It's incredible to see where Craig and I are at this moment of our lives. We came from a horrible first year full with sickness, but a year where we could see that the Lord was right there with us. We can look back now and still testify that not only we had suffering and bad days, but we also had love, happiness and joy; the joy that seemed to disappear sometimes it was also there within us.
As we entered a new year with lot of hope and dreams, we were wondering about doing or not the RAI 131 treatment. We prayed about it and I have to say that for both of us, it was one of those moments where we wanted to hear a loud voice of God. The hardest part was that the benefit and the risk was 50-50. The doctors all say the same: 50-50. I'll explain more about this.
After the surgeon removed my thyroid, he left some thyroid tissue to preserve my vocal cords. Out of all the possibles things that could happen during and after the surgery, I got none. Not even pain, praise the Lord! Because there is still a little amount of thyroid tissue, it makes harder for the doctors to follow up and make sure that the cancer won't come back. See, thyroid cancer as curable as it is, it's also one of those weird ones that can come back. It doesn't always come back, but there is a possibility. It's for that reason that doctors think that it's better to completely destroy the thyroid tissue that is left, using radiation-RAI 131.
If a patient has a tumor big that 1.5 cm they suggest the treatment without no doubts. In my case I had a 1.3cm tumor in the left side and a 2.5mm in the right; so, if we add them together, it will be 1.5 and that's why they think it's 50-50. I am in the border line and trust me, it's not fun.
After discussing again with my endocrinologist, she told me that it's reasonable to hold off to it, but that I am in the border line. To me I am cancer free in the name of Jesus. I was hoping I won't need the treatment and the surgeon told me that the cancer didn't spread, that it was all encapsulated in the thyroid, that no even the lymph nodes were involved. That was a good report which make me think that the cancer is all out of my body which means I don't need any treatments.
Long story, short, the treatment was canceled. You may think I am crazy, I am just acting with faith. Calling things that I can't see as if they are is a good thing to do.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Decisions
I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer on July 20th last year, and had thyroidectomy on October 15th. The surgeon removed my entire thyroid. I had my thyroid with papillary carcinoma measuring 1.3cm in the right side of my thyroid and a 2.5mm in the left side.
Now, I am supposed to have RAI 131 treatment (radiation) in a few weeks, but I am not sure about it yet and I really need to take a decision. What to do?
If I have the RAI 131, it will be 50mci. It can prevent the cancer for coming back on a future and it will allow the doctors to follow up and make sure there is nothing left. I started the low iodine diet that is required and it's not that bad; I found a "Low-iodine cookbook" which seems to help a little bit more. If I have this treatment, I will need to be alone, completely alone for two days, and not close to children for about five days, among other things. The scary part of it is that it can increase the risk for leukemia, breast and ovarian cancer and miscarriages. I Told you it was the scary part of it!
If I decide not to do it, the cancer can come back but it won't be easier to find as if I got the treatment now.
Either way I go, I need faith, the faith the LORD gives me because this is a hard decision to make. Some days I feel that I should do it and be done with it, but some other times I feel that I shouldn't. If I do the treatment, I need to believe that God is going to protect me for future side effects, and if I don't I need to believe that the cancer isn't coming back. One way or another I need God to be with me.
Craig and I talked to the doctor, and I have to say that he wasn't really helpful. His response was that this is not an easy decision to make and that he doesn't know what he'll do. Don't you love that? -Hey, doctor, what do you think is the best thing to do here? -Well, to be honest, I am not sure what way you should go, the risk and the benefit are like 50-50. Really?
So, if you read this, I am asking you to please pray for me. I need wisdom and peace. I believe that whatever comes from God, comes with peace and I can't say that I have it (100%), even though I already started the diet.
I wish I could take a quick look to my future with both of the ways to go here. Would that be great? It will be helpful because in that way I'll know for sure what to do. But I can't do so; I have to take a decision and trust that it's the best and that God is going to help me with, that He'll give me His wisdom and that it will make it clear for me.
"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"
-Hebrews 11:1
Now, I am supposed to have RAI 131 treatment (radiation) in a few weeks, but I am not sure about it yet and I really need to take a decision. What to do?
If I have the RAI 131, it will be 50mci. It can prevent the cancer for coming back on a future and it will allow the doctors to follow up and make sure there is nothing left. I started the low iodine diet that is required and it's not that bad; I found a "Low-iodine cookbook" which seems to help a little bit more. If I have this treatment, I will need to be alone, completely alone for two days, and not close to children for about five days, among other things. The scary part of it is that it can increase the risk for leukemia, breast and ovarian cancer and miscarriages. I Told you it was the scary part of it!
If I decide not to do it, the cancer can come back but it won't be easier to find as if I got the treatment now.
Either way I go, I need faith, the faith the LORD gives me because this is a hard decision to make. Some days I feel that I should do it and be done with it, but some other times I feel that I shouldn't. If I do the treatment, I need to believe that God is going to protect me for future side effects, and if I don't I need to believe that the cancer isn't coming back. One way or another I need God to be with me.
Craig and I talked to the doctor, and I have to say that he wasn't really helpful. His response was that this is not an easy decision to make and that he doesn't know what he'll do. Don't you love that? -Hey, doctor, what do you think is the best thing to do here? -Well, to be honest, I am not sure what way you should go, the risk and the benefit are like 50-50. Really?
So, if you read this, I am asking you to please pray for me. I need wisdom and peace. I believe that whatever comes from God, comes with peace and I can't say that I have it (100%), even though I already started the diet.
I wish I could take a quick look to my future with both of the ways to go here. Would that be great? It will be helpful because in that way I'll know for sure what to do. But I can't do so; I have to take a decision and trust that it's the best and that God is going to help me with, that He'll give me His wisdom and that it will make it clear for me.
"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"
-Hebrews 11:1
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