You are welcome Ann, You are sounding a little better at the moment 🙂 I Haven't heard you say too much about being sad etc. I'm happy we can be here for you. I am doing ok without the medicine...very tired but I have an almost 2 year old and my eldest will be 4 at the end of January next year, so they keep me very busy when I'm not at work. Also looking after the house etc. Who isn't tired after all of that on a normal day?! Yes, treatment starts on Thursday. I'm not too worried about it. More a little anxious about leaving my family for 2 weeks but I know it's for the best. Lots of video calls and updates 🙂 I try not to think about it...happy it's almost here and I will be happy when it's over and done with and I can start to get back to 'normal' 🙂 I hope you both have a great week 🙂 Will let you know how I do after the treatment. Christyanne ... View more

Hi Ann, Sorry for the late reply. Non-Iodised salt is considered 'Table Salt' so look for the SAXA range with the RED writing. the one with the Green writing is iodised so you don't want that one. This is available at Woolworths or Coles or local supermarkets. This should make cooking a little easier for you! Hope you are having a better day today. 🙂 Christyanne ... View more

Hi Christine, How are you? I just wanted to say sorry, I feel like we've hijacked your blog!! Christyanne ... View more

Good morning Ann, I understand you feeling lonely. It is hard for others to truly understand what you are going through, even when you are entirely unsure yourself. I'm sure you are still healthy - remember this may only be temporary. There is nothing to say you will be unhealthy for the rest of your life. If you're friends discriminate against you because of what you are going through, then that tells me they are not very good friends in the first place so you need to find one that is supportive and understanding of what you are going through, even if they don't understand you just need to explain to them that you just need someone to talk or vent to. As for being ashamed at your scar, I thought about covering mine up as well...but you should be proud of it. Scars tell a story, and while you don't like your story at the moment, one day you can tell a story how you are a cancer survivor! Also, it can show your children how strong you are and that wounds can heal and life goes on. And you can come up with some funny stories if people are staring at your scar - tell them you got into a bar fight, or maybe you had a voice box transplant or some other scary or funny story. Ask your children to come up with some ideas. It's up to you if you want to be honest but you should be proud of your scar. At least you are still here and alive to be able to explain what it is and how you got it 🙂 Some people have scars and don't get to live to tell their story. I understand you don't want to burden your mother, that is up to you. But she might be the best support you can get. And if you are worried then she will be worried. But if you can show her you have made it this far and that you will continue to fight whatever is happening then I'm sure she would be very proud of you. Imagine if this was happening to your children, would you want to know? Would you be upset if they didn't tell you and you couldn't be there for them when they need you the most? You are a mum too and that's what mums do 🙂 Yes I did look for a support group - on this website, and I get to speak to you and Christine and that has been a good support for me. As I am going through similar things so I like to hear about how other people are experiencing this. I may appear to be handling things ok Ann, but I have my moments as well! I was angry about everything on Sunday and on Monday I cried about everything. Yesterday I complained about the diet. See, I'm normal too and just like you BUT I don't like to let it ruin my day. Life is too short and I also don't like to upset the people around me. So I have my moment and get it over with and remember that I need to get past it and get over the next hurdle so I can be here a long time! I still suggest you call the helpline on here (131120) and they may be able to suggest support groups that you can attend in person and meet someone who feels the same as you do. I really think that would be good for you. ... View more

Hi Ann, Sorry to hear of your news. I think you need to call the Cancer Council helpline 13 11 20. There may be someone that will be able to listen to you or talk to you because I don't think you sound good at all. I don't think there is anything I could say that would make you feel any better. The helpline have lots of people who speak to people in the same situation as you every day. I believe your tg will be high until after the radiation has done it's thing as you would still have some thyroid tissue and lymph node involvement. After the radiation has worked your tg should be 0. So don't worry about this too much ok? Like I mentioned to you before, it's good to find out all of this now and not later, that way the sooner it can be dealt with the sooner you can have the right treatment and start to get back to normal. The doctors cannot see into the future and can only deal with what they know and find. You have done all the right things until now. Please try not to get too upset or depressed about it. You will be ok. The doctors are very good at treating this sort of thing, unfortunately it takes longer than we would like. I understand how you are feeling. It's not nice and it's not fair, but it could be worse and you need to remember that. In the meantime, please call the helpline and speak to someone who is experienced in these matters and hopefully you will feel a little better afterwards. xx ... View more

