Friday, August 24, 2012

Footloose and Cancer Free!

I had blood work done last week and a CT scan this week at Ironwood Cancer Center.  I am seeing Dr. Dharia now, since Dr. Cavalcant retired.  I like Dr. Dharia.  I just don't like the Oncologist idea or the Cancer Club.  So I go in today for the results, and the receptionist puts a band on my wrist "for the chemo room" she says.  She also says the financial person will talk to me before I go to the chemo room.  Why would I go to the chemo room?  I asked the financial person and she said it was a mistake and cut the band off.  I still wondered about it.  Then when I finally got to the exam room the nurse asked if I had a flu shot.  I told her I had one last year and asked if I should get one this year.  She said to ask Dr. Dharia.  I'm thinking.....because the cancer is back and I'll have to do chemo and loose my hair and not be able to go to Disneyland!!!!!  I'm thinking they are reading my chart and feeling sorry for this poor woman whose cancer has returned, but has no gray hair and an awesome haircut (thanks, Cindy).  After another half hour the doctor comes in, shakes my hand, gets a phone call, and leaves.  By this time I could hardly read the Reader's Digest I had brought and I was second guessing my certainty that I would get good news today!  Another 15 minutes or so and he comes back in and I hopefully appeared calm and at least didn't blurt out, IS IT BACK?????  He asked a lot of questions about how I am feeling (Great!) and swallowing and lumps in my neck, etc, etc.  No problems that I know of.  Then he said the CT scan showed a growth on my thyroid that had gotten bigger since my last scan.  Chances are, it's benign, but I have to get a sonogram of it this week and go from there.  Of course I come home and googled it.  I'll go with the 90-95% chance that it's benign.  And if it is cancer, it is NOT treated with chemo or radiation, just iodine.  I believe Google.  It's gospel-truth, right?