Thyroid Cancer
 

A month ago today my wife and myself were involved in a terrible car accident (17 year old kid ran a stop sign going about 50-60 mph and right into the side of my wife's car I was driving on a four lane city street). We were spun around a bunch of times and then flipped upside down. Thankfully cracked ribs for my wife and a lot of soft tissue back and neck injuries for me were the result. A lot of long term pain (I saw him about to hit us full speed about a second or two before it happened so every muscle and tendon in my back and neck locked up). I have been in intense physical therapy three times a week to help my back pain and limited neck motion.

When we arrived at the hospital at first they thought I had a torn aorta so did chest x rays then a CT scan. Thank the Lord that was not the case. However two days later when visiting my GP for a treatment plan and follow up I discovered the CT scan had discovered a nodule on my right thyroid lobe. The next day I had an ultrasound that showed a very large (35mm) "suspicious" nodule. I was scheduled to have a biopsy and last Wednesday I was given the news that I have malignant thyroid cancer.

I am having surgery next Thursday, 9/17/20, to have entire thyroid and some lymph nodes removed (being malignant it has spread to my lymph nodes).

The good news is that the cancer I have is the second most survivable. About six weeks after surgery I will have one radiation treatment but no chemo thankfully. I have a 90%+ chance of survival.

There are some unpleasant consequences and side affects from the cancer and this surgery plus some immediate risk to my vocal chords during the surgery (it is very easy to accidentally paralyze them).

I appreciate your thoughts and prayers!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Yes sir you certainly have them. Love you man.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

You are definitely in my prayers, brother!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

praying for you

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Praying!!!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Thanks everybody! I do greatly appreciate the prayers.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

I had thyroid cancer 2 years ago and everything went well. I had to take radioactive iodine and quarantine in my room for 4 days but now we’re all used to that. They did a total thyroidectomy and I take synthetic thyroid. I did have paralyzed vocal cords for a while but that was the worst of it. Surgery recovery was almost painless. Prayers to you and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Praying for you CC1

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

How long were your vocal chords paralyzed? Vocal Chord damage is my biggest worry of the actual surgery as the bigger the nodule the more chance of damage. My nodule is huge at 35mm, pretty much completely replacing the right globe. I know of someone who did not get their voice back for about 3 months but I think that it usually is not that long.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Praying for you CC1.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Lifting you in prayer CC1.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Brother,
You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Truly God has taken something that was bad and brought good from it!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Praying for you CC1... thankful that the accident was not more serious, and that it brought about knowledge of a more serious condition, that thankfully can be treated. Praying for the pain you are in now, for the upcoming surgery, and for a quick healing with no vocal cord loss!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

As I type this the night of 9-16-20 my surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. The diagnosis was malignant thyroid cancer so cancer that has spread to my lymph nodes. Surgery is complete removal of the thyroid and involved lymph nodes in the neck as well so a neck dissection.

Thank you everyone for the kind and encouraging words but most of all for your prayer. If you happen to think about it tomorrow pray that God guides the surgeons hands about 1:30 pm CST Thursday September 17, 2020!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Trusting that God will protect you and give you peace.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Still praying, brother!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Prayed for you. Trusting God to give you peace and to guide the minds and hands of those who will be caring for you today.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Continuing to pray for you CC1! Trusting that the hands of the Great Physician are upon you, and bringing healing for you, in Jesus name.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

My surgery two days ago went well. I am in quite a bit of pain and can only whisper but am alive! The incision on my neck / throat is about four inches across and you don't realize how many nerve endings, etc are there until you are cut there then try to sit up in bed. My entire upper chest and neck area are sore and feels like everything is being pulled when I move.

Although technically I can eat anything I want apparently my throat and esophagus are swollen as even the softest of food gets stuck and I have to have a glass of water handy to wash food completely down my throat. The anesthesiologist told me that for this type surgery they have to use a larger than normal breathing tube that leaves the throat irritated for a few days.

My calcium levels dropped dramatically during surgery so I fear my parathyroid was damaged or removed during surgery. I will find out Tuesday at my follow up visit but they prescribed me a calcium pill and to take two Tums ultra strength 1000 pills four times a day. If that is the case I wlll have to take calcium daily along with the thyroid replacement medication the rest of my life.

