serendipity « Back to Group Discussions

[Dakota1235]

So, I've been fighting a little with my midwives about weight gain, diabetes testing, blah blah. Well I see an endocrinologist for my Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which we have been on top of since the first positive test I had at 3 weeks 5 days. My endo is great and I really trust her, she's very knowledgable and very upfront. I happened to have a routine visit today to just check how things are going. Labs and all seemed good, and for some reason she wanted to do an ultrasound on my thyroid. She had a hunch, and some time, I had time, the room was available, so we did it.

Well as she said, "isn't that serendipitous?" because she found a nodule on my thyroid with calcifications in it. Now most thyroid nodules (90%) are benign, except in single nodules with calcifications (as in my case) they are 70% malignant. She suggested to wait to biopsy until after birth (as in 2 weeks after my EDD), I very much agreed, since they can't really do much until after birth anyways. She explained that if it is cancer, thyroid cancer in particular is slow moving and very treatable (96%), so that's great news.

I'm a little floored that I've been harassed about my weight and fighting all these little battles (while my blood pressure, sugars, and measurements are all fine), only to discover that there's a 70% chance I could have cancer. It's a little ironic, and I have to say it made me laugh a little, and also seems a little unbelieveable

Overall I'm not too freaked out, and trying not to. It could be nothing and if it is something it's a very slow moving treatable something, and in the meantime the risks to the baby are really nil.

But still I kinda wanted to get it out there. I talked about it with my Mom and husband, but aside from that I haven't told anyone in real life. I don't want to deal with all the well meaning advice. My plan is to pretty much focus on growing a healthy baby and try and forget about it until it's time for the biopsy, and then deal with it when we know what it is or isn't. At any rate, thanks for reading, and being my sounding board.

[MaybeJ]

Wow, that is a lot to take in all at once!!  Your doctor sounds really great and supportive and encouraging.  I'm glad you have such a good care provider!  Here's hoping that you're in the 30%.  Please do keep us posted.

[Sunshine_Amy]

Wow, what a story.  I can totally appreciate the irony of all these petty struggles with your midwives, only to end up having cancer possibility brought into the picture.   

My dad has a cancer of the lymph nodes, which sounds similar: very slow to change, so they just monitor it.  It's a relatively "good" cancer, but still I'm crossing my fingers it's not cancerous for you!  I'm actually of the opinion that cancer can be cured entirely, but still...who needs it?!  

When I hear "cancer," I always think of Louise R. Hay (founder of Hay House press) who wrote the book "You Can Heal Your Life," all about healing illnesses by identifying and treating the emotional root of the illness.  After years of treating others' physical illnesses through counseling, she herself was diagnosed with cancer.  The doctors were strongly pressuring her to go the usual radiation/chemo route right away. She begged them for some time, and spent the time doing her own intensive emotional work (which for cancer she says is around releasing resentment).  She cured herself entirely, avoiding all treatments.  Her book names the emotional roots, and positive affirmations to focus on, for healing every category of illness.  I always turn to it when I want to cut through the medical BS, and feel like I'm really, fully healing myself.  We don't usually think of illnesses as blessings, but through this perspective that is exactly what they are. I've been very grateful for the emotional work my body has lead me to do through this route. Of course, I strive to do any necessary work before it turns into illness, but somehow it makes sense to me that my body would be the thing to draw the line in the sand, and say, "no, really, you have to work on this, I insist."  

I know you're not looking for advice right now per se, but if the above resonates with you, I can personally recommend a therapy model called Neuro Emotional Technique.  Let me know if you want more info about it.  It seems to me an unusual blessing that you have been granted two months of introspective time,  without the pressure of treatment or even diagnosis.   

With prayers for true and deepest healing.  

Edited by Sunshine_Amy - 12/13/12 at 7:19am