The CT and Waiting...

We got the CT scan done last Tuesday (October 2), which Tanya said was much better than the MRI (only 15 minutes compared to the 45 minutes for the MRI and with a lot less noise). We then had to wait until last Friday (October 7) to meet with Dr. Lee again to get the results. That was the longest few days in history.


At our appointment we learned that as far as the radiologist and the doctors could determine, the cancer had NOT moved into the lung. What they saw was a granuloma, probably from an infection in the past. I think Tanya and I both breathed for the first time in a few days at that news.


Dr. Lee then told us that the CT scan showed something on Tanya's spleen... She said that she hadn't researched a lot on that, but that she wasn't aware of thyroid cancer moving to the spleen. She is going to do some more research, and may have Tanya do another CT to see more detail. Hopeful a biopsy will not be required...


Dr. Lee also told us that she was talking with an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who would handle the neck dissection (Dr. Lee will do the thyroidectomy and assist the other surgeon with the neck). Once she determined who she wants to work with, she will provide us the information so that we can setup an appointment with him.  Hopefully this will be the last appointment before setting a date for surgery.

The Endocrinologist (Dr. Kimmel)

At our appointment with the Endocrinologist (Dr. Kimmel) , we were told more information about the thyroid in general and thyroid cancer specifically. Things like:

• There are usually no symptoms
• If you are going to get cancer this is the one to get
• This is generally something you die with, not of (we really like this one!)
• Post-surgery treatment of radioactive iodine (more about that later).

Dr. Kimmel also mentioned that while reviewing the chest x-ray she noticed a shadow on the lung, and requested Tanya get a CT of her chest. We were told that it is not uncommon for thyroid cancer to move to the lung, so Dr. Kimmel wanted to get a CT scan for a more detailed look. Needless to say we were even more terrified upon hearing about this.

The Diagnosis (Dr. Wight & Dr. Lee)

This is a lot of information, so I will apologize in advance for going into so much detail. In addition to sharing this with those who are interested, I am trying to document the entire process.

A few months ago Tanya found a lump in her neck. When it didn’t go away on its own, she saw her doctor (Dr. Wight), who said it was an enlarged lymph node and suggested waiting a few weeks to see if the issue resolved itself. When it didn’t, Tanya went back in and was referred to a surgeon (Dr. Lee). Dr. Lee recommended removing the lymph node, and the beginning of September Tanya had surgery; shortly after we received the diagnosis.

Dr. Lee told us that the prognosis for this type of cancer is good, but that Tanya's thyroid would need to be removed, in addition to some lymph nodes in her neck (the latter is called a neck dissection). She requested that Tanya have some tests performed: a chest x-ray, a MRI of her neck and blood work. She also referred us to an Endocrinologist.