Charlcie

Today was another interesting visit with Dr. Pun , my endocrincologist. Apparently, I’m one of “those people” in his practice, as he says, the ones he has to monitor very closely for recurrence of thyroid cancer because the tests either disagree or won't move into a "normal" range. He says there are only about 10 of us in his practice. After many tests and scans this spring , he’s not comfortable with my status in terms of everything being “all clear.” Blood tests clearly show something is not right yet the scans and tests don’t point to any changes. There’s something concerning in my neck lymph nodes. However, it is not an amazingly unusual size and has not changed over the past year much at all. So I’ll have more blood drawn, more doctors’ appointments, more scans in the coming months. And continue to be one of “those people” in Dr. Pun’s practice, knowing that thyroid cancer will not define me but will continue to be a part of me, at least for a while. Somehow, I’m a c...

Mackenzie, this is for you...three great non-cancer things for the week of March 22. We'll go by birth order: After working hard during her campaign, Mackenzie was elected to the JMHS Student Government Executive Board for her senior year. Christian enrolled in JMHS as of Tuesday. He arrived back in Virginia just in time to submit his application for a great photography program for his senior year. We are so glad he is back living with us! Morgan was named one of the two captains on her soccer team for the spring season. Through successes and failures, we are truly blessed with great kids.

I received my PET scan results earlier this week. I sat on the results a few days as I needed to digest what it really meant for me, not just what the doctor says. There are no new growth and no changes to the questionable areas seen on the left side of my neck. It hasn't "gone away" on the left side, something strange seems to be there on that left side, but it hasn't changed. In thyroid cancer talk, that's good. What could have happened? Strange left area could have grown and/or new suspicious areas were found. This didn't happen so that's really great news. Is it? Well, it's all I've got for now. I'll take it. Some of you know that I can be, um, "wound pretty tight" at times. Sometimes I think this unresolved thyroid cancer business is my personal challenge from God to learn patience...and understanding...and patience. And to leave more things to Him, not to worry. This not worrying business is not easy for me. Next steps: ultraso...

On Monday, day two of my non-leap year birthday, I posted the following on my facebook page: Day 2 of my "un"/"fake" birthday and so many more b-day wishes...thanks everyone! And the great news of the day: I got the results today of my thyroid cancer scan, and it was clear! Lovin' the cancer survivor thing much better than the cancer patient gig. :) I received lots of supportive comments and "likes" on this Facebook status. Man, I liked this status! Apparently I "jumped the gun" a bit in the good news about my test results. The whole body scan was, in fact, clear. However, my blood work is elevated/abnormal/stinks. I spoke with Dr. Pun on the phone mid-week regarding this strange thing: that the whole body scan is clear yet the blood work, thyroglobulin, has been and continues to be elevated. I found a medical journal article online that says the blood test is the more reliable of the two, and that it is possible that these two tests could h...

I watched the movie "Funny People" last week during the epic Northern Virginia/Washington DC snowstorm. We had LOTS of time on our hands. Of course, I should have finished up all of those lingering projects, but I didn't. Mainly just watched movies and enjoyed the family. !!MOVIE SPOILER ALERT!! Funny People was, well, kinda funny, but I was blindsided by Adam Sandler's charater who was diagnosed with cancer. Specifically, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Two things "got me" about the portrayal of his cancer: 8% chance of surviving on experiment drugs...and it worked. Sandler's character talked to his doctor about test results in one of the early scenes, and I believe he said AML, stage 4. Definitely said he had an 8% chance of survival but only if he tried this experimental drug regimen (I'm thinking this is a clinical trial). At this point, he starts getting his affairs in order, take a mentor under his wings (Seth Rogen), and starts taking the experi...

Folks, I can't even tell you the amount of snow that we have here in Northern Virginia...BEFORE the blizzard that hit last night. Picture to the left was before the the latest round of winter weather hit. Now, probably eight inches more have fallen since 5:30 PM lastnight plus a 40 mph wind. And it's still snowing. Crazy is all I can say. I'm grateful that we have power as many in the DC Metro do not...thousands, in fact. As a result, my thyroid cancer testing has been rescheduled for the last week of February. I'm fine with that. All of us here need to focus on staying warm and safe.

I've been somewhat pleased with January 2010...cruising along, doing my own thing, staying on pace with life in general. Keeping things fairly in order. Haven't quite tackled all of those resolutions with the vim and vigor I had planned but have had good intentions and made headway in general. But I feel it coming...I have several things creeping up. First on the docket, my round of thyroid cancer follow-up shots and scans the week of February 8th. I'm not freaking out about it like I used to, especially since I'm keeping with my New Year's resolution of no more thyroid cancer in 2010 . But it's a process - physically, emotionally, logistically. It's a pain in my routine. But you know, if that's all I've got to contend with in regards to thyroid cancer, I'll take it. So here's the schedule: Feb. 8 - thyrogen shot (preps me for the scan) Feb. 9 - thyrogen shot Feb. 10 - small dose of radioactive material given (no glowing green will occur...I...