NO CANCER IS GOOD !

I must share my "PROUD DAUGHTER" moment from yesterday at my appointment with my surgeon. Don't get me wrong, my surgeon is fantastic. He tells it like it is, and for having 3 surgeries all done through the same incision my neck looks amazing !

As most of you know, my mom was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's lymphoma in June of 2013. My mom's case was VERY rare (10 cm tumor in her brain) VERY AGGRESSIVE with a low survival rate.

At the time, I was also really sick, but fighting with my GP to get answers. I was in and out of appointments , missing work a lot, gain weight like mad and than my mom got sick.

Over the next few months, I watch my amazing, brave, strong mother get Chemo, lose her hair, lose a lot of weight, be very very very sick, have a few scares, a stem cell transplant, get sicker than sail through chemo and has been doing really well since.

**4 days after she was cleared, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Papillary Cancer. At the appointment with my surgeon he let me know that "I have the good cancer, if this was the cancer to get you want Thyroid Cancer!". "It will just be a pill a day and maybe some treatments down the road!"

My mom and I were thrilled, I have the "good cancer." After what she went through these last 6 months, getting a good cancer was going to be so easy.

Fast-forward to almost 4 years later, 3 surgeries, 2 rounds of RAI, Teeth decay, SOB, Headaches, body aches, dizziness, brain fog, numerous sick days, weekly doc visits, monthly blood work, hair loss, and a weight gain of almost 92 pounds (yes, sharing this number is awful but it's the truth!) WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A GOOD THING has turned into a nightmare. Yes, I am very positive and I get by BUT when I first got sick I was in the mind set that I was gonna be OK for life.

LONG (sorry) STORY short, my mom spoke up yesterday at our meeting and told him and the resident that you should never ever use GOOD with Cancer again ! Because any form of cancer is NOT GOOD !

Very proud of my mommy and I will always educate people on not using the word "GOOD" to describe cancer ! EVER !

Much love,

M

To the ones that stood by me and have loved me through this

When I first started getting sick, I bailed on ALOT of people, I mean a lot..  My heart wanted to be there, but my body would not let me. I missed weddings, birthdays, baby showers, dinner parties, nights out on the town and so much more. 

 Having a Chronic Illness (invisible illness) it is so hard for people to truly understand how sick you really are because you often do not look sick. I lost count of the number of times managers at the Restaurants and Bars I worked at treated me awful when I would return to work. 

There were a few girls I use to hang out with outside of work. Slowly over the years, I was bailing on our plans every time which eventually led to all of them stopping inviting me out. I have reached out a few times asking if they want to met for lunch or a tea/coffee but am met with no response from one, the other 2 is a tad hard as we work opposite schedules and we seem to never be off at the same time (but I love that they are open to catching up, it truly means the world to me) and the last one sent me one this message back. 
  
"Mandy,  you have so many other people in your life that love you and will be there for you. I will just see you when I see you!"  

 That was it, nothing back and what is more hurtful than anything is she works in Health-care. She literally has the knowledge to truly understand what  Hashimoto's and Thyca does to your body. How your Thyroid is basically the hub of your body, the anxiety and brain fog that come with it, how even having a shower is so draining that 9 times out of 10 I need to lay down after. I was truly crushed by these women, I thought we could pick up where we left off once I started understanding more as to why I was sick all the time.

 As time moved on, I realized that the group of people I have in my life before them and have met after them are truly my rocks. I am filled with so many wonderful amazing friends and such a supportive Husband, parents, brother and his family.  Why was I so stuck on having people in my life that will not be there when I need them the most?

"TO THE ONES THAT HAVE STOOD BY ME AND LOVED ME THROUGH THIS ALL, I THANK-YOU !" 

It means the world to have such amazing, caring and supportive people in my life. I may not always be able to hang out in person but  our daily texts, calls, skype dates, and meme to each-other truly mean the world to me.  THANK-YOU.

"To the ones that have left, please know I am always here if you ever want to go for that tea date!"




Much love, 

             Mandy 

Being told "YOU have cancer" sucks!

I was told 3 days after my mom was told her Chemotherapy worked for her rare brain cancer (Non-Hopkins Lymphoma) She had a 15% survival rate. I was told I have a 80% survival rate and it's a simple surgery than a pill a day for the rest of my life #notlikely. 

Being told it came back sucked, being told it spread sucked, having a 3rd surgery was awful. Now having to get a stronger (5 times) RAI treatment and being in isolation for 2 weeks SUCKSSSS... 

I want to scream and punch things and get mad at the world BUT instead I will try to make sense of this.... #thyca picked me.. maybe to help spread the word about #checkingyourneck#thyroidcancer #thyroidhealth #hashimotosdisease? Maybe because it knew I could take it and it won't take me down when part of me just wants to give up.... 

Please check your neck . It's so important! Take care of yourself and fight for your health. 

How to Check your neck here: http://www.healthline.com/health-news/aging-a-quick-self-exam-helps-detect-thyroid-cancer-072313#1