So on January 26, I was set up for the biopsy. The week leading up to the biopsy was hell. My second husband was diagnosed with lung cancer in May of 2005. There were months of no answers, answers of "well it just looks weird in there" or no one can figure it out, it's changing so fast. I was finally able to get after a couple of months a simple nonsmall cell diagnosis. But the thought of dealing with cancer again, evening knowing the statistics for thyroid cancer, even having been through Dad's it still did not bring up good thought. I was a basket case. I'd cry at the drop of a hat, I'm sure I was moody as the day is long. Poor Jeff. He had to remind me several times that yes I've been here, I've done this cancer thing before, but he hasn't, he's a n00b I need to let him in on some of it...and to stay off of google. LOL
So biopsy day comes. Jeff goes with me. Just knowing he was there made it a bit calmer. The doc comes in, we talk about what's going to go down, we discuss the nodules. I express that my big concern is the little one that is heavily calcified (per google not a good thing). He agrees that probably need to take a sample of it even though it's size really does rule it out. So we get started. Let me tell you. I have had some procedures done in the office before. Had a lymph node lanced as a kid and that was fun. They can only really deaden the top layer, not really down where the thyroid is or the thyroid itself. So you can feel the needle moving. It's all ultrasound guided so he can see where he is going but still...it's weird. Not in a bad way though. Until he got to that little calcified bugger.
OMG, he had to work to get into it. Not only could I feel the pressure but it felt like he was having to grind away at it. Kind of like having to work your way through a layer of ice to get down to the water. And it hurt. Again, it's a necessary thing...suck it up and get through it. And because I'd agreed to do a research study I got double the number of samples. Yea me!
Afterwards I felt like a pin cushion. Went home, then we went out to dinner with Mom and Dad. The air seemed thick with the inevitable, but it was still a good time. The next morning I awoke with a fever. It wasn't high, I've had enough 104+ fevers in the past couple of years that my ears let me know real quick if it's high. So we obviously had upset something. I felt horrid calling in sick to work, especially unplanned. I know that puts a heavier call load on the others.
Later that might my phone rings, it's the endo. He'd gotten a call from the pathologist and the nodule on the left was suspect for papillary cancer. His recommendation is a thyroidectomy and remove the whole thing. The ENT surgeon he recommended was the one I already had. So we guess this is considered genetic now. Thanks Dad!
So biopsy day comes. Jeff goes with me. Just knowing he was there made it a bit calmer. The doc comes in, we talk about what's going to go down, we discuss the nodules. I express that my big concern is the little one that is heavily calcified (per google not a good thing). He agrees that probably need to take a sample of it even though it's size really does rule it out. So we get started. Let me tell you. I have had some procedures done in the office before. Had a lymph node lanced as a kid and that was fun. They can only really deaden the top layer, not really down where the thyroid is or the thyroid itself. So you can feel the needle moving. It's all ultrasound guided so he can see where he is going but still...it's weird. Not in a bad way though. Until he got to that little calcified bugger.
OMG, he had to work to get into it. Not only could I feel the pressure but it felt like he was having to grind away at it. Kind of like having to work your way through a layer of ice to get down to the water. And it hurt. Again, it's a necessary thing...suck it up and get through it. And because I'd agreed to do a research study I got double the number of samples. Yea me!
Afterwards I felt like a pin cushion. Went home, then we went out to dinner with Mom and Dad. The air seemed thick with the inevitable, but it was still a good time. The next morning I awoke with a fever. It wasn't high, I've had enough 104+ fevers in the past couple of years that my ears let me know real quick if it's high. So we obviously had upset something. I felt horrid calling in sick to work, especially unplanned. I know that puts a heavier call load on the others.
Later that might my phone rings, it's the endo. He'd gotten a call from the pathologist and the nodule on the left was suspect for papillary cancer. His recommendation is a thyroidectomy and remove the whole thing. The ENT surgeon he recommended was the one I already had. So we guess this is considered genetic now. Thanks Dad!
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