September is THYCA Awareness Month

Sabine's recent post reminded me about this. Check your necks, kids!
My doc first found lumps on my thyroid gland during an exam after a bike crash. She palpated my neck and sent me promptly for an ultrasound. What followed was more than a year of ultrasound, RIU, MRI, biopsy, bloodwork, two endrocrinologists, and an ENT. It shouldn't have taken so long to diagnose, but that's another story.
I remember my 2nd endocrinologist (I fired the 1st one) telling me thyca is the "good" cancer. Whoa! Good cancer? There is no such thing in my opinion. Oddly enough, three months later my ENT used the same term to describe the lump in my parotid gland (that big salivary gland in your cheek). As much as I liked these two docs, they just didn't get it -- how can you use a term like "good" to describe any type of cancer?

So, educate yourself, know the signs, and check your neck!
Checking your neck is easy! All you need is a hand mirror and a glass of water. First, take a healthy sip of water, but don't swallow it. Then, hold the mirror up to your neck, tip your head back, swallow, and see if you observe any bulges or protrusions (besides your adam's apple). If you see anything unusual, check in with your doc for further testing.
There you have it!
3 Comments:
Good tips...I agree that there's no such thing as a good cancer. Self-awareness & self-exams are usually the best and easiest way to catch everything, too, so it's a good reminder to not get lazy and complacent about checking your stuff!
I think docs call it good because they can actually fix it...
...and I'm glad you got fixed!
T and I just checked...looks like we are clean.
But I am turned on now and had to kiss her neck. She has a very sexy neck.
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