Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Oh Shoot

Got some not so good news yesterday. The thyroid was indeed cancerous (Papillary - the "easy" kind) which was not surprising. The surprise is that they also detected traces of cancer in the lymph glands, which means it had spread. Sucky, sucky, sucky.

So now there is an additional test I have to do, in which they send iodine throughout my body and see if cancer shows up anywhere else. Of course I can't do that test right away because I had an MRI with contrast and you can't do this other scan for 4-6 weeks after. Aaagh. It's all this waiting around that's the pain.

Can I convince the endocrinologist to give me the go ahead for moving overseas and having the treatment there? Can we convince the beaurocratic layers at my husband's work that it's okay for me to have the treatments overseas? What will happen? I have absolutely no idea.

As usual, I hate the waiting and the not knowing. I don't like limbo, not a bit.

40 comments:

YankeeQuilter said...

What a pain in the --- you know. I'm sorry. I hope they are able to work something out so you still get to go. I know you are looking forward to it. At least they are catching it all early.

Tracey in CT said...

I'll be keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you that it all works out soon.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh Tonya, I"m so sorry to hear that. Your right, waiting is the worse part. I can't even handle waiting to have a tooth filled. The dentist knows if he finds one it is do it now or I"m not coming back! I wish I could do something to help you through the waiting.

McIrish Annie said...

I hate bad news!! I am stamping my feet at this moment like a two year old for you! Hope all works out so you can move ahead and abroad. Waiting STINKS!! especially for test results. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. In the meantime, as they say on project runway, CARRY ON !

Lois R. said...

so sorry to hear the news. My fingers are still crossed for you from last time. I'll just keep them that way...

Katie said...

Darn those lessons life gives us. Waiting and not knowing are sure hard ones. Hang in there!

Joyce said...

Sorry about your not so good news. I hope you can find a way to move overseas together. Limbo is certainly not a fun place to be. Hopefully it will all get solved soon.

Fiona said...

Oh Tonya, so sorry to hear this news. I hope you do get to move because at least then you'll have something to think about other than just waiting. You are in my thoughts - and they are positive thoughts that all will be well.

Hedgehog said...

I'm so sorry about your news. Thinking of you.

Patti said...

I'm so sorry that your news wasn't good. Sending you positive thoughts that the one lymph node is it and that the cancer hasn't spread anywhere else.

Melzie said...

Prayers for you Tonya. I hope you find lots to keep you busy in this waiting season ((hugs)) xoxo melzie

Melzie said...

Prayers for you Tonya. I hope you find lots to keep you busy in this waiting season ((hugs)) xoxo melzie

Forgetmenot said...

so, so sorry to hear this news... i hope they can plan a place for your treatment soon so you will know what's going to happen. Thinking of you.

Sassenach said...

Dang, Tonya, life sure ain't fair.

Hugs and prayers for you.

Angie said...

Oh Tonya, darn it, I just hate that they found that yucky c in there. I have had you on my mind the whole time this is going on. I just had the iodine radiation due to my heart being whacked out...so I haven't been able to even have the biopsy yet...and of course, no surgery for some time to come, so I truly do understand about the waiting and not knowing crap. I hope all goes well for you, girlfriend. You're in my thoughts and prayers daily.

Deni said...

Glad to hear you are feeling better. Let us all know when you have more news... Denise

Unknown said...

Limbo is not an enjoyable place to be. I hope and pray that your doctors will work with you and your plans to move overseas. May the time of waiting fly by for you, and may you have a deep inner peace in the midst of this uncertainty.

Juliann in WA said...

oh bummer - but I know you can get the treatment in France so we will pray for the beaurocratic layers to play nice and give the okay without too much trouble - have you checked out the thyroid cancer website? thyca.org - there is a lot of helpful information there
juliann

Pam said...

Drats! I am so sorry. Will be thinking and praying. Remember, God is in control of all things.

Dianne said...

So sorry to hear about the test results, Tonya. I'm no good at waiting, either...we'll all wait with you as this all gets sorted out. The good news is that France has very good medical care, so if the lawyers can find there way clear to allow the move, you should be in good shape there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that score...

Eileen said...

Oh Tonya,
I'm just reading all this now, and I'm sorry to not have been around. You'll be in my prayers and thoughts for a good outcome.

