September: Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month

Before the month ends, I want to help raise awareness about Thyroid CA. September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, and I hope to shed some light about this topic. Whenever we hear the word, “cancer,” more often than not, we get scared of it – we think it’s a death sentence, an expiration date. But if you, or someone else you know has been diagnosed, please don’t think of it that way. There is hope.

My Thyroid CA story (as I’ve shared in my previous blog posts) started as a painless lump in my neck, which we only discovered in January 2017. I didn’t even notice it before, because I am overweight. My sister noticed, but I waved her off and told her it was just fat – until I accompanied my cousin to the doctor, who noticed my neck, and gave me an ultrasound request, as well as a Thyroid Function Test request. My TFT result was normal, but the ultrasound declared that there were two masses in my thyroid lobes, one for each side, the left much bigger than the right. But I didn’t bother to see an endocrinologist, since I didn’t feel anything. 

A year later, I was admitted to the hospital due to hypertension. My cardiologist referred me to an endocrinologist, who suggested a biopsy. I didn’t follow through for a check-up, because again, I thought that since I didn’t feel anything, I shouldn’t bother going. But then I was rushed a couple of times to the ER due to hypertension. 4 months after, I had a Transcient Ischematic Attack (TIA or Mini Stroke) incident. I visited a neurologist the day after, who pushed me to finally see an endocrinologist. I didn’t hesitate, and the doctor told me to get a biopsy. The results were not benign nor malignant, but they AFOS – Atypical Follicular Cells. It meant that they weren’t sure whether or not the lump was actually safe, so my endocrinologist suggested surgery.

But I was afraid. Like every normal person out there, I didn’t want to undergo surgery. I didn’t see it as a necessity. So, I opted to undergo natural treatment. It helped me a lot: I felt better, my symptoms diminished, and my hypertension went away, along with my brain fog. I lost weight, and I was healthier. 

On April 2019, despite feeling better, I sometimes coughed while lying in bed, which lead me to see my 3rd endocrinologist. (I sticked with this one) He ordered surgery, telling me that I had to do it before it was too late, before my trachea collapsed because of the growing lump in my neck.

Eventually my fear lessened, and I learned to trust God. I surrendered everything. May 28, 2019, I underwent total thyroidectomy. With God’s grace, the surgery was successful. The surgeon is crazy good – he left my parathyroid intact and did not damage my laryngeal nerve, a complication that is not uncommon among thyroidectomy patients. My voice and calcium levels were all normal afterwards.

4 days after the surgery, the biopsy of my removed thyroid showed Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. Thyroid Cancer, which they say is the friendliest cancer. In my opinion, there’s no such thing as friendly cancer, because it’s still a sickness. But even after all of that, I didn’t worry, or felt fearful. But I did know that it should be treated. And it can be, through RadioActive Iodine Theraphy (RAI). My endocrinologist strongly recommends RAI, and I am now in the process of scheduling treatment.

My friend, if you’ve ever noticed a lump in your neck – even the smallest tiniest lump – please get yourself checked by a doctor. It is so, so important to detect the mass before it’s too big. Even if you don’t feel any symptom, please get checked. I know how we all want to stay positive and not get bogged down by negativity and worry, but our health is golden; it’s one of the most important treasures of life. We should take care of ourselves. 

Thyroid Cancer is not a death sentence. It can be treated. 

Please spread awareness about Thyroid CA, and share to your friends and loved ones. You might save a life.

September 19, 2019