Seems like you all gave good advice but that didn't help my surgeons to change their minds about doing a needle biopsy in March when I asked about one. I am not very happy to say that its now September & the news I get to give my family is that the two ultrasounds I DID get show a tumor that has grown to almost double in size in my thyroid gland. My Dr said it is like being hit by lightning twice so they never expected to find anything so NOW I am getting the needle biopsy. I understand that the SCC of the tongue I had removed in March is not connected to my thyroid so hopefully it isnt even cancerous. Does anyone ever stop worrying once they have had cancer of any form? I do hope so. My thyroid gland showed a small 1cm mass in the right lobe in May when they did the Rad.scan and an ultrasound showed it clearer, we waited to see if the rad would shrink it as it was so small it is now almost doubled in size & NOW warrants a biopsy...4 mos later. Am I crazy to worry? Has anyone heard of the thyroid connection to oral cancer? I'd love if we all could carry on without worries, your folks & mine!

tiamaria, Welcome back to the site. Sorry you had to revisit us, hopefully we can provide some answers. Most of the real pros with this disease are in Vegas at the first annual gathering of OCF members, so you may not hear from someone who can respond with good, in-depth information for you regarding thyroid issues. Sorry I can't help with that. I do know that SCC has a nasty habit of metastasizing (sp) to other parts of the body. Mine went from my tonsil to the lymph nodes before it was even detected, so it is possible yours traveled as well. Hopefully someone can give you a more definite answer.

To be honest with you, I don't worry very much about cancer coming back, if it does then I'll deal with it at that time. Worrying isn't going to affect whether it comes back or not so why worry? As a Christian, I leave it in God's hands and do what I have to do with the tools He gave me. If He calls me home, I know it will be better than this life, so I am in a no lose situation. And there isn't anything to worry about. So my suggestion is don't worry about it, just do what you have to do to treat it.

Also, make sure you have the best team of doctors involved with your treatment. Are you being treated at a major cancer center? I don't know the details of your medical system up there, but we have cancer centers down here that deal with nothing but cancer. The medical teams are as expert as you can find on the planet as they see cases just like yours hundreds of times. So if you have cancer centers up there, try to get treated in a cancer center if you are not already. Will pray for a good outcome to your thyroid issue.

Thanks Kirk - I am most grateful for the support right now as I am scared and my hubby is away on business in San Fran until Tuesday. I sneak away from the kids to see what advice I can glean from all the brave survivors on the site and you are right..no point in worrying & faith in God will get us through this. Hopefully, I can post good results from the next biopsy (which is a U.S. guided needle biopsy to my right thyroid gland) and is to happen one day this week. Not at the cancer centre but my local hospital in Abbotsford, BC: by the way we don't yet have a cancer centre close by, but a hospital converted to a cancer centre is where I had my partial glossectomy & my specialists have been everywhere.(Makes it quite confusing & doesn't help much with the stress, but a cancer centre will be in Abbotsford by 2008!) Back to kids & soccer, going to enjoy the sunshine...I hope your hurricanes are gone & wish you sunshine also!

Dear Tiamaria
I am so sorry to hear you are going thru this stress again but, please try not to worry too much until your Doctors are sure.
We will be sending our good thoughts and wishes your way.
Take care
Marica
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caregiver to husband Pete, SCC stage IV Dx 4/03 finishedt treatment 7/03 and doing great.

Thanks:rolleyes I feel like such a hypochondriac:then I remember what I HAVE been through & I forgive myself a little whining.
For anyone with ANY symptoms:do not be passive, Cancer isn't;but neither is knowledge and I see how many people are doing Proactive things on this board and it makes me proud to be a member.
Back to work & kids..no time to worry, thank God.
Thanks again for the words of wisdom Marica, it does help!

Tiamaria, it's natural, once one had had surgery to worry about a recurrance. A mass in one's thyroid, especially afte one occurance is not something to ignore, and no you're not being a hypocondriac.

Not sure where Abbotsford BC is, any place close to Vancouver? The surgeon that did both my surgeries is in the Vancouver area, E-mail me if you'd like and I'll send you his name and the links to their site.
Bob

Tiamaria,
just hang in there girl and let us know the outcome. We have worldwide connections you know!
Take care
Marica

Hello Tiamaria,

Sorry you have to worry about it being cancer again. I can tell you it's natural to worry, the trick is controlling that. This diaease and treatment is one hell of a roller coaster ride on your emotions as well as your body. If i'm reading your posting correctely it hasn't been
dx as cancer yet? "It ain't cancer til the Path report says it's cancer" Hang tough and as Marcia says let us know when you can. You will have alot of questions to ask which this forum can provide.
Remember you are not alone in this.

Best Wishes, Danny Boy

God I wish you guys WERE my oncologist, yes Abbotsford is about an hour east of Vancouver, BC, but my glossectomy surgery was in Surrey,my family Dr and general surgeon who got my ultrasound results in Abbotsford and my oncologist in Port Coq, my ENT in Chilliwack, (1st rad scan at RC hosp saw surgeon there in April something showed in my thyroid then)my H & N surgeon in New West...I think???!! & my scheduled 3 mo rad scan was not booked (not canx either) due to the RC hosp.getting renos on the neuclear medicine wing so I had to call ALL these guys to find out what & where I get my follow up scan!(Had ultrasound instead) Had I not done that I wouldnt have known the mass has doubled in size to 2cm from May until now & thank God it isnt RX as cancer yet but I am not sure what to do now as they "arent booking for the U.S. needle biopsy until Nov" at Abbys hospital. I said that is NOT acceptable - I need to find somewhere else to go I am not WAITING AGAIN when even the surgeon last week said I need to get it done right away..We are calling ALL the hospitals tomorrow. I picked up my hubby from the airport tonite and we are on a roller coaster ride together...poor he! I do look to you all for advice & thank you & hope its not so hard ALL the time for you all. Uphill struggle from work tomorrow I will link to my email, phone & BOOK this thing......Why does everyones DX & info show on posts & not mine?
Ciao compadres!

Tiamaria,

I hope you can get the biopsy scheduled sooner -- November seems much too long to wait under the circumstances. I still have followup visits with my oncologist at least twice a year, and if he sees anything suspicious, he insists on having tests done within a matter of days.

You asked about getting your DX info onto your post. To do that, go into "My Profile" and then "Edit Preferences". You will see a Signature box where you can enter this information.

Cathy