DonnaBowman's Journey with Thyroid Cancer

Over the last few years before surgery, I felt as if my throat was closing ... a tightening feeling, especially when I lay down to bed at night. I kept complaining and my Internist sent me to an Endocronologist. He did scans, sent me for a radioactive scan (which came back negative), took biopsies on a few tiny nodules in my neck. Everything came back clear. I kept complaining though, and he eventually sent me to a surgeon for exploratory surgery. I went in for the surgery feeling really good; came out of surgery feeling good. I then went for a follow-up to my Endocronologist a few days later and he said everything looked good. I then went from his office to the Surgeon's office for my follow-up. The Surgeon came in and said that the treatment for the cancer was very simple and it would be fine. Well the results were sent to both doctors, but my Endocronologist did not see it before I left his office. I was in shock from the minute I heard "cancer". I felt like I was in a tunnel.

My next visit was to the Oncologist. Day of receiving radioactive pills...the nurse at my doctor's office told me as soon as I receive the pills, go immediately home, do not stop anywhere and stay out of contact with everyone for 3 days; bleach everything I touch, sheets, etc. This really scared the heck out of me. What was this drug that I was receiving. I did not do any research before I went. If I would have, I would not have gone for the treatment. She left the room. Then a man entered the room dressed in an astronaut suit carrying a metal box. He scanned me to measure the radiation pre and post my taking. I felt like I was watching a science fiction movie. He opened the box, pulled out a metal container, proceeded to pour two pills into a cup, give them to me, watch me take them, then scanned me again. This time the scanner was buzzing like crazy. He then left the room and told me to leave without having contact with anyone. Needless to say I was so nervous, especially after I read what the pills truly were.

Side effects...the dryest mouth I've ever had...my salivary glands blocked and I looked like a chipmunk, even though I sucked on sour candies as I was told. To this day, I still have dry mouth.

I've learned to celebrate life every day...never sweat the small stuff anymore. Enjoy each day the Lord has given you!

I have since changed my Oncologist to Dr. Vlonimir Milas at M.D. Anderson...love my doctor and the hospital is great. I've had more nodules show up over the years, have had biopsies, but have finally been cleared to move to a one-year follow-up as opposed to the six-month I previously had after a body scan came back looking real good.