Small miracle???

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Some of you may know that my DH had surgery to have a spot on his thyroid removed two weeks ago.  We were told there was a 20% chance of cancer and well, 20% to me is pretty darn big, so he decided to go through with removing his left thyroid.  No risk in chancing that, especially with Baby S coming in October!

 

Let me rewind to August 2011.  It was a Monday night and we were relaxing after dinner, as usual.  All of a sudden, Conor tells me he cannot see and had lost most of his vision.  He was freaking out of course and we gave it about 15 minutes before I drove him to the hospital.  We were rushed in and he was treated for possible stroke.  So those of you in the medical field may know that involves about $15,000 worth of tests, including CT scans.  In the end, they think it was a migraine - but he had never had one before, so we did not know what to do and that is why I didn't want to risk it and ride it out at home.  I actually think I posted a small blog on this right after it happened.

 

What came out of our ER experience was that one of the scans showed a small lump on his thyroid.  He was referred to an endocrinologist for blood and biopsy tests.  Two biopsies came back indeterminable.  On we moved to a surgeon, who recommended surgery to remove the lump.  She said it was doubtful it was cancer, but we needed to do it to be safe.  Keep in mind this is at a Top 100 Hospital and my place of employment - one of the best research/University hospitals in the US and I trust them.

 

Today DH had his follow-up appt and results from biopsy.  Shockingly, IT WAS CANCEROUS.  They said they caught it so early it was very contained and that they did not recommend removing the remaining parathyroid. He goes back in 6 months for a scan to make sure it is not anywhere else.  But surgeon feels good about catching it when we did.

 

That is a pretty strange coincidence that we decided to go to the ER and have the scans that night back in August.  We may have never known about the spot on the thyroid.  It's a "slow growing" cancer, but still.  I don't tend to get all religious in public, but how can I not think there is someone out there watching over me and DH???? 

 

And reminder to all of you: trust your instincts and if there is a chance of cancer, even if it doesn't seem great, you may want to listen to the recommendations of your doctor.

 

I am still in shock about it quite honestly. DH is 31 years old!  We are rushing home in a few hours to take choodle on a nice long walk and discuss everything. 

 

Thanks for listening to me vent :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

What a wonderful world we live in.  What are the odds that you would have found that in time without the migraine problem.  Wow!

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I agree...this was not an accident... You were supposed to catch it early.  Bless you all!

[cheryl & oliver]

Ally, so glad that they caught it so very early....I believe in a higher power that watches over us, and somehow makes us do the things we do.  Now the two of you just concentrate on the upcoming birth of your baby, and the many many years you will have together.  Hugs to you and Conor, and tacqy, and Peri. Just know that your early intervention made all the difference....And you certainly did the right thing by getting to the ER early.  Had it been a stroke, he was there in time for them to possibly prevent a tragic outcome.  I believe if you can get treatment within the first 2 hrs of the stroke, they can reverse the damage the stroke can do.  But it was not a stroke, and thank goodness they detected the problem....

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Wow, this is the third person in just the past few months that I heard of with Thyroid cancer and they were all very young.  So happy to hear that it was caught early and that the prognosis is very promising.  As others have said, now try and relax and enjoy the rest of your twosome time!

[Bonnie and Kona]

I am praising God for revealing this cancer to your surgeon in time for its complete removal. What a huge relief for you both!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Allyson - this brought tears to my eyes!  This is so like my experience - "the vast majority of these lumps are benign", "very little chance that this is cancer", "I wouldn't worry too much about it", etc.  Thank God I had a surgeon who urged me to do the "prudent" thing and remove the lump (along with most of my thyroid).  Just like with Coner, it was, indeed, cancer.  I am so glad that you two went forward with the surgery and that it was discovered so early!  My surgery was 20 years ago and I'm doing well.  We're suppressing my existing thyroid with medication (to keep any "renegade" cancer cells in check), but other than the frequent blood draws, my life has not been impacted by the cancer.  

... and thanks for adding the reminder to all of us to trust our instincts!!  And like I said in my post of awhile back - PLEASE< PLEASE< PLEASE see your doctors annually!!  My cancer was discovered at my annual Ob/Gyn appointment!!  

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Definitely a miracle! cancer is so scary! I'm glad he's ok!!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Im so glad you found out about the lump and everything is going to be ok!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I love miracles! Glad you caught it and early and hope that's the end of it!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm so glad they caught this, and so glad you went to the ER that night. I hope you and Conor can now relax and enjoy your remaining "twosome time" before baby makes three!