When I was first diagnosed, I was working casually whilst studying and as sympathetic as they were, they just couldn't hold my job for me. Re-arranging uni around my treatment was also a nightmare. When my cancer came back, I was lucky enough to be working for a doctor, who was incredibly supportive. But I am still a casual, so lost so much income as I don't get sick leave. Now I am trying to complete a PhD and really struggling. It's hard to believe I'm going to be okay long enough to finish it. It's just too hard to plan for being healthy and able to study in a year. ... View more

There is no way any doctor or hospital would, or should, release that information to you without his consent. I can understand that you are concerned though. The only way you'll get answers is to talk to him about it. If he insists that he is in remission, well, there is not much you can do... it is his right to keep that information to himself. ... View more

Yes, I had my whole thyroid removed when I was 18 and now have cancer in my lymph nodes. The reason for that is that some thyroid cancer cells were left behind when the thyroid was removed, too small to see on a scan or detect on a blood test, which 'latched on' to lymph nodes at some point. So, if you don't have thyroid cancer now, then you definitely cannot get thyroid cancer cells spontaneously popping up once your thyroid is removed. The 20% tax rebate is for medical expenses about $2000. It's certainly a help (I can't wait till tax time!), but not the same as a subsidy. Just grateful that I am not in the States where everything would cost so much more, and insurance is even more difficult to deal with. ... View more

You shouldn't feel like you're being a bother, it's cancer!! I'm sorry your doctor is making you feel that way. When you say suspicious, have you had biopsies done? Is your thyroglobulin detectable? I know that there are some guidelines about not operating on lymph nodes if you do not have detectable thyroglobulin, but I thought in that case they do RAI instead. I can't remember how big my lymph nodes are, sorry! ... View more

Oh, and how old are you now Cora? Just wondering over how many years you have had your surgeries and RAI treatments. ... View more

Hi Cora, Yes, it does sound like we are in a similar situation. So, what has happened since my last post.... The ultrasound doctor found those three nodes, but my specialist was sure he was wrong, she couldn't believe it had spread to more lymph nodes. But they had, the biopsy came back positive on all three. The good news was that my surgeon thought that since they were in a tricky spot and quite small it wasn't worth operating. So I had radioactive iodine two weeks ago, and we'll just wait and see now. They ended up finding a fourth lymph node in a different spot, but again, very small and not worth operating on. My specialist also seems to downplay the risk and keeps saying that I don't need to worry because it's still a slow growing cancer.... but I've now had six lymph nodes with cancer pop up very quickly, so what's the deal with that?? She's consulted with other doctors who say the same so I guess I just have to trust them. But whenever I go to have a biopsy she says she'd be so surprised if it comes back positive, and it does, so I feel like she doesn't really understand what's going on, is insistent on maintaining that my cancer is like all other thyroid cancers but it doesn't seem like it is. But it is incredibly hard trying to settle back into normal life and not be dominated by the cancer. I just assume that they will find more lymph nodes, because every scan I have had in the last 6 months has found more cancer. It feels like only a matter of time before it spreads somewhere else in my body. Maybe not for years, but I am only 23, I have a lot of years left! ... View more

Not good news. I wasn't supposed to get my results for a week, but it turns out I have another 3 lymph nodes that are almost certainly another cancer recurrence, which means more surgery. I am waiting to see my specialist on Monday morning (found out late on a Friday afternoon) to confirm with all the other results, but the doctor who spoke to me on Friday seemed pretty sure. I am still hoping it is all just a mistake though. I really can't imagine having more surgery, when I am still not recovered from the last one two and a bit months ago. I'm so scared. I was always told I had a really good prognosis and it was unlikely to ever come back, but here I am again. I was supposed to start my doctorate in a week but now I am not sure I can. ... View more

Thank you Maddie for replying. I am so sorry for your loss. I had my whole body scan today! Relieved this week is over. It was a real hassle having the injections, blood tests, radioactive pill and scan when work is so busy at the moment. Just an ultrasound to go, and then I get the results next week. Fingers crossed. ... View more

Thanks kj, luckily this is just a one off medication purchase, so it could be worse. Still, weekly appointments with my specialists and physio add up, and medicare doesn't even cover half, and I have missed a lot of work and the pay that comes with it. I could have kicked myself yesterday... I had to have a radioactive pill in preparation for a scan, and completely forgot that I was supposed to fast, and I'd just had breakfast!! So drove to the hospital thinking that I'd probably have to have the $2k injections all over again and I had screwed it up. Thankfully, they were still able to give it to me, I just had to wait for my stomach to empty. ... View more

Thank you for replying kj, you are very kind. I hope you are well. ... View more