leeillawarra, I had my thyroid removed in February 2006, I had papillary thyroid carecenoma. Mine was completely contained and had not spread through the lymphnodes, I also Radioactive Iodine Abilation as a clean up (chemo type) treatment afterwards. I to have had pain and swelling in lymphnodes at times over the past 3 years when i am unwell (get a virus) but after surgery it took about a year for everything to settle down (scar tissue pain). Your tirdness is probably your oroxine levels, mine have been out on and off for 3 years and even slightly out my body knows it. I have been both high and low. I to know the painful process of getting drs to do anything or ract as they should, I" went 6 years undiagnosed and my husband almost lost his life wgen he spent 6 months undiagnosed with testicular cancer. If you suspect siomething is up i would first ask for full blood test, it can be othe fa tors like iron, magnesium ect. Then that will also indicate if there are other issues in the body...if so ask for a full body scan. Thats what we did with my hubby. Gps are always crap when it comes to thyroid issues you need a good endocronologist to manage you. I strongly urge that you get your thyroid levels checked, do you have anything else going on...cold alot or hot? heart pulpitations? difficulty concentrating?etc ... View more

It is always hard explaing to kids what is happening to their family members. Our son is 3 1/2yo and fortunately we can just say "grandad is sick but the doctor is trying to fix him", sadly grandad passed away 2 years ago now so we still have to explain that he's not coming back. I would speak to the school councellor about how to approach children of your sons age about matters like cancer and operations, I'll bet she/he has a whole lot of info ready to go and can suggest some books to read to help him understand whats happening. I wish your mum all the best XX AManda ... View more

Nickij, Wanted to let you know I read this post earlier today and have been thinking all day about how to reply to you. I decided I would tell you my story and how we delt with it. When my son was 2 months old I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer, I obsessed over making everything perfect for my son. I wanted every day to be fantastic and hoped to be around long enough for him to remember me, as I got closer to treatement which I waited 7 months for (long story) I was so tired I could not get out of bed. I had to get help to look after him, but the time I did spend with him was quality time and I think that makes all the difference. When my son was 2 my husband was diagnosed with stage 2C yolk sac tumour, so again we were living the nightmare of operations and treatment. Of course my son being much older was more alert to what was happening, my husband found himself desperately trying to make each day perfect for our son but was soooo tired and sick. I used simple techniques like getting my son involved with making daddy some dinner to take to hospital, the days daddy was home he got to stay up a little later to sit and cuddle daddy and read books and the days daddy was to sick or tired for visitng we would draw pictures of us all and make daddy cards. My son is now almost 4 and still like to do these simple things to connect with us every day. I guess what I am trying to say is us adults have a different perspective on perfect and long lasting memories, our children fondly remember the simplest of things we do. Anything we parents do is everlasting in our children's minds and hearts. I also think you need to enlist the help of others to help you achieve your milestones or goals, safety in numbers and all that. I actually found it really handy to obsess over doing stuff with my son it gave me the drive to keep fighting the good fight and striving for nothing less than a miricle. Its good to have a strong focus. My husband and I are fortunate that we are both in remission, but we live each day fully in the moment we realise in the blink of an eye it could all change. Love and good wishes XX Amanda ... View more

I just wanted to say I am so deeply sorry to hear that Wazza lost his battle today, my thoughts and prayers are with you. AmandaC ... View more

Hey Sally, What a great idea, we often forget that our children also have that sense of displacement. My kids are a little to young to realise what has happend alhtough my son remembers daddy was very sick and lost his hair. I'll bet the cancer coucil would know of such support groups in your area, if there are non it may be worth starting your own. Its good for your kids to have peers that completely get where they are at and what they have been through. XX amanda ... View more

thaker, Thankyou for sharing your story with me, I to had my maturity tested when my husband spent 6 months being mis-diagnosed and eventually diagnosed with testicular cancer. It was xmas eve 2007 I took my husband to his room to settle in before he fasted over night for what we new was an operation that still may not take place. I had my 2yo wiht me and stayed as long as I could but I really just wanted to lay down next to him until he went into surgery. I did get up early the next day especially to see him before surgery wiht our son in hopes it would lift his spirit. Its amazing that his cancer scared me more than mine and it was a blow I didn't think I could cope with, but we do. You sounds like an incredibly strong woman, I imagine your 8yo gives you great strength while this is happening. Its amazing how often we all deal wiht this alone. Hope your husband is doing a little better since his last seizure, it makes me so mad to think you have had to put up with the small mindedness of others through what is a very traumatic time. XX to you and your family ... View more

I like the idea of being exceptional lets run with that 😉 its good to know I am not the only one that has had that moment of realising their innoscence was gone. It ws an incredibly sad moment but I like to think it gives me the drive to live life to the fullest. ... View more

Hey Sally, I won't lie I have just been through almost a whole box of tissues reading your last response, it is amazing how calm the moment can be. I see what your saying about polar opposite experiences, how incredibly special you experienced this together. I am a massive believer in the body being a vehicle for our soul and that our soul does go on, it was great comfort to me when I lost my aunt and FIL just to know there was more install for them. I always like to say its not goodbye its see you later, by that I mean I think we will all meet again. Writing really is the best way to sort thorugh your thoughts and emotions and Harker is right your on to something here keep it flowing. XX Amanda ... View more

Hi maddermax, What an incrdibly scary time that must have been for you all and TC is such a personal cancer for boys/men there are many issue to deal with. My husband was diagnosed with TC 2 months after his father died from bowel cancer, his arrose in the pelvis which made it undiagnosed until it was really big and almost to late. Unfortunately for him his mum was not in a good place after loosing her husband and told everyone, which ment he didn't get the privacy he really needed. He is now just 1 year out and doing well and is on the road to reconnecting with the outside world, as Melissa says its a long road but we are glad we have the time to walk it :) Congradualtions to your son for making it to the 7 year mark! ... View more

Hi Nikki, Congrats on the birth of Finn, what an incredibly exciting time this is for you. My No2 is now almost 5 months the time goes so quickly...enjoy every moment. XX Amanda ... View more