23 Yr Old Vet with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

SteelEyes

I returned from a deployment overseas Dec. 2021. October 2022, I started feeling very tired and unwell. My physical medicine and rehab doctor (from injuries obtained while deployed) finally convinced my PCP to take a look at my thyroid after my PCP kept saying it was my mental state and i was just anxious. They found a main tumor on my left node measuring at 1.7cm at the beginning of November and all labs normal. Ct's from my neck taking in Jan. 2022 were compared and it was found that there were no signs of masses during the initial imaging. After further testing and discussing with a surgeon it was decided that a total thyroidectomy would be the best course of action. After my surgery at the end of November the pathology report said that the main tumor was 2.7cm and my thyroid had a many smaller nodules throughout. About a month later I just happened to receive a letter from the VA with information about the PACT Act. I went to 9 out of the 14 countries listed in the middle east as places of concern if you found that you had certain cancers and/or diseases. Then I found out that other people who did not go to all of the countries I went to while deployed but were also in contact with the Afghanistan refugees, were diagnosed with different cancers. Now I do not show any signs of concern other than testing positive for the BRaf Mutant gene and not knowing what I was exposed to exactly. My doctor said I'm low to intermediate risk. I just turned 23 years old. My lymph nodes have continued to remain swollen every where for over 6 months now and I still feel like crap all the time. My Tg Antibodies are slightly increasing. My doctor changed her mind on doing RAI and told me I'm just anxious because I'm so young. I am the first person in my family to have cancer. I don't know what to expect or what to do. I fear that this is going to be a constant battle. I already see so many doctors for my physical pain and injuries. Yet this is the one thing my doctors won't answer questions to. They said it was all in my head before I was diagnosed and they are saying it again.

While dealing with my health issues the military side is a joke. I am in the reserves with a 90% VA disability rating. I have been on a restrictive profile for over a year. I am not even allowed to receive pay or benefits because my health is in such a bad spot. Yet they won't discharge me.. or even begin the process. I have hired an attorney with money I don't have seeking a fix in my LOD status (injuries I was sent home from deployment for) thanks to negligence from my leadership and medical unit. Then I tell them about my cancer diagnosis and they said "I am sorry to hear that, that sucks." Followed with locking me out of all acess and not emailing me back.

I just feel hopeless in this process.

Still Surviving

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/326460/23-yr-old-vet-with-papillary-thyroid-carcinoma

Besides having to deal with the cancer you also have to deal with the military - SNAFU! Hope I can give you some encouragement for the cancer battle. I was diagnosed with the same PTC in June 1963 at the age of 6! Had three surgeries for total thyroidectomy with dissection to remove right side lymph nodes. This was followed up with a couple radio-iodine treatments. If it wasn’t for great doctors including a couple exceptional endocrinologists I am sure I would not be here 60 years later! It took some work to get the right Synthroid (now on Levothyroxine) dosage right but I get T4 and TSH checked every 6 months to monitor levels. Life has been good, career as a mech engineer designing blood analyzers, couple of kids and grandkids. I know my parents faith had as much to do with my outcome, especially as they had 10 other children to raise during my diagnosis and treatment. I’m here for a reason. I wish you the best on your journey and encourage you to keep pushing for answers from the docs and VA. Eventually someone will listen!