So it has been a little while since I have written anything about what is going on with me medically. I kept wanting to, but there were constantly unanswered questions so I just kept putting it off, but now I need to. The last note left off that we had postponed the radioactive iodine, which turns out to be the right decision. They had noticed some spots on some of my scans that they wanted to further investigate to figure out exactly what is going on. So since then I have had CT's, MRI's, and Ultrasounds. There was a spot in my neck and a spot in my lung that they wanted to look into.
Lately I have been a little disappointed in my endocrinologist, my main doctor who I will be following up with for the rest of my life. I was getting a little bit discouraged because I was having trouble getting my questions answered. When we went to visit the ENT surgeon for a checkup he mentioned a Dr. B at the Washington Hospital Center, who is actually the chief of the endocrinology department there. The next week we were consulting with Dr. V who is head of the Nuclear medicine department at WHC, and he too mentioned Dr. B as someone we may be interested in seeing. He said that it usually took four months for new patients to get in, but that he would contact them and see if he could get me in sooner. Just two hours later we got a call from a close friend who is and oncologist in Kentucky, Pat. He knows a thyroid specialist out there that we were considering going to visit, Dr. A, but when Pat spoke to Dr. A he recommended that we see Dr. B, because he is much closer to us. So all signs were pointing to us going to see Dr. B. The next day I got a call from Dr. B’s assistant, and I got an appointment for two weeks later (remember it usually takes 4 months). Dr. B was actually familiar with my case because they have a Thyroid Cancer Board that meets every few weeks to discuss different cases, so that everyone can put their heads together and figure out what to do. My case had been presented at this meeting several times.
We went to our appointment with Dr. B last Thursday and he is wonderful. He lays everything out there, but is very encouraging at the same time. He has been practicing for over 30 years, so I feel like I have a lot of experience on my side. We also went to see my thoracic surgeon last Thursday. It turns out there is another tumor in my left lung that needs to be removed. It is close to where the old one was, but not in the exact same place, and it is not as big this time. We have been told by all the doctors that if there is anything that can be surgically removed, that is the best way to get it out, so I am scheduled for surgery Aug. 18. We also heard back from the ENT surgeon, and he said there is nothing that needs to be removed in my neck, and to have it rechecked in a few months.
So that is where we are right now. On Aug 6 it will be 1 year since I was first admitted to the hospital and we found out about the first tumor, and on Aug 16 it will be one year since I was diagnosed with cancer. I never would have imagined that we would spend this year this way, but God has a plan for me, even if I am not quite sure what it is. He has been working through all of this and I know he will continue to be there for me.
Hattie
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