taking enough precautions after receiving RAI treatment. Today, I saw the same article on a yahoo site, and an e-mail was sent out from the ATA (American Thyroid Association) about it! I can't believe that some places don't take enough precautions before letting people in the public, and I can't believe that some people just don't care!!

The e-mail from the ATA:

Joint Statement on Radioactive Precautions Following Radioactive Iodine Therapy
October 20, 2010 

The American Thyroid Association (ATA), The Endocrine Society (TES),
the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM),
the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)

Radioactive iodine (I-131) has been used for decades as an effective treatment for thyroid cancer. Throughout this time, one important aspect of such treatment has been the protection of the public, and more specifically household contacts, from theoretically dangerous exposure to residual radiation remaining in the patient's body after treatment. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), an agency of the Federal government, sets the rules governing this aspect of I-131 treatment and revises them periodically¹.

In 1997, the NRC modified these regulations to allow individualization of the procedure for preventing radiation exposure to the public after a patient is treated with I-131. A goal of this rule change was to avoid isolation of a patient in the hospital for prolonged periods if the patient's release to home would be safe for the patient, the patient's family and the public. This approach enhances patient satisfaction and is the current standard of medical practice.

In anticipation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) holding meetings this week related to the use of medical isotopes and other medical issues, Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, wrote to the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and reported a "strong likelihood that members of the public have been unwittingly exposed to radiation from patients who are discharged after being treated with radioisotopes, and that this has occurred because of weak NRC regulations, ineffective oversight of those who administer these medical treatments, and the absence of clear guidance to patients and to physicians that provide procedures to ensure that such exposures do not occur".

The American Thyroid Association, The Endocrine Society, the Society of Nuclear Medicine, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists believe that the current procedure, based on scientific evidence, is safe for patients, their families and the public when radiation safety instructions are followed (JAMA 283: 2272-2274, 2000). However, the ATA, TES, SNM and AACE would support reexamination of this issue if new data emerge that indicates concerns about public safety. Additionally, the American Thyroid Association has recently completed an examination of the current scientific evidence for any potential risks to the public from I-131 therapy of thyroid cancer. It is anticipated that the report will provide updated recommendations for best practices focusing on patient and public safety following I-131 treatment.

Our organizations are dedicated to adhering to the best medical practices for I-131 therapy so our patients, their families and the public remain safe. We look forward to discussing this important issue with relevant federal agencies. Until new regulations are released by the NRC, we recommend that physicians and patients should continue to follow current safety procedures.

For questions regarding the statement, please contact Bobbi Smith, Executive Director at the American Thyroid Association at bsmith@thyroid.org; Stephanie Kutler, Director of Government Affairs at The Endocrine Society at skutler@endo-society.org; Janette Merrill, Assistant Director, Health Policy & Regulatory Affairs at the Society for Nuclear Medicine at jmerrill@snm.org; Bryan Campbell, Director of Public and Media Relations at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists at bcampbell@aace.com.

RAI Cautions

The AP posted this story today about Thyroid Cancer patients and how they expose unknowing people to RAI, and can contaminate them and other things. It's a very interesting article.

Luckily, Strong Hospital was very cautious on sending someone with RAI out of the hospital, and making sure I wasn't going to contaminate people. The only thing I never thought of was the garbage setting of alarms and could possibly contaminating people.

Go check it out!

Bringing Sexy Out of the Thyloset

I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since I've put up my weak awareness post! This month has completely flown by. I was hoping to really do some awareness stuff this month, but between babysitting and getting my apartment ready, it's now the end of the month! I was going to paint my nails earlier in the week for Thyroid Cancer awareness (to show off in this post for you guys!), but I was too busy! Hopefully I'll have time today! Things have been quiet on the medical front. I failed and didn't post after my check up last week. I met with the surgeon for him to go do a check, and he says everything is good! I'm due back next June!


I came across a pretty cool blog a month or two ago. It's called Dear Thyroid, and people can write letters to their thyroids, doctors, whoever about their thyroid. I never knew what to write, but have wanted to participate some way on the site. So, when I saw that to celebrate Thyroid Cancer awareness month, they were having people do a little interview, I jumped on the chance to participate! So, here's my little interview with Dear Thyroid. Enjoy!