Please pray for a quick recovery. I am miserable but glad to be alive and that my surgery went well.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Thankful surgery went well. Praying for a speedy recovery. God bless...

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Praise the Lord that all went well!
Praying you heal quickly, CC1!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Had my post op doctor visit yesterday. The doctor was surprised that one of my vocal chords is damaged as he thought they had avoided that in the surgery. I can only speak in a whisper and because air leaks when I try to speak my speaking is labored and I am wiped out after a few sentances plus it hurts my throat. The doctor hopes this is temporary but hsa warned me it could be permanent. If it doesn't heal there are some medical procedures they can do to try and help. This issue also causes me to not be able to fully cough, clear my throat, etc and in short is pretty miserable.

Late yesterday the pathology report also came back from my surgery and sadly confirmed the diagnosis that the cancer is malignant. They did find cancer in at least some of the lymph nodes they removed. This was no surprise as based on the large size of the cancer on my thyroid they expected this.

My next step is to meeti with an endicrinologist to plan my radiation therapy that should happen in about six weeks. In the meantime I ended up at the ER last Sunday night with what turned out to be a magnesium deficiency. Watching football my neck then face had started tingling and my lips went numb which was on the list of post op notes to be on the lookout for and to call the doctor if they ocurred. The doctor on call had me go to the ER and I complied as the consequences if you don't get calcium or magnesium deficiency taken care of his irregular heart rhythm, etc. I had a magnesium infusion and have been ok since.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Praying for you CC1.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

I am very sorry you are going through this. We all stand with you in prayer. I hope that you find comfort very soon. God be with you.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

So very sorry to hear about these complications. Trusting God to take care of you dear brother.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Praying for healing for your vocal cords, and for there to be light at the end of this tunnel that you are in. There are many miraculous interventions that the Lord has blessed doctors with, and I am praying that either through the Hands of the Great Physician or those whom He has gifted wisdom and understanding will bring you healing for this cancer in Jesus name.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Thanks for the kind words and prayers everybody. I now have a second surgery scheduled for next week, Oct 8, 2020. This is to try and address the vocal chord damage that is making it impossible for me to speak, fully cough or clear my throat, and also makes it harder to swallow.

I still have my radiation treatment probably a month down the road but taking things one step at a time! I had planned on being back at work this week but that has not been able to happen. I have dipped my toe in the work water though and am monitoring emails and helping the folks covering for me where I can.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Continuing in prayer for you!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

This afternoon (10/8/20) I go to the hospital for my second surgery, this one to try and help the damaged vocal chord keeping me from being able to speak or breathe correctly while trying to speak. Please pray that things go well. My concern is that at the very least no further damage is done in this effort to make things better. Of course I am hoping this procedure to put filler material in to help the air leaking is a great success and helps a lot.

I still have radiation treatment in a few weeks but one step at a time!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Praying for you, brother!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Praying and believing that all will go well today, dear brother!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Amen!!! Continuing in prayer!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

I had my total thyroidectomy on March 1st( 2 years ago)and had filler put in for paralyzed vocal cord 6 weeks later and it helped a lot. My voice is mostly back to normal but I can not reach a high note while trying to sing But I was never a singer so it’s no big deal. I am praying for you as I know it’s stressful. Radioactive iodine treatment was a breeze for me.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Praying for you CC1! Believing that the Lord's hand guided the physicians, surgeons, nurses and those caring for you, and trusting that there will be light at the end of this tunnel for you. It seems the accident happened so that you would get this treatment, and the Lord is with you. Continuing to pray :)

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Today I was allowed to try and speak and the good news is that my voice is about 75% back! It is not normal but amazingly better than before. I can speak louder than a whisper and am not out of air, hyperventilating, and exhausted after just a few sentances. My throat is still very sore but I believe over a few days that will heal and hopefully my voice will also continue to get better. Thank you for all of your prayers and please continue to pray for 100% healing.

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

I’m praying for you

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Hey CC1, how’re you doing today?

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Praying my Brother

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Glad to see some good news! Praying for 100% healing!

Re: Thyroid Cancer
 

Continuing to pray for you CC1!