Charlcie

This year, I bowed out of the photo for our Christmas card. Refused might be more accurate, but I won’t use that harsh of a tone. Others, such as Chris, might. In November, before Thanksgiving, the scheduling fairies made it possible for the kids to have exactly one hour available one afternoon that all three could be present…as long as some driver could get Morgan to the orthodontist by 4:30. Off they went…to the park and to the red caboose in our town. Lots of great shots to choose from, and after narrowing it down to our favorite five, in the end, Chris chose one that I had not previously considered, and I loved it. We all did…I think. Yes, we heard from the masses that Chewie was conspicuously left out of the photo. It will not happen again. But I digress.... So the cards arrived, and I break out the list of folks we will mail to this year. Chris notes that the price was so good for 100, he went ahead and ordered that number. “Wow, OK, but we normally only send to about 60,” I said

OK, no jokes about me actually writing two blog posts in the space of three weeks. :) Tomorrow, I make the trip back to see Dr. Pun , my favorite endocrinologist. Those of you who have had a cancer diagnosis and are a head case such as myself know what that means for today: the "what ifs" start. Although, I pretty much had the "what ifs" confirmed at my last appointment in October: Dr. Pun said that he is pretty sure "something" (i.e. thyroid cancer again) is going on there based on the bloodwork, and we just get to wait until something shows up on a scan of some form so we know what we are dealing with. Strangely, I was OK with that as I know that as long as I am one of " those patients " in his practice that he keeps an eye on (and there is that whole trust factor too...), I am fine. Well, as fine as I can be, knowing what a worry wart I am (thanks, Mema, for passing the torch to me in the worry department!). How much does it stink to know some

Yes, it has been almost three months since my last post. This fall, I've been somewhere inbetween busy, hiding and being overwhelmed by life in general. I have been hiding from cancer and talking about anything too real. Hmmm...these two things can be intertwined or separated, you take your pick. Either way, it is not healthy for me. I'm working on it.... Overwhelmed by life...like Ferris Bueller says, and I have quoted before on this blog, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't watch out, you could miss it." I've been in the "pretty fast" part of it lately, watching Mackenzie and Christian's senior year fly by. Kinda sad for me, but I'm enjoying it too, and I'm excited for them. Mackenzie has been accepted to all three schools she has applied to and offered significant scholarships to two of them. All of them are out of state...she is ready to go, and I'm so proud she is confident enough in herself to go. I'm just proud of her per

Since I have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer in July 2008, I connected with an awesome community of folks at “ Dear Thyroid ”. As part of Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, the good folks there have put together a Blog Tour highlighting those of us who have the magic combination of thyroid cancer and a blog about it. Thanks for the opportunity, Dear Thyroid! The questions Dear Thyroid has asked and my answers below: What kind of thyroid cancer were you diagnosed with? How many years have you been a survivor? Papillary carcinoma with positive lymph nodes diagnosed July 2008 with surgery and radioactive treatment. Recurrence January 2009 with surgery only. September is thyroid cancer awareness month. What does that mean to you? Why do you think awareness is important? How do you spread awareness? For me, it means share my story so I can raise awareness about thyroid cancer. I like for people to notice the scar on my neck and ask about it. I want to tell folks about how I had no ide

September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, a cause close to my heart as I was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma/thyroid cancer in July 2008. Here's the facts about thyroid cancer from the good folks at http://www.thyca.org/ : Thyroid cancer is one of the few cancers continuing to increase in incidence, with an anticipated record of about 44,670 people newly diagnosed in the United States this year and more than 200,000 people expected to be newly diagnosed worldwide. It’s also a cancer that affects people of all ages, from young children to seniors. The message for Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month is “Find It Early.” When detected early, most thyroid cancers are treatable. Early detection is a key to improving outcomes. Patient and caregiver education is also important, because thyroid cancer requires lifelong monitoring as recurrences can occur even decades after the diagnosis and initial treatment. Bottom line: check your neck . Have your physician check your neck. Do it sooner

