I’ve been meaning to write this post for 2 days now and decided I would give a quick update now. The results are finally in.
Follow up Number 2
I went to see my surgeon in his office on Tuesday to get results. Results from pathology. Everything they took out during surgery was tested for cancer which would be in this report. I was also getting the results from my blood work from the past week. All I can say is GOD IS GREAT.
One of the first questions I asked Dr. S. when he came to see me that first day after surgery, was if he knew how much (lymph nodes/other things) he had taken out. He said he had no idea but when the pathology results came back he would have the information. The few days before I went to see him I mentally prepared myself as to what he might say. Since I had read a few stories from other Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) patients, I was expecting the number of lymph nodes to be somewhere in the 50 range. Especially since they had gone into both sides of my neck.
Well I was way off. We got to Dr. S. office and he brought out the pathology report. It was a whopping 9 pages long. As he was going through the results, I was trying to count along how much was taken out. Until we got to the end where he just summed it up for me.
Pathology Results
They took out a total of 89 lymph nodes, my entire thyroid plus whatever lymph nodes are in the so called ‘central compartment’ as well as a parathyroid gland. With that high of a number I was a little scared to hear the finally tally as to how much was cancerous. Like I said before GOD IS GREAT. Only 27 lymph nodes were cancerous which in my books is an amazing ratio.
Additionally to the 27 lymph nodes I had one multifocal tumor (meaning multiple tumors within one) on my thyroid that had very minimal involvement anywhere but the local area that it was sitting in. The biggest one of these tumors being just over 2 cm. The biggest lymph node tumor was around 2.5 cm in size. My parathyroid was clear of cancer.
My blood work looks absolutely amazing. Before surgery my calcitonin level was about 2900 (which was probably the source of all my gut issues). Now it is down by over half (!!) to 1200. I still have a long way to go down since the normal is around 10, but we are on the right track. It usually takes about 6-8 weeks for those numbers to come down and mine are halved in just one week. I know all that sounds super scary and a lot, but given what we were expecting this is amazing news!!
Next steps
After he went through the whole report with us, Dr. S. started talking about what was next on the docket for me. He said he was going to refer me to the Cross Cancer Institute. There I would probably meet up again with Dr. M. (the other surgeon during my OR). He mentioned that he would refer me to the neuroendocrine branch of oncology instead of the thyroid branch. Medullary cancers often behave more like neuroendocrine cancers than thyroid cancer.
He said Dr. M. was hopeful that I would be a candidate to take targeted therapy, which is somewhat similar to chemotherapy but yet different. Instead of going to the hospital and getting a long term IV line put in place, then going back to get the actual chemotherapy, I would be able to take this therapy at home in pill form.
It would also work differently in my body. Instead of attacking all fast growing cells, regardless if it was cancerous or non-cancerous, it would target specific proteins that the cancer needs to survive. From what I have read about it so far (which may be wrong, since I don’t know many details), the side effects are much more bearable. They would be less intense as with regular chemotherapy.
Dr. M. has been working with this branch of oncology over the last while. He would be one of the doctors that I would work with. Him together with a female Doctor (who’s name I can’t remember), who is an endocrinologist. Dr. S. mentioned that since they were unable to remove all of the tumors from both side of my vocal cord nerves, we might also need to do external bream radiation.
Scar care
Jeff made a good point, we should hope and pray this either won’t be necessary, or not for a long time. That way my scar has time to heal properly. With radiation directly onto my neck, hence directly onto my scar, it could have the same effects as direct sun light which I am trying to avoid at all cost.
As of now, my scar looks great. It’s starting to fade amazingly well for being 2 weeks out of surgery. It became clear to me tonight, juts how well it actually looks. I went to a friends house for a Family Health & Immunity class around essential oils. The speaker didn’t notice my scar until I pointed it out to her by asking her some questions. I wondered if there are any oils to encourage healing. She told me that she didn’t even see it from where she was standing which was just the other side of the table.
I can only thank God and the many prayers for this. Plus, also my mom. My mom always seems to have a remedy for everything. She brought me this concoction made out of Swedish Bitters. I am not 100% sure if that is the correct way of calling it in English. Its called Schwedenkraeuter in German. Its basically herbs mixed into a high percentage liquor, usually vodka, which I have been using almost daily.
It’s just put onto a cloth and then wrapped around my neck so that my entire scar is covered and then secured with cling wrap. I have to make sure I have certain linens behind me since this stuff stains and you can’t get it out. However, I think it definitely is doing the trick in helping the healing process. Today I started massaging my scar which I have to say feels very weird. I have very little feeling on my neck. It feels like it does when you get freezing at the dentist, sort of.
Essential Oil Learning
So with this Essential Oils class I took today I will have a few more things in my back pocket that I will be using to fight this cancer. My mom has made me another tincture that from a plant. I have been taking twice a day for now. People have reported to have beat cancer with. Even in cases where doctors had given up on them already. Together with the essential oils I am hoping to build up my immune system. Maybe I can even fight the left over cancer a little before I have to start any other treatments.
I was always very skeptical about all of these kind of treatments. I didn’t think that any of that was ever going to help, but I have seen in many lives around me what kind of power some of these weird things can have. My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, got some surgery and radiation but they still weren’t able to get everything. She is now cancer free thanks to the same tincture I am taking.
Friends of ours, their Dad was diagnosed with cancer and was given a short time to live, he is now still with us many years later. He changed his diet and is doing some of these things that I am now trying. For example eating apricot seeds. There is no denying that I believe in western medicine, after all I work in the medical field. It is definitely a great thing, but I have now learned the amazing things herbal and alternative medicines can do as well.
More Prayer Requests
As I prepare for the next step in this journey, my prayer request would be for God to continue to hold his hand over me. If it is His will, to heal me without having to do anymore major treatments. Thanking Him for the amazing results we have already received.
Today Jeff and I are celebrating our 4 year wedding anniversary. It is crazy to think how fast times flies. Its already been 4 amazing years since we said I do. I don’t think I have ever been this thankful to make it to another anniversary. Never have I been more thankful for the amazing man God has put into my life. He has been a true rock and inspiration for me over the last month. Jeff is doing so much for me every single day. He loves me unconditionally and doesn’t shy away from being affectionate even with the scar glaring at him.
Some days I feel very self – conscious about it and I have asked him many time if the scar bothers him. Every time his answer is no. I love this man so much. I can’t even put it into words. Honey, I want to thank you for everything you continue to do and everything you have done already. I couldn’t go through this journey without you. Thank you for really showing me that you meant every word of your vows every single day, for sticking through with me in sickness and in health. I love you …. most.