Anonymous said...

I have had papillary cancer since 2000. Had thyroidectomy, three surgeries removing lymph nodes, three bouts of radioactive iodine ablation (all I can have).

But I feel great. At age 79.

Now the worry. Have some nodes in lung that are likely the thyroid cancer. Tiny, too tiny to biopsy.
So,am going to do radio frequency ablation on biggest, with a needle. They are all slow growing, so I keep living.

Good luck to you.

Candy Schultz said...

Tonya, I am so sorry to hear this. Waiting and worrying are awful. Keep up hope and I will also. It is terrible to have everything up in the air, especially when it involves your health. Sending more good wishes than ever.

JillSchreiber said...

Tonya,

Want a distraction? How about at least 5? Come on up to Northern Indiana. We live in a quilting mecca with all the Mennonites and Amish around. There are lovely quilt shops. Quilts and woodworking are the main form of visual arts in the churches and colleges around here. Our campus has a guest house and there is excellent mexican food. The kids would love to see you (Jasmine wrote a paper last week and part of it was about you!).

Come if you can. You are welcome for the Holidays!

Love,
Jill

Jenni said...

Bit of a spanner in the works Tonya. Hope everything is quickly resolved for you.

Unknown said...

Tonya, you have been in my prayers, if you need to talk or anything let me know, after starting treatment in 2002 and continuing on with it for the past 4 years, if you have any questions etc about treatment let me know. tinasquilts@yahoo.com
Hugs(((())))Tina

Anonymous said...

As if the medical news wasn't enough of a downer, Paris is waiting! ;-)
I have confidence that this will all work out well if you can just be a little patient. (No pun intended!) Sending good thoughts your way.

Stacy said...

Tonya, I'm so sorry to hear your news! I was just catching up on your blog and wanted to write you but I'm not sure if you're still using the same e-mail address now that you've left Cairo, so I'll write here. I know that it's hard enough being between assignments -- and all the uncertainty that goes with that -- without having this medical issue also hanging over you. My heart goes out to you and Tom!

Stacy (jnscole@yahoo.com)

dot said...

Isn't that the way the medical world works. Everything is an emergency until it comes to their timing then you are a slave to their time schedule. All will work out as it should. Just sit back, do some great quilting to share with us, and know your dentisty is already laid out before you. I look forward to many many more posts from you and the seeing the great work you do.

Anonymous said...

Well, all I can say is "bugga!" Hope the healing is quick and you get to enjoy Christmas :-)

KC Quilter said...

So, so sorry, Tonya. Hang in there. Medical science has come so far.

Melanie said...

Hey -- if you gotta have it, this is a really treatable kind. Doctors can do great things for this. Waiting does suck. You may even have to get a little pushy. You're going to be fine. I just know it. My prayers are with you.

Clare said...

Oh damn and blast it (to put it mildly). Really hope that you and D.H can persuade the Powers That Be to let you have the treatment over here.

Thinking of you.

A+ et calins (hugs)

Hanne said...

Strong thoughts and soft hugs coming your way Tonya !
I am crossing my fingers for the best possible outcome of your future tests. Hang in there !

Finn said...

Oh Ton, I'm so, so sorry to hear the sucky news. And trust me, I know all about the waiting part. I feel like I have a Masters Degree in waiting.
But what can't be changed must be endured. I hope, hope, hope that you can get to Paris and have the treatment there. And I know that everything being so up in limbo is hard, very hard.
Glad that DH is still stateside and you have the fur babies to snuggle with. Be good to yourself while you wait. Holding all positive thoughts for an excellent outcome. Big hugs, Finn

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

Just to say I'm thinking and praying for you. Love Tracey

Cathi said...

So sorry to hear the sucky news. Your Parisien apartment is beautiful, it won't be long till you are there!

Many thoughts and prayers for you from ireland.

cathi

Unknown said...

So sorry to hear this bad news. And the timing couldn't be any worse... I'm hoping the medical issues are resolved soon and successfully so that you can get on with your life.

Tazzie said...

Tonya hon, I'm so sorry for your bad news. I'm hoping and praying for you. All these hugs from around the world will bring healing ... I feel sure of it.
*huge hugs*
Tazzie
x o x

Lucy said...

OOhh No, What a bad news Tonya. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Take care . *hughs*