After a summer of working on killing the cancer inside of me, I found out today, that we were successful. I say "we" because it took many people: doctors, nurses, family and friends that prayed and helped, and most of all the good Lord.

My scan results showed that there were only cancer cells around my "thyroid bed" which is what they hope for. No lymph nodes, no lungs, no bones, no spots any place else. :) The radiation attached to what it was supposed to and things are looking good.

A couple things to take away from this experience:

1) Go get your yearly physicals. I was having no problems, no symptoms, no issues. My doc just felt that my thyroid was a bit too large and had me do an ultrasound. It was just during a yearly physical that this was discovered. It was caught early, treated aggressively and more than likely I will not die of thyroid cancer. Go visit your doctor once a year- it's not so bad. It may save your life!

2)Cancer research is an awesome thing. Now I realize how much a $20 donation to Relay or any cancer charity can make a difference. It is not my one, $20, but all of our $20 that change what we are able to do in treating cancer. If there had not been research and people putting forth an effort to stop cancer, I may not have the great prognosis I have.  Still there are people dying of cancers each day. More research is needed to stop this awful disease. Don't forget that your small donation makes a difference in the big picture.

I praise God that my life can continue on normally (whatever that is around here). My energy is slowly coming back now that I am on thyroid replacement hormone, and in a month or so I should be back to regular energy level. That will be great.

Thank you all for your prayers, positive thoughts, concern and help. I truly appreciate all of you more than you know!

Jana

Doctor Update

A week ago today I took my fancy radiation pill and was quarantined from people, especially my kiddos until Saturday. I felt fine, a bit strange in the stomach but that has been life without thyroid hormone, so not much different than the last 2 months.

Today I went in for a fancy scan that shows all my "Highlighted" areas. Thankfully I am not claustrophobic, but still chose to keep my eyes closed most of the time rather than look at this camera thing 1 inch from my nose. Whole thing took a bit more than a half an hour. The techs were great, played soft music, gave me a warm blanket and checked on me often. Nice job Sky Lakes Nuclear Medicine! At the start they were telling me that sometimes you may have to come back for a follow up scan because they will want to watch the movement of some of the "highlighted" places. Movement, by the way, is a good thing. It just means all that iodine/radiation stuff has not worked its way out of my system. When the highlighter doesn't move, is when there is more cause for concern. I was thinking to myself, "I hope there are no highlighted areas in strange parts of my body, it has all worked its way out, and I am done with this stuff." Well..........no such luck. Back for another scan on Friday. In the meantime I am going to be drinking tons of water and eating every high fiber thing I can find. Making sure I help it move on out.

We are praying that, in fact, the extra highlighted areas are just iodine/radiation that have not moved their way through. We do not want them to be extra spots of cancer (usually they are not). I would appreciate all prayers and thank you in advance for interceding on my behalf to our Lord.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord our God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9.

Radiation time

The time has finally come to do my treatment, and I am ready. I have been home from vacation, off thyroid medicine, on the special diet and my blood test numbers say I am ready to take my radiation/iodine pill. So, Monday at noon I will meet up with the Haz Mat:) Nuclear Medicine people and start to kill all the yucky cancer stuff left inside of me.

I am really ready to feel normal again. Thanks for your prayers and offers for help and assistance. It is greatly appreciated. I will be here at home and the boys will be with family and friends until Friday. It will be very odd to be in my house without them. I am thankful the Olympics are on because I can waste a lot of time watching those. I will read, go for walks and even at the end of the week I can go to the store or pick up some take out. It is really only grade school age and younger children that I can't be in continuous contact with. High level of precaution that the docs say is a bit extra than they think is needed, but better to be safe than sorry.

In a week, Lord willing, I will be cancer free. :)