Today was the first time that I met with Dr. Cramer, the radiology oncologist. He is a nice, smart man that I have heard very good things about. (That is always nice, in my opinion).
We reviewed my pathology report and talked about what steps are next. Here is the short of it.
I have papillary thyroid carcinoma in 4 different samples taken from my thyroid. There are also microfollicular variants in a few of the samples. In layman's terms, papillary thyroid cancer is the most common, slowest growing type of thyroid cancer. The follicular type is a bit more aggressive, and because I had some of these type, I will have a higher dosage of radiation.
Now for 10 days I have to be on a low iodine diet, trying to rid my body of any iodine. This is important because the radiation I will have is in pill form. It is basically radized iodine that attacks only thyroid cells because your thyroid needs iodine to work. Low iodine diet eliminates dairy, some meats, basically I just have to check labels. Lots of fruits and veggies. Not too bad, all in all.
After 10 days, I will go in to nuclear medicine, a man in a haz-mat suit will hand me my pill, I will swallow it and go home. (or somewhere else because I have to stay 3-6 feet away from grade school age children). Then for the next week or so I have to wipe everything down that I touch or sit on, eat off paper, launder my clothing separately and not sit next to anyone for too long of a period of time.
At the end of that fun week, I will get a scan that will show any place that there are remaining thyroid cells. It will show if the cancer has spread to other places in my body and will help them decide if I need another treatment or if one was enough.
So in your prayers, please include that one treatment will get it all and that it is not spread anywhere else.
Thanks so much for praying for me and for my boys. I feel the power in that and believe our Lord hears them and is faithful to act.
Love to you all, Jana
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