I Had Cancer

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I Had Cancer

I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer when I was 14. That was the darkest period of my life. I was completely numb; the first time I heard the news a wave of fear came over me. But later on I couldn't have cared less because I was so sick and depressed. I honestly didn't care anymore if I lived or died. I was just so tired.

I had surgery to remove my right thyroid with the tumor in it. The surgery was successful. But later on when I went back for a scan we discovered in my left thyroid a trace of cancer. So instead of surgery which was risky removing the remaining part of my thyroid, we opted for radiation ablative therapy.

I under went two years of radiation treatment. I was constantly sick; but despite all that I still went to school (when the doctors allowed me and I wasn't in isolation). I lost a lot of hair but not enough to leave any bald spots or whatnot. My skin got very pale and bruised so easily. The depression during that time was almost unbearable. But when I was 16 the ablative therapy finally was complete.

I go often for scans and have regular blood tests to keep taps on my condition. I am on Synthryoid, a type of Hormone Replacement Therapy drug to make hormones that I can no longer naturally make. I also have to keep a very close eye of my TSH levels. But none the less I am so much better. I can't remember ever feeling this healthy.

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	Elizabeth	21-Jan-06

I was diagnosed with a rare cancer last summer (16) I underwent two surgeries to remove the tumor and then to remover the remaining tissue. So far they think that they got it all so no radiation. I am still undergoing frequent scans of my lungs and other organs to make sure the cancer had not spread. So far so good. I just have to hope that each scan continues to come out clean.

	katie	20-Jan-06

<< I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer when I was 14. That was the darkest period of my life. I was completely numb; the first time I heard the news a wave of fear came over me. But later on I couldn't have cared less because I was so sick and depressed. I honestly didn't care anymore if I lived or died... I was just so tired. I had surgery to remove my right thyroid with the tumor in it. The surgery was successful. But later on when I went back for a scan we discovered in my left thyriod a trace of cancer. So instead of surgery which was risky removing the remaining part of my thyroid, we opted for radiation ablative therapy. I under went 2 years of radiation treatment. I was constantly sick; but despite all that I still went to school (when the doctors allowed me and I wasn't in isolation). I lost a lot of hair but not enough to leave any bald spots or what not. My skin got very pale and bruised so easily. The depression during that time was almost unbearable. But when I was 16 the ablative therapy finally was complete. I go often for scans and have regular blood tests to keep taps on my condition. I am on Synthryoid, a type of Hormone Replacement Therapy drug to make hormones that I can no longer naturally make. I also have to keep a very close eye of my TSH levels. But none the less I am so much better. I can't remember ever feeling this healthy. >> Wow, you're story seems so different than mine. I wasn't as young as you were when I was diagnosed, I was 17 (at the end of junior year). But I always kept a positive mind set about the whole thing. My cancer was very different than yours though, I didn't need radiation but I had 14 months of really harsh chemo (my cancer was not common in young adults- mainly middle aged people) and I lost all of my hair. I'm glad you made it through your radiation and came out on top. It's always good to have another survivor on 'the team'.