Monday night. I find myself a little knock-kneed by today's visit to the doctor. The verdict on the suspicious blood test is this: Recurrent Thyroid Cancer is positive. Problem is now, how bad? And where? Let's play Choose Your Own Diagnosis.
With the information we have, here are the options:
1. Go on a low iodine diet for two weeks, get thyrogen injections, swallow a radioactive I-131 tablet and have a whole body scan. (Go to Option 1B)
2. Do nothing and redraw blood in a few months for a comparison study. (Go to Option 2A)
3. Order a full body PET scan to look for any reactive cells ANYWHERE in the body. This will produce a comparison study against a PET scan from April 2006. (Go to Option 3B)
1B. This is not a good option for me as I am apparently resistant to iodine. My cells don't absorb it so using radioactive iodine to identify and then treat my recurrent disease is not viable and could expose me to side effects like leukemia. End here.
2A. A foolish choice at best. Basically medical denial. End here.
3B. The newest, most-expensive way to monitor recurrent iodine-resistant thyroid cancer. To do this, I have to go on a 24-hour all-protein diet with no exercise, then be injected with a dye and scanned. (Go to Option 4)
4. Commence PET scan
4A. If scan shows all cells in body are nonreactive, do nothing and continue to monitor blood work.
4B. If scan shows reactive cells in thyroid bed area/lymph nodes, meet with a surgeon to discuss total radical extraction with possible radiation follow up.
4C. If scan shows reactive cells outside the throat area, like the lungs (a common secondary location), discuss external beam radiation options.
4D. If scan shows cancer in bones, same as 4C AND write my will.
Did you pick a path? Here's mine: 3 to 3B to 4 to ....? We don't know yet. My scan is on Thursday. Results to come later.
And how do I feel? How does anyone feel with news like this? I feel lucky that my friends and family are giving me great support.
But yes, I am scared. I am scared.
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randall has this shirt, maybe he can send it to you to wear?
oh man, was that in poor taste? oh man,
i hope not, and i hope you never die. xoxox.