My Journey with the Big "C" - the beginning

Much to my surprise, I found out two and half days ago that I have thyroid cancer, and I found the need to write.  So here I am.  Just to give you a litte background on what I have been through this summer, I lost two amazing friends to cancer, so I guess I was on high alert about three weeks ago when I stumbled upon my lovely cancer.   And stumbled, or fumbled, rather, more apply describes how I found it.  I was washing my hair in the shower and somehow I literally poked myself in the throat.  I was thinking, "how the hell did I just poke myself in the throat?"  It was just the oddest movement in the world.  I was just washing my hair.  About a minute or two later another thought raced through my mind.  "Why did that poke feel the way it did?"  At that moment I started feeling around my throat and found my adam's apple.  But I am a female, so I was pretty sure I am not supposed to have one.  But not having felt my throat extensively before, I was not sure what the heck was going on.  I did realize that there was a tenderness there that I was sure wasn't normal, and I felt sure that my odd fumbling movement was a sign from my body to take note and check it out.  Freaking out inside, I called my doctor and luckily she was available a couple of hours later. Sure enough, she felt a cyst or mass of some sort.   She sent me to get some blood work and gave me the info. to set up an ultrasound and biopsy.  But of course, I was running out of town two days later, so was only able to squeeze in the blood test looking for anti-thyroid somethings.  3 days later I got my results back, which were normal.  So rest easy is what I did.  I spent a week down in LA with the kids, playing and working, and didn't really give much thought to my new "adam's apple".  When I came home, I did promptly call to set up my appointment for the ultrasound, but was very confident it was just a "cyst".  And again, I continued with my life and two weeks later went in for the ultrasound.  Sure enough, there was a cyst on my isthmus (sp?) which connects the thyroid.  I saw it and they did a biopsy, but again, I was pretty confident my destiny was not to die of cancer.  Then the call came Monday night.  Papillary Carcinoma.  The good news is that my destiny is still not to die of cancer.  According to the net and all of my sources, this is the best cancer ever to get.  Great.  I do feel lucky, but I would rather not have it all, if you know what I mean.  It is still cancer, and it is a little frightening.  I will have to continue my story later.  Got to get the kids off to school.  But my message for today is - listen to the signs your body gives you.  They really do mean something.  Bye for now!