New Diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

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  • michelle beddy
    michelle beddy Member Posts: 8
    #22
    Beep1967 said:

    Pure Papillary Carcinoma Survivor since 1994
    I know exactly what you are feeling and your concerns. I was there myself back in 1994. At that time I was 27 years old and the youngest female in 27 years to have this form of thyroid cancer as bad as I did. To make a long story short, my thyroid cells is what doctors today study and I can proudly say that thanks to a fantastic doctor who saved my life on his birthday in July that year.
    I underwent a total thyroidectomy which was all cancer and the thyroid capsule "exploded" and the cancer went into the base of my head, and my heart was sitting in it and my vocal cords were affected. I underwent thorastic suregery (incision like open heart patients have) to clean under my heart and around, so I am not only cut and stitched across my throat but down my chest plate as well.

    My first suregery was to remove just the thyroid itself, but when the doctor removed only half the thyroid, noticed the capsule broke and came out and told my family it spread throughout my chest, there was nothing he could do and closed me up. Devestating to my family, and myself, I did not hesitate one minute to find a doctor to help. I was actually scheduled to go to the Mayo Clinic once they heard of my rare case but they gave me a doctor in RI who was if not as good as them, BETTER! So I did just that at RI Hospotal.

    Surgery is generally 3-4 hours depending on the "severity" and extent of the cancer. I was under for almost 8 hours. When I woke, my voice was very raspy and low but that cleared up in about a week BUT after all these years, my voice fluctuates in tone, and a dull ache in my cords I still get. My voice will never be the same as before as the cancer was scraped from the cords. But I have a voice, not as loud and prominent which may be a good thing I'm told, hahaha but I have one. I can no longer sing soparano as I used to but Im here and that is all that matters.

    Now if you are lucky that allt hat is to be removed is the thyroid, then recovery is not bad at all.No heavy lifting and your neck will be swollen for a few weeks but this is normal. Be sure when the doctor tells you that you can use Vitamin E oil or another oil on your incision you do, this will allow ease of movement and heal the scar cleanly. I had dissolving stitches so it was itchy, DONT SCRATCH!!

    I WENT BACK TO WORK AFTER 5 OR 6 WEEKS.

    Good luck and God Bless. If you have any questions, let me know
    Diana

    thyroid cancer opp

    hi diane 

    just reading your story    my partners got to have another operation    on his lymph nodes   and they are going to cut his chest   as it is arkward to get to in the neck   im a bit worried this time as he sed he will be poorley    he already as had 2 operations for  his lymph nodes removed   never ending roller coaster      was you poorley after the operation di  thanks   michelle uk

     

  • galinbakersfield
    galinbakersfield Member Posts: 23
    #23
    stelles said:

    Been There
    I had a thyroidectomy in August and was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The surgery lasted several hours. The biggest problem post-surgery, other than the expected pain (for which you'll received medication, so don't be afraid of it) was getting my calcium/magnesium/potassium levels regulated. You'll probably have an endocrine specialist for that. They had to remove two of my parathyroids as well and I now have to take large doses of supplements (calcium, magnesium, and potassium) and will probably have to continue to do so as my remaining parathyroids don't seem to be doing the job. I was hospitalized for five days and back to work in two weeks. (I teach at a Univ., so by "back to work" I mean in the class room for 8 hours a week, which is not like going back to a 9-5 job.) I had RAI treatment in Nov. and am having vision problems that I think may be related to that. Other than that, 8 months after surgery I am feeling well. The surgery is difficult; I'd never portray it as easy. But with cancer we don't really have much choice, do we? I am relieved to have it out of my body and can say that I feel better now than I did this time last year. Good luck to you and God bless!

    Same problems

    stelles, I had the same problems after surgery. (complete thryoidectomy and 2 parathyroids, with cancer & hashimotos desease)  I was actually so bad that 1 day after being released from the hospital I was admitted again for 6 days for sever tetnany. not fun at all.Then after that, I was in and out of the ER for IV infusions of mag/pot. I was so low I was in the level to have heart attacks. I was on calcitriol, vitamin d, 2000mg of calcium, and multi vitamins. I am now 5 years out from surgery and I've been calcium free for almost 2 years. The only time I get low is if I get a bad stomach bug or food poisening. (food poisening put me in hospital for low calcium for 4 days) but it should level out eventually. Now I may possibly be having reoccurance of cancer, but Dr asured me it wont affect my calcium. :)

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