ANYONE HEARD FROM KIMBA??

Last I Heard...
They were doing pretty well, and I think they were just getting on with life and not visiting as much.

JG

MarineE5 said:

10-4
I'll send a flare up and see if she notices it....

Love you guys...
...for checking in. Marine sent me an email. But here it is...back on the boards and learning about Jim. So freakin' sad...and scared. This monster, this beast...you just can't hide from it can you?
If you had checked in a month ago I would have said all good here. But the truth is Mark is having some problems. Winter is always bad, he aches, is stiff, has painful spasms. But his last PET scan was denied by his insurance, so they gave him an MRI. MRI showed "nodule on the tyroid". Ultrasound next (March 19). But now Mark is having the same throat and ear pain that he had in March 2010, which resulted in the diagnosos of SCC IV. I am so scared. We have to wait. The 19th seems so far away...see the ENT doc on the 21st. We are so close to the 2 years post treatment...just at the 2 years since diagnosis. We were told 2 years is the magic number...if he could get past that he would probably be good to go.
Denial is a safe place...pretending like everything is fine...but then I read about Jim. I can't breathe.
Again...love you guys for thinking about us. Say a little prayer, send mojo, energy, whatever you got. I could use a little boost.
Kim

Kimba1505 said:

Love you guys...
...for checking in. Marine sent me an email. But here it is...back on the boards and learning about Jim. So freakin' sad...and scared. This monster, this beast...you just can't hide from it can you?
If you had checked in a month ago I would have said all good here. But the truth is Mark is having some problems. Winter is always bad, he aches, is stiff, has painful spasms. But his last PET scan was denied by his insurance, so they gave him an MRI. MRI showed "nodule on the tyroid". Ultrasound next (March 19). But now Mark is having the same throat and ear pain that he had in March 2010, which resulted in the diagnosos of SCC IV. I am so scared. We have to wait. The 19th seems so far away...see the ENT doc on the 21st. We are so close to the 2 years post treatment...just at the 2 years since diagnosis. We were told 2 years is the magic number...if he could get past that he would probably be good to go.
Denial is a safe place...pretending like everything is fine...but then I read about Jim. I can't breathe.
Again...love you guys for thinking about us. Say a little prayer, send mojo, energy, whatever you got. I could use a little boost.
Kim

Kim....
You are a proven monster killer.....stay positive and maintain your control.

Thyroid always takes a hit, and you know as well as all that it's not something until it is confirmed something.

That being said, I know the anxiety.

If it makes you feel better, both my ENT and Chemo MD feel that the first year is a milestone, second year even better.

So being on here for three years now, I think the odds of having the same Dx as your original are low.... I actually haven't heard of anyone having the same, or going to the thyroid. But I am getting old, and have had an over abundance of chemo, LOL....

So, hang tough.....

But, as added insurance, you and Mark are defintiely on my prayers list.

John

Kimba1505 said:

Love you guys...
...for checking in. Marine sent me an email. But here it is...back on the boards and learning about Jim. So freakin' sad...and scared. This monster, this beast...you just can't hide from it can you?
If you had checked in a month ago I would have said all good here. But the truth is Mark is having some problems. Winter is always bad, he aches, is stiff, has painful spasms. But his last PET scan was denied by his insurance, so they gave him an MRI. MRI showed "nodule on the tyroid". Ultrasound next (March 19). But now Mark is having the same throat and ear pain that he had in March 2010, which resulted in the diagnosos of SCC IV. I am so scared. We have to wait. The 19th seems so far away...see the ENT doc on the 21st. We are so close to the 2 years post treatment...just at the 2 years since diagnosis. We were told 2 years is the magic number...if he could get past that he would probably be good to go.
Denial is a safe place...pretending like everything is fine...but then I read about Jim. I can't breathe.
Again...love you guys for thinking about us. Say a little prayer, send mojo, energy, whatever you got. I could use a little boost.
Kim

I was
I was going to chime in that you posted about a month ago. Sorry to have the same insurance issue, they didn't want to do a PET until I was showing signs of 'c' DLewis posted that the same thing happened to her, check the post--Insurance. . . (I know that some techie will be able to bump it up) She let the doctor know about some of her issues (which are what we live with anyway) and she got the scan. I got a call last week and a PET is scheduled for the 16th. Head and neck only. I will ask in April when I see the doctor what can be done to check lungs as they have never been 'clean.' Also have nodules on the thyroid after 2nd go around, seems to be watch and wait. Easier said than done! Hopefully Spring will pop up soon (or your trip to Florida for warmth).

