Thyroid cancer concerns...

Thank you for filling us in. I am sorry the news was not more positive but you seem to have a good plan in place. I will continue to pray for the surgeon's skill and your daughter's quick and complete recovery.

Thanks. We're just glad we finally have some answers so we know what we're fighting. Like I said previously, Kendra's a tough girl. Despite everything she's been going through, she still has maintained a 3.75 GPA, worked a summer job at a daycare center, volunteered in the community and just generally kept a positive attitude!

So proud of the strong young woman she is turning into in front of my eyes!

Pre-op appointment scheduled for Thursday. We'll see what the surgeons have to say... :)

You remain in my prayers. Keep us in the loop. We will support all of you how ever we are able.

Surgery scheduled for Wednesday, October 8. Will be staying up in Denver Tuesday night through Thursday afternoon... I'll keep y'all updated!

Are they planning on removing the entire thyroid, a portion, and/or just the tumors? Whatever it is, you have my prayers and best wishes for all of you.

Removing the whole thing. Since there are the tumors on both sides, doc thought it advisable to go that route... Funny thing is that we went with a new doctor because the old doctor had recommended removing the right lobe and then backed out of that... Thankfully he did since the left lobe also grew a nodule so only one surgery instead of two...

To donate to Colorado Dolfan's daughter's surgery

http://www.gofundme.com/f40qrg

In May of 2013, I noticed my then 14 year old daughter had an extremely large neck. This started our journey into the world of Thyroid cancer. It has been a roller coaster. In August of 2013, Kendra had her 1st biopsy, on the nodule in the right lobe of her thyroid. We were told it was "suspicious" for papillary thyroid cancer. Several pathologists looked at her slides and they all said "suspicious", none of them would commit to a cancer diagnosis. Kendra then had a core needle biopsy. We were told it was benign (The cancer specialist we are seeing now believes they hit a "cold" spot when they did the core needle biopsy). The doctor she had then wanted to take a "wait and watch" approach. I was okay with this, until February 2014 when Kendra had an Ultrasound of her neck done (She had her first one in July of 2013 and that is when the nodule in the right lobe of her thyroid was discovered). At this ultrasound, it was discovered Kendra now had a nodule in the left lobe of her thyroid. Her then doctor still wanted to take the "wait and watch" approach. My mother's intuition told me something wasn't right. Children shouldn't have nodules on their thryoid at all. Kendra now had 2. One of which grew in less than 6 months (Rapid growth could be an indicator of cancer). I decided to seek out a second opinion. We saw a new endocrinologist and a thyroid cancer specialist. The cancer specialist said he put Kendra at an intermediate risk for cancer, based on her ultrasound images (There are certain things they look for on US). He had his top notch pathologists look at her slides. This is when we got the diagnosis...it is in fact papillary thyroid cancer. At the age of 15, Kendra is now facing having her thryoid taken out. We pray the cancer hasn't spread beyond the thryoid!

Oh man sorry to hear about this. I hope they get it out of there. I think the thyroid is the most treatable kind of cancer but hope they can treat it. God bless you guys and I will be praying.

"Arodgers12 wrote:

Oh man sorry to hear about this. I hope they get it out of there. I think the thyroid is the most treatable kind of cancer but hope they can treat it. God bless you guys and I will be praying.

Thanks, man! Always appreciated!

"Colorado Dolfan wrote:

Thanks, man! Always appreciated!

Always here for you man.

About 14 hours from Kendra's surgery and I'm starting to get a little nervous.

I'm sure all is going to go very well, but knowing my baby girl is going to be unconscious for 3+ hours while doctors are working on her just doesn't feel right.

I definitely appreciate all the continuing good thoughts and prayers. :)

"Colorado Dolfan wrote:

About 14 hours from Kendra's surgery and I'm starting to get a little nervous.

I'm sure all is going to go very well, but knowing my baby girl is going to be unconscious for 3+ hours while doctors are working on her just doesn't feel right.

I definitely appreciate all the continuing good thoughts and prayers. :)

Hope all goes well, bud.

We continue to pray for all of you and for the medical team. We await a report....

good luck bro!

Thanks all!

We're checked in for pre-op... Surgery in about 1 1/2 hours...

Surgery underway. Hopefully finished within s couple of hours.

Whatever time they gave you, add an hour to an hour and a half. Doctors typically talk about surgeries thinking about their time in the theater. They forget about prep, post, and even sometimes recovery. The last could take 90 minutes or more.

Keep reading online, walk around, get a book, go to the chapel, or whatever. Just let yourself veg until the doctor comes out and then expect another wait until you can see her.

You all remain in my prayers.

Finished the surgery. All went well, but central lymph nodes did not look normal, so those got removed as well.

She's still in recovery, probably be about thirty minutes before we can go back and see her.

Back with Kendra now. She's pretty groggy and, thankfully, not in too much pain!

"Colorado Dolfan wrote:

Back with Kendra now. She's pretty groggy and, thankfully, not in too much pain!

Good news. You now will have a 24-72 hour wait while they do a biopsy on the tissues involved. That will determine the post-operative protocols regarding radiation, chemo, substitute medication, and so on.

The prayers will be ongoing. Thankfully this part is done.

Finally heading home. Poor girl broke down a few hours ago after yet another doctor came in to check on her with no mention of discharging her...

She's definitely overly tired and ready to be in her home surroundings for some good rest!

No one "rests" in a hospital. Glad she is home and hopefully recovering from the surgery itself. :yes: Continued blessings to all of you.:up:

Any word on the biopsy????

"Ohiophinphan wrote:

Any word on the biopsy????

Nothing yet... Waiting with bated breath... :(