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One of the greatest lessons that I’ve learned from this whole thyroid cancer experience has been to assume nothing and expect the unexpected. Maybe that’s two lessons, but no matter.
When Dori was diagnosed with thyroid cancer back in 2006, I never expected that I would get it too. I might have even had it at that time. But, I didn’t think about getting scanned. No one mentioned it, and I didn’t worry about it. I just thought that Dori was an unfortunate statistic, having one of the 5% of thyroid nodules that turn out to be cancerous. With those odds, why worry?
When I started having discomfort on swallowing, I didn’t assume it was thyroid cancer. I had surgery back in 2002 for a thyroglossal duct cyst and thought that perhaps it had grown back. I didn’t rush to the doctor’s office. And when I did see my doctor, I mentioned my symptoms only casually.
Janina was totally asymptomatic; but because her sister and mother both had thyroid cancer, her odds shot up considerably. And because we three have it, the rest of the family is at greater risk.
Not one of us assumed. Not one of us expected.
As it relates to life in general, this lesson serves me well. In order to try to avoid the unexpected, I know that I must take care of my body and be diligent about medical care. I cannot assume that a family member's disease is just a fluke; even a remote possibility is worth exploring.
If you are reading this, I hope that you agree.
When Dori was diagnosed with thyroid cancer back in 2006, I never expected that I would get it too. I might have even had it at that time. But, I didn’t think about getting scanned. No one mentioned it, and I didn’t worry about it. I just thought that Dori was an unfortunate statistic, having one of the 5% of thyroid nodules that turn out to be cancerous. With those odds, why worry?
When I started having discomfort on swallowing, I didn’t assume it was thyroid cancer. I had surgery back in 2002 for a thyroglossal duct cyst and thought that perhaps it had grown back. I didn’t rush to the doctor’s office. And when I did see my doctor, I mentioned my symptoms only casually.
Janina was totally asymptomatic; but because her sister and mother both had thyroid cancer, her odds shot up considerably. And because we three have it, the rest of the family is at greater risk.
Not one of us assumed. Not one of us expected.
As it relates to life in general, this lesson serves me well. In order to try to avoid the unexpected, I know that I must take care of my body and be diligent about medical care. I cannot assume that a family member's disease is just a fluke; even a remote possibility is worth exploring.
If you are reading this, I hope that you agree.
I am going to try to post again. I agree with you. A lady I work with had esophgial cancer...her, her sister, and her brother. Nothing known in the family about it - then three of them get it!