KTeacher said:

I was
I was going to chime in that you posted about a month ago. Sorry to have the same insurance issue, they didn't want to do a PET until I was showing signs of 'c' DLewis posted that the same thing happened to her, check the post--Insurance. . . (I know that some techie will be able to bump it up) She let the doctor know about some of her issues (which are what we live with anyway) and she got the scan. I got a call last week and a PET is scheduled for the 16th. Head and neck only. I will ask in April when I see the doctor what can be done to check lungs as they have never been 'clean.' Also have nodules on the thyroid after 2nd go around, seems to be watch and wait. Easier said than done! Hopefully Spring will pop up soon (or your trip to Florida for warmth).

Good job KT!
You go girl

Deb

D Lewis said:

Hang in there Kimba!
it's really your only option. You are strong and brave and you've always been there for Mark. This may turn out to be nothing more than the expected long-term aches and pains. We all have them. I'm holding you in my thoughts and hoping for the best possible news.

Deb

Cancer is a beast and it
Cancer is a beast and it scares the hell out of me. I will be praying for good reults and for you.

luv2cut1 said:

Do we ever stop being scared?
Major prayers and positive thoughts headed your way!

Positive vibes on the way
Can't blame you both for being so scared. We all dread even thinking about a recurrence.

Lot's of prayers and mojo heading out your way.

Tommy

Kimba1505 said:

Love you guys...
...for checking in. Marine sent me an email. But here it is...back on the boards and learning about Jim. So freakin' sad...and scared. This monster, this beast...you just can't hide from it can you?
If you had checked in a month ago I would have said all good here. But the truth is Mark is having some problems. Winter is always bad, he aches, is stiff, has painful spasms. But his last PET scan was denied by his insurance, so they gave him an MRI. MRI showed "nodule on the tyroid". Ultrasound next (March 19). But now Mark is having the same throat and ear pain that he had in March 2010, which resulted in the diagnosos of SCC IV. I am so scared. We have to wait. The 19th seems so far away...see the ENT doc on the 21st. We are so close to the 2 years post treatment...just at the 2 years since diagnosis. We were told 2 years is the magic number...if he could get past that he would probably be good to go.
Denial is a safe place...pretending like everything is fine...but then I read about Jim. I can't breathe.
Again...love you guys for thinking about us. Say a little prayer, send mojo, energy, whatever you got. I could use a little boost.
Kim

Prayers and MOJO!!!
Sending my prayers and MOJO!

sweetblood22 said:

Kimba
Glad you popped in to say hello. You and Mark are still on my prayer list!

Thyroid Nodules
From March issue of SPOHNC, VOL.21 NO. 6, cover page "Thyroid Cancer" by Sumeet M. Anand M.D. and Mark L. Urken M.D.

"Thyroid nodules can develop at any age, however, they are more common in adults. When the thyroid gland is evaluated with ultrasound, nearly half of all adults are found to have a thyroid nodule, Most are benign, 90-95%. 1 in 20 is cancer. The majority are cysts containing a stored form of thyroid hormone called colloid. solid nodules are more likely to be cancer, albeit the majority of these are benign.' The overall, 5 year relative survival rate for thyroid cancer from 2001-2007 is 97.2%. "

I also have a thyroid nodule which was FNA in the office and came back negative about a year ago. Mark's almost certainly is the same!

ratface said:

Thyroid Nodules
From March issue of SPOHNC, VOL.21 NO. 6, cover page "Thyroid Cancer" by Sumeet M. Anand M.D. and Mark L. Urken M.D.

"Thyroid nodules can develop at any age, however, they are more common in adults. When the thyroid gland is evaluated with ultrasound, nearly half of all adults are found to have a thyroid nodule, Most are benign, 90-95%. 1 in 20 is cancer. The majority are cysts containing a stored form of thyroid hormone called colloid. solid nodules are more likely to be cancer, albeit the majority of these are benign.' The overall, 5 year relative survival rate for thyroid cancer from 2001-2007 is 97.2%. "

I also have a thyroid nodule which was FNA in the office and came back negative about a year ago. Mark's almost certainly is the same!

Ides of March
It is nice to see familiar faces and new pictures and to be supported again here. I sure am hoping that the nodule is just a nodule one gets as they get older. I also hope his ear and throat pain are just a virus as a result of our wacky weather in the northeast. It sure is rough when the cancer anxiety gets activated again.
It is wonderful to connect with people who understand the up and down cycle of the post cancer treatment life; and who just have wonderful answers.
Soon the tests and appointments will be over and April will be here. I am not enjoying March at all.
My love to all of you, new and old (not age, but time on the boards). This is a very important place.
Kim