Trying times


Swamphunter

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Hey guys... here's the deal, in a nutshell. I've been having some problems swallowing and the doctor found a ping pong ball sized lump on my thyroid. They biopsy it and it comes back undetermined, gets resubmitted to another lab, comes back some type of rare cancer type tumor. According to the Dr though, the tumor may or may not contain actual cancer cells. (I dont understand that part, but I guess thats a 50/50 chance right)?

I have been a few weeks waiting and I have an appointment at the Upstate Medical facility, Endocrinology dept in Syracuse tomorrow the 22nd at 3:30pm. I am praying for some good news. Either way, Im headed for surgery in the upcoming couple of weeks to remove at least part, if not all of my thyroid, which to be honest with you, I couldnt give two craps about... its only a pill a day for life. What I AM worried about is that this does not spread before they remove it. That is somewhat bad with this type of cancer. Please keep me in your prayers that the doctors give me good news and when I have the surgery, things come back with a good prognosis.

I have a 10 year old son, an 8 year old daughter, and a beautiful wife that I feel like I am failing if this isnt a good outcome....but it will be a good outcome though right??

thank you

Ken

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Ken,

Prayers actively being sent.

My wife had a similar scare....and I sat and chewed my fingernails for a week at a time as they tested her for two months. I would have much rather it been me scared than her....I was petrified and didn't sleep much for these two months. Then the lab came back negative and we moved on.

Focus and make plans on the things which you can control which is finding the best surgeon, making plans for the surgery, and spending time with the family. Perhaps sit down and make a plan of action no matter which outcome comes true.....we guys tend to relax when we write things down, make a plan, and see that no matter what the results we have a plan of attack. Plus, it gets the beehive of swirling problems out of the forefront of your mind and on paper...it works to calm my worries.

Prayers definitely sent for you and the family. I spent two month worrying about my wife which is, if it is any consolation, worse than worrying about myself. So I know how you feel.

My most honest heartfelt advice is this: be ultra aggressive with your treatment. If the doctors say they only want to take a part of the thyroid...force them to take it all. If it were my wife and she had beast cancer, take the entire breast or both. Don't play around with it.

Your test results sound a lot like my wife's biopsy on her skin abnormalities. They aren't cancer, but are considered abnormal (perhaps headed towards cancer) so we are going to take them off. She actually had to go back after the shaving of the mole/freckle and have one cut out with scissors until the doctor was SURE that there was none left. I wanted to amputate the knee down to make sure but the doctor assured me that would be overkill! :D

Hang in there and God bless.

New

Edited by Newarcher
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Sometimes being overly aggressive is not best. Being pro active and well informed would be wise, would encourage getting opinions from more than one source if at all possible in as fast a time frame as possible. Sometimes surgeons will encourage surgeries when they are not really needed, probably not the case for you, but never hurts to have more than one or two physicians advising you if at all possible. Went through my cancer scare in 2003 and no doubt it is tough mentally, but not nearly as tough as having to deal with unknowns in your children. We almost let ourselves get talked into having our daughter(Nicole) go through another procedure that ended up not being needed. I believe in the power of prayer, God will answer them but unfortunately not always necessarily the way we would like and not always in ways we understand but it is part of His plan.

Prayers on the way Ken.

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very sorry to hear that, ken. prayers said for you. get a few other opinions before you do anything. you might also consider john hopkins or the mayo. both are great and waaaaay above the average doctor. rilda was sick for 2 years and over a dozen doctors before the mayo told us what it was. that was 2 years and tens of thousands of dollars wasted, imo.

do you think it would lift your spirits if i were to ban someone.... ?? lol

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Ken, you know I'm praying for you and your family, buddy. ;) God is a god of miracles and wonders; He's not going to let you go until it's your time and when it is your time there's nothing that can be done to stop the will of God. If you ask me, I don't think this is your time. ;) You're too tough and haven't seen enough bannings yet. :D Rely on God, He is always there for you. More knee-mail heading your way, buddy!

Dakota :)

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