Hey, all. My 14-year-old daughter has a good sized goiter on her neck. Her doctor referred her to a pediatric endocrinologist and ran some blood tests. Blood tests came back inconclusive, so endo sent samples to a special lab at USC and setup an ultrasound. Those blood tests also came back inconclusive, but the ultrasound caught a large nodule on the right side of her thyroid and possible swollen lymph nodes. Biopsy is scheduled for Monday and I really want some answers. My wife is a constant worrier and I am pretty much an eternal optimist, but this has me worried as Hell. I know that typically, thyroid cancer is one of the easiest cancers to treat, but I honestly wouldn't wish cancer of any sort on my worst enemy. Hoping someone here has some positive experience with thyroid issues or can shed some light on other possible reasons for this... Doc has pretty much ruled out Hashimoto's Syndrome... If it comes down to it, we're all ready to fight whatever this may be until my little (not so little anymore) girl is back to being healthy...
You are taking all the right steps. I can only imagine how scared you all are but hold onto each other and stay hard at the medical stuff. My former office manager's family had three persons in it with some kind of nodules/tumors on their thyroid. Removed surgically, a little radiation, and pills to replace the hormones. Every one did fine. Post here anytime and your friends here will support and pray with you.
All my thoughts to you and your family. I'm not a doctor so I can't give you any medical advice and I'm not a religious man so I can't pray for you. But, I think while you're waiting for answers you and your family should go do something fun. Try to break the stress and tension. Find something you can all do and laugh while doing it. The mental side of things is just as important as the physical side of things. in times like this.
My buddy just went through the same thing brother...the key is they found it early during a routine annual....they basically they did some tests found a nodule and removed it...while they were waiting for a biopsy they gave him a series of pills that believe it or not are radioactive to kill off any remaining possible disease....it came back as cancerous, so now he is going for a 2nd series of test to ensure it is all out...I am wondering why the doctor hasn't taken the nodule out of your daughter yet, please ask him/her that....AS WELL TO EVERYONER HERE, go to the Doctor, if you have medical insurance use it....go..I have a buddy who "hates" doctors and hasn't gone in 5 years, I laid into him the other night....
Good luck to you guys my friend. Just keep on being that eternal optimist for your daughter so she can feed off the positive energy.
Best wishes and I hope things work out for the best. Keep us updated. IF, heaven forbid, it is the worst case scenario, I have heard Cyberknife is a great alternative to regular radiation therapy and a lot less painful (albeit more expensive). Obviously at that point I think you would be less concerned about the money.
Thanks, everyone, for your well wishes. Definitely going to stay positive for my family. Thankfully, my wife is doing the same despite her innate pessimism. I'm really quite proud of the positive front she's showing our kids. Kendra is also staying very positive, though she's afraid, not only about the biopsy, but about the surgery she might end up having if things go a certain way. I'm proud of how she's being a great big sister and helping her sister and brother maintain a positive attitude even though they're both scared for her as well... Thanks also for the anecdotes and information. I've been doing a lot of research into all possibilities that can show up and am positive that no matter what, Kendra is going to fight through this and feel better than ever once this is resolved.
Finally got results from Kendra's doc... Leaning towards papillary thyroid cancer, but awaiting a second opinion from a specialist at the Mayo Clinic... Thankfully, this is one of the easiest cancers to treat and we're going to continue fighting the good fight and beat this thing. Appreciate you all keeping us in your thoughts... I'll be sure to keep this thread updated as new info comes out.
You continue to have my prayers. As you say, this is very treatable. Y'all will get through this fine!
I hope your daughter puts her foot so far up that cancer's ***, people will think she's wearing new Nikes.
Couldn't even imagine the emotions I'd be going through if it was mine... It's always one thing if its you, but when it's your kid.. Phew. Keep your heads up man... We're all behind ya.
If there is anything the staff can do please let us know. Hopefully she gives cancer a good old fashioned
Hopefully a second opinion proves otherwise; if not, thirty years from now your daughter will look back and this and say, "hey remember that time I had cancer".
Hey CoDo, were here for ya man, I hope good things for your daughter, keep her spirits up, my mom has bested cancer twice, if you got it early, she will just need strength and positivity, if she loses her hair, shave yours, get tshirts made..fu&$in kick it's *** bro..
Best wishes to your daughter & your family. My mom beat cancer 3x so 1 for your daughter should be easy. -Sent from my TMO Samsung Galaxy S4
As the father of two daughters, I cannot imagine this. Of course, I know it's cry, pick your jaw up off the floor, and get prepared to kick its ***. You never want a 14 year old to have to deal with something like this, but she'll do awesome and come out of it knowing she's a very strong person. Hug her extra tight.
Quick update: My daughter is weird. The doctor that the slides were sent to for a second opinion needed a second opinion and none of the doctors could come to a consensus. It shows definite characteristics of cancer, but not enough for a definite diagnosis. The other specialists were leaning towards Hashimoto's which is an autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid, but blood tests have already ruled that out... Appointment tomorrow morning with the doc to go over options. First is a second biopsy called a core needle biopsy which is a little deeper and takes out more tissue... The other is to call the first biopsy inconclusive and go directly to surgery...
Kendra decided to go the route of the core needle biopsy. Don't have a date scheduled, so it's the waiting game again... Doc doesn't think it is thyroid cancer at this point, but there is a possibility that it is something worse as "the lymph nodes are involved." Fingers crossed... Continued thoughts and prayers are highly appreciated and thanks again for letting me get this out.
I am glad to hear you are finally getting a more definitive answer. Whatever that answer is, I pray for the strength for your family to deal with it and come through it safe and well.