What kind of thyroid cancer were you diagnosed with? How many years have you been a survivor?
I was diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer. I'm not sure which stage it was, either 1 or 2. I have been a survivor for three MONTHS. 

September is thyroid cancer awareness month. What does that mean to you? Why do you think awareness is important? How do you spread awareness?
Awareness month means to show you're proud to be a survivor and happy to share your story. Awareness is important, because if we didn't try to raise awareness (for anything, not just ThyCa), then no one would have any idea anything exists, and it will make it harder to prevent, or have people think about these things. I try to spread awareness, it's hard since I really don't work or go many places right now where people don't already know. Luckily, my mom is a proud mom and shares with everyone, so she's my biggest awareness spreader. :) I try to always wear open shirts (mostly because I'm used to it), so people might notice (it's harder after the steri-strips are gone for people to notice), and I always wear my "Cancer Sucks" bracelet from Choose Hope. I've had a couple people ask me what it says or why I wear it, then I can explain. I hope someday to get a tattoo of the ribbon and butterfly.

Many thyroid cancer patients have been told, “If you have to get cancer, thyroid cancer is the one to get.”  What do you think of that statement? When you’re told this, how do you respond?
I know that people diagnosed with ThyCa hate this statement, so don't hate me when I answer: Honestly, it doesn't bother me. Heck, my doctor told me that, which I'm sure would make most people even more upset, but it comforted me. I had a VERY low stage of Papillary Cancer. All I had to do was surgery & the RAI. So for me, it WAS easy. I mean, it wasn't easy, but treatment-wise, I still have to do scans and everything, and I did have it in lymph nodes, so it wasn't NOTHING, but, compared to what a lot of other people go through (Thyroid & other cancers), I think it was "good" compared to what I could have had. I had graduated a month before my surgery, and was getting married 7 weeks after surgery. I couldn't take anything more serious. Yes, when people tell me that, I say that no cancer is easy. It's still hard, but I do tell them that I got lucky and had a very short and successful period of knowing I have it.

Dear Thyroid is constantly working to dispel the myth that thyroid cancer is the good cancer or the easy cancer. What other myth would you like to dispel regarding thyroid cancer?
I guess I haven't heard any other myths to dispel, but I keep reading that Thyroid Cancer grows more rapidly than any other cancer. I'm not sure why, but get checked. Even if you don't think it has to do with your Thyroid.

What one thing would you tell the world about thyroid cancer?
Tell your doctor about any symptoms you have. I went in thinking I had allergy problems, and it turned out that my Thyroid was enlarged. There was a very small nodule on it, and it's a very small chance that nodules are cancerous to begin with, let alone VERY small ones (under 1cm!) If your doctor does find something on your Thyroid, keep on top of it. Keep getting check ups. I went for a year check up, always being told that a good chunk of the population have these, and only about 5% are cancerous. They wanted to do a biopsy, so we said sure (even though I didn't want to). It was a shock to find out I had cancer, especially when I didn't expect it. You never know!

What advice would you give to a newly diagnosed thyroid cancer patient?
Get as much information as you can. Be VERY careful on the internet. Luckily, one of my friends is in med school, so she directed me to the best sites to look for information (the Mayo Clinic). Join groups like this online, so you can talk to people who have been through it before, but know that each situation is different.
Also, make sure you talk to your doctor about your surgeon. My surgeon specializes in Thyroid removals, and is the best in this area. I was the 6th scheduled on the day of my surgery before I was moved up.

Do you have a funny thyroid cancer-related story you are willing to share?
When I was going into surgery, I had my gown on and IV hooked up. Right before they wheeled me in they put on a blue cap. My brother took a picture of it, and I put it on Facebook the next day. Everyone kept telling me it could be my something blue for the wedding! I had to tell them that I woke up with out it, and I was actually disappointed that I couldn't take it home with me!

Information about Dear Thyroid to include in your post:

Dear Thyroid is a thyroid support community and literary brand. Our goal is to connect patients with each other, to create awareness for thyroid diseases and cancers, and to give all thyroid patients a voice. We come together as a united front to invoke change on behalf of thyroid patients worldwide. Thyroid patients are invited to submit letters to their thyroids, thyroid rants and raves, and other literary creations. Help us to create awareness for thyroid diseases and cancers by wearing your disease on your sleeve and by requesting one of our free awareness bands. Visit DearThyroid.org to learn more!