Off to see the Radiation Oncologist

Visited with the Radiation Oncologist who agrees with the last two docs that I can have surgery now (if I choose to) and wait until after baby is born for follow up I-131 treatments (up to 6 months or more & it is as effective as being done right away). The surgeon will remove the entire thyroid and any other potential cancerous area and then a month or so after delivery I will receive "RAI" Radioactive Iodine (I-131), single dose, which ablates or destroys any remaining thyroid tissue in my body. I will have to take thyroid meds for the rest of my life and be checked regularly. The prognosis is very good. Although thyroid cancer is very rare, the type that I have is considered highly "curable" or treatable. I am 20 weeks pregnant.

Meeting with the Surgeon re: Total Thyroidectomy

Met with the surgeon, Dr. Schneider, to find out what to do now. He says surgery can either be done now or wait depending on what the oncologist says regarding treatments after surgery. Very impressed with this doctor - he confidently and carefully answered three pages of questions I brought into the appointment! The procedure is called a Total Thyroidectomy. He has perfomed many of these and tells me the decision is mine to make (whether to have surgery now, while pregnant or to wait). It’s a horrifying position to be put in to have to make a decision when you are already in a state of shock at the turn of events. I asked him to schedule it since he has a full schedule and I have about a two week window at this point during which it is technically “safe” to have surgery while bring pregnant. I am going home to do some serious research into surgery during pregnancy and see what comes of that. I can always cancel or reschedule the surgery.

That scary phone call I wasn't expecting...

My OB/Gyn called me at home this morning and asked that I would in to see him today. They found abnormal cells in my thyroid.

I have papillary carcinoma. Thyroid cancer.

okay, yeah... this is scary now. He says the 2nd trimester is the safest time during pregnancy for surgery & refers me to a surgeon.

I am 19 weeks pregnant.

Biopsy of the Thyroid

Went to the Enloe hospital radiology department for a biopsy of the nodule on my thyroid to see what the heck is in there? (the term biopsy means to obtain a sample of the tissue and examine it under the microscope to see if the cells have taken on the characteristics of cancer cells). Thyroid cancer is no different in this situation from all other tissues of the body...the only way to see if something is cancerous is to biopsy it. However, thyroid tissues are easily accessible to needles, so rather than operating to remove a chunk of tissue with a knife, we can stick a very small needle into it and remove cells for microscopic examination. This method of biopsy is called a fine needle aspiration biopsy, or "FNA". I’ll Have to wait a few days for the lab report.

Getting the Second Opinion

Went to the second opinion appointment. This doctor was so young looking, right out of med school, if I had to guess. An Internal Medicine Specialist, she was very thorough and attentive to my various questions. She basically indicated that this nodule might be “nothing to worry over” and suggested that I wait until after my baby is born to follow up with a biopsy. I explained to her that it was hard enough being pregnant and feeling neurotic all the time, and that it has been years of having this large thyroid that made me want to know NOW what is going on in there! So she agreed to refer me for the biopsy because I was insistent about it.