That's good that you did that. You are more than entitled to a second opinion. My surgeon did check my neck but also said that it's not good to go 'fishing' for bad lymph nodes (there are something like 200 - 300 in your neck alone apparently) and all of your crucial veins and nerves etc are running through your neck so it is not worth having surgery for just one lymph node. You can end up with more damage than the affected node. I have looked into this and believe him. Have a look up some head and neck oncologists in your area and see if there are any reviews. You want a surgeon who does this type of operation a lot as it carries some risks. You don't want someone who only does it now and then. ... View more

Hi Ann, It's a bummer you didn't mention that to the doctor prior to having your surgery, That's why it is very important to tell them everything even if you think you are being silly. In the meantime, it's good that you have done something about it. Have the FNAB done. Try and be positive - it may be nothing so I would not go and cancel your radiation treatment until you get the results of that. And if it does turn out to be something, then just deal with it as it happens. It's much better to find out now and deal with it rather than have to wait 6 months after treatment. it might mean delaying your radiation but the sooner you get it out of your body, the better. When you arrange to have your FNAB tell them that it needs to be made a priority as you are due to have radiation therapy which may be subject to change pending the results. So it's important you can find out as soon as possible. in the meantime, as if there is another GP that can be updated on your history that can deal with your case while yours is away. I'm sure someone can surely organise referral letters etc as it's not the GP that actually deals with and does the surgery. They really are more of a messenger. I'm sure this doesn't mean everything will need to be on hold. Think of this as a good thing. it may be a minor setback but the sooner it is dealt with the better. Saves you having to do it later on. Please try not to get upset about it. Think of it as a process. it's just another inconvenience. You also need to keep in mind that it may come back again, but it's not going to kill you. You are not going anywhere anytime soon ok. it's just a pesky little thing that needs to be gone. You are lucky that your children are a little older and can somewhat look after themselves (mine are 3 and a half and almost 2) You just need to ask more questions and find out who is going to look after you while your GP is away. It will be ok. I'm sure you will be. I hope you don't think Im being harsh with you. I'm a very honest and upfront person and hate to see people worrying about something that may turn out to be nothing. or if not nothing, nothing too major to worry about. ok. x ... View more

