September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month
Google Image: © Mayo Clinic, All rights reserved.
September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. This month is significant to me to spread more awareness about ThyCa. Every month I spread awareness about Thyroid Cancer. Thyroid Cancer is the most common endocrine cancer in which cancer cells are found in your thyroid gland. There are four types of Thyroid Cancer: Papillary, Follicular, Medullary, and Anaplastic. There are also variants. Many people don't realize how vital your Thyroid is. Your thyroid makes essential hormones that usually help your thyroid function daily. If your Thyroid is underactive (Hypothyroidism) and isn't treated, it can lead to depression, anxiety, heart disease, pregnancy problems, tiredness, weight gain, fatigue, exhaustion, sensitivity to cold and heat, and much more. This is why I urge all of you to GET YOUR NECK CHECKED by your Doctor sooner rather than later.
A partial thyroidectomy is when your surgeon only removes half of your thyroid due to cancer. Your thyroid can produce some thyroid hormone with half of a thyroid. However, I know many patients who still need Thyroid medication daily for the rest of their lives after surgery to keep their thyroid hormone levels steady. You must take your thyroid medication if your doctor tells you to do so.
A total thyroidectomy is when you have your entire thyroid wholly removed. You will then need to be on daily Thyroid hormone medication for the rest of your life to replace the natural hormones and help maintain normal metabolism to lower your risk of cancer returning. You must understand you MUST take your thyroid medication every day for the rest of your life. If you DO NOT take your daily thyroid medication, you can end up with a life-threatening condition called a Myxedema coma over time. It is essential to take your Thyroid Hormone replacement every day for the rest of your life.
Here are the signs and symptoms of Thyroid Cancer to look out for. Suppose you have swelling in your neck, trouble swallowing, a constant cough not due to a cold, difficulty breathing, and Hoarseness in your voice that doesn't go away. Contact your physician right away. GET YOUR NECK CHECKED! You can quickly get a HEAD/NECK Ultrasound prescription from your physician if you're experiencing any of these symptoms. They will send you to a Radiology center where you will have your ultrasound done.
Thyroid Cancer is a lifelong chronic disease that must be monitored for the rest of your life. Keep in mind your medication dose changes constantly. Your physician will discuss that with you.
Did you know thyroid cancer research remains significantly underfunded by comparison, and in 2009 received only $14.7 million (ranked 30th) from the NCI? This is not acceptable. We need to do better than this. We need more clinical trials and treatment options. Research is also required to find new treatments for rarer, aggressive thyroid cancer like mine. I don't qualify for any clinical trials out there right now because there is NONE for me, especially after multiple recurrences. This is NOT acceptable. How can we do better?
Click this link: National Library of Medicine
For more information about Thyroid Cancer, here are my favorite organizations that helped me tremendously with current, up-to-date resources. I still rely on them to this day.
Click the links below:
Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association
Please remember one essential thing. THYROID CANCER IS NOT THE GOOD CANCER. NO CANCER IS! Telling a cancer patient that their cancer is excellent and curable is not only arrogant and ignorant when you know nothing about thyroid cancer yourself. Do yourself a favor and immediately block them for your mental health. It took me so many years to stop people. You don't deserve to be treated that way by anyone, including people you're trying to meet, family, and friends.
🤟🏻 D