Today on Twitter, I ran across the story of a 16-year-old girl who had been fighting cancer who died this morning. Her name was Esther Earl. I felt compelled to read her story. What a surprise to find that she died of thyroid cancer. My first thought was that it was probably anaplastic thyroid cancer, which is the most deadly and swift-moving form of thyroid cancer. Once again, I was surprised to find that she had the same type of thyroid cancer that I had: papillary carcinoma. Hers had spread to her lungs early. She tried experimental chemotherapy, to no avail. I didn't know her...she seemed like a bright light in the world that has now gone to Heaven. Her story has lingered with me all day. May she rest in peace. And may we all hug our children and appreciate our own life. Tribute to Esther Earl> More about Esther Earl - Her CaringBridge page>

First, what is a cancerversary? Some say it is the day you were diagnosed. Some say it is the day you get the "all clear" from cancer. I subscribe to the "day you were diagnosed" theory to mark my cancerversary, especially since I'm still not "all clear"...but that's another story. Note I didn't say "celebrate" my cancerversary. Of course, I don't want to celebrate having cancer. However, thyroid cancer changed my life so I have to take note of it. It was good to read my blog post marking my one-year cancerversary in 2009, reminding me of the journey. I am also feeling guilty for feeling different, a bit darker, even jaded, about it all. I'm a survivor now, right? Well, not really. Remember, I'm one " those patients " in my endocrinologist's practice that he's got to keep a close eye on. Even if it comes back again, I've had the surgery (times two). I've had the treatment. I can do it again, righ

I've had what seems like a hundred blog posts rolling around in my head during the last month and somehow managed not to post a single thing in May. Nada...not a photo or sentence. Geez, that's pathetic. Will endeavor to do better. I have connected with so many young adult cancer patients/survivors in the past month: a new friend who survived uterine cancer at 23, 36-year-old newly diagnosed thyroid cancer patient, another friend who survived testicular cancer at 28. While three of us are talking about being a cancer survivor at a recent dinner, a friend of my husband whom he has recently reconnected with after 20 years shares his wife (late 30s) also survived stage 3 breast cancer. Do we just talk about cancer more now or does it seem like there is more cancer being diagnosed now? Maybe better testing/scans? Also I wonder if I am just more aware of it since I was diagnosed almost two years ago. I have had two people ask me recently if I'm in remission. I hate saying no...b

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

I'm asking a question today to which I have no answer: Why are we, as a society, so fascinated with shows like " Hoarders " and " Intervention "? Specifically, why am I so fascinated by these two shows? I "DVR" (yes, it does seem to be a verb these days) both of these shows. I started watching Intervention a few years ago and then quit recording it because....I felt guilty? Had thyroid cancer and was dealing with that? It was too voyeuristic? Let me back up a second and give you a quick synopsis of each show from the A&E website: Each 60-minute episode of Hoarders is a fascinating look inside the lives of two different people whose inability to part with their belongings is so out of control that they are on the verge of a personal crisis. Intervention™ is a powerful and gripping television series in which people confront their darkest demons and seek a route to redemption. The Intervention Television series profiles people whose dependencies on dr

Last week I made my way back to Dr. Pun 's, my endocrinologist, for my somewhat quarterly blood draw (checking thyroid levels in general) and to talk about recurrence monitoring. I told him what I had decided on New Year's Eve , that I was going to speak positively and not have thyroid cancer again in 2010. I had it in 2008 and 2009....I WON'T be dealing with it in 2010. He liked this plan needless to say! And then told me a really bad joke, thus, the name I have given him, Dr. Pun. :) The other topic of discussion: it's almost time again for shots and scans. Two days of shots, one day to take the low dose of radioactivity, one day for the scan and the last day, blood work: a full week of fun! The last time I did this "week of fun" was April 2009 , and everything came back relatively clean. It was the first time since all of this cancer business had started that I had any cancer test, scan, etc. come back with any sort of good news. My "fun week" isn