To be honest at first I was worried all the time, but doing lots of research and asking my doctors questions when I had them, has settled my own fears a lot. I was never concerned with the surgery and having the tumour or thyroid removed. I am not really concerned over the fact that I need to take medication every day for the rest of my life. It is a pain in the butt but I have to remember that it could be a lot worse. I also worry about recurrence as all the lymph nodes removed (not just some) were cancerous. And I have learnt that this puts me in a higher category for recurrence. I am also worried about having too much radiation for fear of developing a different kind of cancer. I hate the thought of having to wait so long to find out if the treatment works. I also am anxious about it all Ann, but I have also learnt some very important things such as: 1) this is physically beyond your control (you can't control what the cancer does or how it spreads) 2) The doctors also can not tell you what they think could possibly happen because if they say something and it does or doesn't happen then this can cause you to be even more upset about it all. 3) if a doctor doesn't seem to concerned about things, then you should either take it that a) the doctor may not know enough and you should seek a second opinion and b) if they aren't too concerned, then neither should you be. 4) While you can never escape what you are now having to suffer from, life goes on. Tomorrow is a new day and you should make the most of it. Life is too short to worry about things that you cannot control. 5) Worry about what you need to at the time and don't worry about things that may or may not happen. 6) the mood and all the other emotional stuff is completely normal. It is normal to be anxious about being told you have cancer. You are not on any medication and don't have a thyroid so therefore these are side effects, but it is only temporary. Hopefully you wont stay like this forever. So think of it is a short term inconvenience. I have a friend whose 6 year old son had a brain tumour (discovered after a few weeks of headaches). it is her only son and they have been told he will not live beyond 2 - 5 years. Can you imagine that? I also have a friend whose brother has liver cancer and has been told that he can't have any more treatment because he is going to die soon after only the week before being told that he was doing well. Can you imagine that? I have read other people's concerns on this website and some people are enduring some horrific circumstances. Now I am not saying that you or me or any less entitled to be upset and anxious and stressed about what we are going through, but it certainly reminds me that it could be a lot worse. Our doctors are telling us we can be treated. Unfortunately this all takes time. It is a process. Also, it is not nice to have to go off your medication and endure the diet and feel all these emotions in the meantime. But if its what you need to do to get better, then so be it. the statistics on death with thyroid cancer are quite low, so we should focus on that. We are in the better end of the thyroid cancer spectrum. No death sentences just yet. And chances are we will most likely die from something else before thyroid cancer becomes the reason (hopefully). There are lots of things to focus on, hope for and try and think positive about. Just need to do it a day at a time. it's good to cry and get it out of your system, but don't let it take over your life. It's not worth it. You will probably think back in a few years and think, what was I so worried about! it sucks we have to wait that long to be able to think like that, but what other choice do we have? My treatment starts in 2 weeks. The hardest part for me will be away from my boys. It is hard to get used to the diet, and worrying about what I can and cannot eat but any time I start to be upset or angry about it, I remind myself, it's only for 2 weeks and that's it. And doing this will give me the best opportunity to get rid of this so it is all worth it. A small amount of time of being a pain in the butt compared to being able to live a long happy life. it's ok with me. Trust me, I hate not being able to eat just whatever I want. I am putting on weight, and it makes me feel uncomfortable and a little sad, but it's only temporary. It's not forever and it will all be worth it 🙂 It's just harder for us because most of us don't have a choice but to do it and also we have to learn what we can or can't eat as well as go without some of our favourite things. If anything I am probably being forced to eat the best foods right now, something I should have been doing for a long time! if you type in 'low iodine cookbook' you should be able to find some nice tasty recipes that are good for your whole family. I hope you get to have a good weekend Ann, hope the weather in Melbourne is as nice and sunny as it has been in Sydney this week. It has been beautiful! Good luck at your appointment as well and write down all of your questions before you get there. ... View more

Hi Ann, I believe they can't check how far it is spread until you have had your radiation treatment. (they can do one earlier, but they would have to give you a small dose of iodine radiation and doing so may further delay the proper treatment you need). I'm sorry to hear you are in pain, as Christine suggested, try and take some paracetamol to help you with this. Doctors do take it very seriously, however you may need to start trusting your doctors. I'm sure if it was something life threatening then it would be actioned asap. You need to ask them all of your questions and let them know how you feel and believe them when they tell you that you will be ok. Every day you worry, you may be wasting when you could be enjoying your beautiful family. Again, take every day as it comes. Enjoy what you have and try not to worry about 'what ifs' and think the worst because it may really be all ok, and you will be in the clear like Christine! And even if it isn't all clear, then your doctors will do their best to treat you and fix whatever they need to so you can continue to live a long and happy life. ... View more

Hi Richard, sorry to hear your news. Just a quick response... I have just started taking fruit and vegetable capsules from JuicePlus.com.au, (to help me with my own thyroid cancer) these might help your brother get some much needed nutrients when he may have troubles eating normal food. They are not a vitamin or a cure but full of antioxidants and other good stuff. There are lots of studies etc to prove their worth. I purchased them through my representative Shannon Nevin who used to play for Manly (rugby league). I hope your brother is doing ok (or as best can be hoped for?) Christyanne ... View more