It's not cancer till the doc's say it's cancer. Well, they said it's cancer+UPDATE of UPDATE

jcortney

Went in this morning to have a 1.4 cm lesion removed along with half my thyroid.  They did a quick check of the tissue in the OR and found some cancer cells.  The surgeon, who told me before the surgery that if it was positive was going to take the whole thyroid.  Well he didn't.  He felt that the margins were firmly defined and took some surrounding tissue to a formal biopsy.  He said if there was not anything in the surrounding tissue he'd leave it be, if there was he'd go back in.

My oncologist was very surprised it was positive and now wants to to another CT first thing next week to check again on the what he firmly believed were infectious nodules in my lungs.

18 months after treatment, feeling really great, eating everything and now I get hit in the face.

More to come.

Joe Cortney

CivilMatt

with you brother

Joe,

Sorry about the news, but honestly, they caught it early and are on top of things.

Keep your spirits up and do what it takes to continue on your healing path.  Feeling great and eating everything are good signs.

Good thoughts only,

Matt

KTeacher

So sorry

So sorry to hear this news.  Like Matt, doctor's are on top of this.  I know what it feels like, punched in the gut and numb.  I have done this battle 4 times.  If you need treatment, you can do it.

donfoo

yo bud!

Hey Joe,

You and me been buds on the bus. It must feel like a punch in the stomach. Glad they are all over it as soon as possible. That is great news but also quite disturbing circling back to the days of wait and worry. I'm with you and hope only for the best and fast way out of there.

I believe you had some activity on the lungs that resolved and they explained it away as infection right? And now with the new finding they want to revisit any lung issue? Again, I pray it gets fully diagnosed asap. We all know the wait is one of the worse parts. Hang in there, Don

wmc

Sorry to hear the news Joe....

So sorry to hear but the doctors caught it early and you have been feeling great and eating well. That's a good sign, and your in good shape to fight and beat it again. Stay strong, thoughts and prayers your way.

wmc

longtermsurvivor

Hi Joe

Sorry to hear the news.   Were the cancer cells SCC, or thyroid cancer?

 

Pat

jcortney

longtermsurvivor said:

Hi Joe

Sorry to hear the news.   Were the cancer cells SCC, or thyroid cancer?

 

Pat

Initial read was not SCC.

Initial read was not SCC.  They tell me SCC of thyroid extremely rare with a poor prognosis while thyroid cells have the opposite prognosis.

 

Joe

Hondo

Hi Joe

Same here just when I was doing great again after treatment boom it was back. But don’t let it get you down just keep as positive as you have ever been and if it is back you can fight it again until you win. I am now right at 8 years passed my second treatment for NPC, God is good and has blessed me to see another day.

 

Tim Hondo

longtermsurvivor

jcortney said:

Initial read was not SCC.

Initial read was not SCC.  They tell me SCC of thyroid extremely rare with a poor prognosis while thyroid cells have the opposite prognosis.

 

Joe

that is correct

maybe a silver lining to the cloud/

 

best to you

phrannie51

Yeah....a kick in the gut....

I know that's how I'd feel, too.  Your Docs have been following you closely, so like everyone else said....they caught it very early, and it isn't SCC.  They're going to re-check/double check your lungs....hoping that it's infection, and you get a giant relief when they tell you that....

Keeping you in my prayers.....and tucking you into my pocket.

p

cureitall66

The silver lining....

Joe,

Sorry you have to deal with the "c" once again.  The good thing....and the "silver lining" (that Pat refers to) is that the biopsy does not have SCC.  As much as we hate this "c", sometimes something can go right with it too.

I'm going to hold onto good thoughts and prayers that the lung nodules are nothing.

God Bless and Hang in there!

~C

donfoo

you been here before

Hi Joe,

I really feel your emotions. When I read your post, it really did feel like a big boot in My stomach. Whether we like it or not, we got picked to be on this bus and the one that pulled out at the end of 2012. May your tests and diagnosis and treatment plan, tumor board, second opinions and all the rest get lined up and knocked down as fast as they can.

Good thing is you are a veteran and with a lot of knowledge gained from the board over the years. This puts you in a far different, better, place to understand and cope. Did not say it is any easier but a lot less fear of the unknown.

Please keep up posted frequently. The extra details just help others who want to learn and know. Those who prefer to ostrich can just click past the posts.

 

Hang in there. Don

FYI - This week I saw my ENT and basically gave me the one year NED but still need to see oncologist who will order scans. So a new term - half-ned. LOL

 

Don

 

debbiejeanne

joe, everytime someone gets

joe, everytime someone gets that punch in the gut it tears at my heart.  i'm so sorry you have to fight again.  it sounds like you are up for the fight tho and i'm praying you won't have to fight as hard this time.  also praying there is NO cancer in the lungs.  please keep us posted on your fight as we will be here cheering you on and rooting for you all the way.  sending good mojo, positive thoughts, fantastic vibes and lots of prayers your way.

dj

j4mie

Ugh...

Joe, I am so sorry to hear this! I agree with what everyone else has said though, it seems as though it has been caught early. You have a lot of people here standing behind you in support...take care.

Jamie

fishmanpa

Damn Cancer!

Joe,

Sorry to hear about this Sending positive thoughts and prayers. Damn Cancer!

"T"

Grandmax4

Hang tough Joe Cortney

We're all here to support you and your family...damn cancer

katenorwood

freaking disease

Joe,

I am so sorry this darn sh@*t showed it's ugly head again.  I pray that the spot in your lungs resolve on it's own and that it's only infectious tissue.  Keeping you tucked deep in my pockets, and please let us know what they decide on the PET.  Prayers and warmest thoughts sent !  Katie 

Duggie88

Joe

That just outright sucks, enough of the negative. I am hoping for good things on the CT. Stay positive and upbeat.

T's and P's

      Jeff

jcortney

Thanks everyone

I'll know a lot more next week when the biopsy results are in and I get a new CT.

Thanks everyone for the good wishes.

Damn, I hate this disease.

Joe

HAWVET

jcortney said:

Thanks everyone

I'll know a lot more next week when the biopsy results are in and I get a new CT.

Thanks everyone for the good wishes.

Damn, I hate this disease.

Joe

And when the Doc says it is,

And when the Doc says it is, then the disappointment.  Hang in there Joe.  Hate to read of recurrence of this dreaded illness.  Prayers extended as you take this second path from where you have gone before. 

jim and i

So sorry to hear this but I

So sorry to hear this but I hear thyroid cancer is highly curanle. Praying for you.

Debbie