Surgeon on Wednesday

So I ran around today going to the endocrine and also to my PCP - have to get all the proper referrals to finally see the surgeon.  My endocrine confirmed that it was indeed cancer and most probably will need the entire thyroid out - but that will be up to the surgeon.  And also said that there's an epidemic lately with younger women and cancer - so maybe you're right.... could be something in the water here in AZ!

So, the surgeon can see me on Wednesday due to a cancellation and then I'm sure surgery will be shortly there after.... IF my PCP gets off their butts & gets me the referral in a timely fashion - have had a bit of difficulty with them.

The endocrine said I must quit smoking NOW - since any radiation treatment will not work as well if I continue to smoke.  Sigh - and I know I should and all but it's so HARD to think of giving up my only crutch at a time when I'm so nervous and scared.

But, I'm going to give it a try... and start tonight - maybe if I can make it through the weekend without smoking it would be a start at least!

Thank you all for such a warm welcome!!!

Serenity

[utahmomma]

Yeah, you think I would have given up smoking by now too.  Pretty tough when it's your security blanket through tough stress!  If you can kick its butt (pun intended) let me know how you did it!

Hey, my conspiracy theory meter went off long ago about thyroid cancer clusters.  Here's the interesting site from the National Cancer Institute:  http://seer.cancer.gov/cgi-bin/csr/1975_2003/search.pl#results

Okay, New Jersey has the highest incidence of thyroid cancers per capita followed by New Mexico then Utah.  (Arizona isn't listed but I wonder if the numbers weren't counted differently.)

Not sure about New Jersey but do you know what Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona all have in common????  Down-wind syndrome (downwind of the nuclear fallout from the above-ground nuclear testing in the Nevada desert late 50s - early 60s).  

So everyone tells me - and my sisters even though I'm the oldest - that we're too young to be "down-winders" but I wonder how much of that stuff ended up in our soil and groundwater?  I wouldn't have thought it such a big deal but you should hear the screaming about new conventional bomb testing in the same area and how much nuclear soil it will kick up.

*SOMETHING* has to explain the high numbers and my entire family having "non-hereditary" thyroid cancer.  And, yes, we grew up drinking well water.

Things that make you go "hmmmmmmmmmmmmm"

Okay, I'll back away from the keyboard slowly.  :-)

LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES WEDNESDAY!!!

[venora]

I quit smoking the day of my surgery Sept.25.Smoked my last one before I went into the hospital.The one thing that keeps me from going back to smoking is knowing my body wants to grow cancers and I am not going to let it.
If you wnat smoke email me and I will help you quit.***@****?
Love Venora

[azqtpies]

Hi there,

  So you are trying to get your surgery asap? good for you. I go Thursday ...grrrrr :( about the quitting smoking thing my doc didnt tell me anything about that maybe because mine is undiagnosed at this time, though I quit smoking on Jan 5,07. With me creaping close to the big 40, figured wrinkles approaching, skin sagging!!! all that good stuff, so far so good though it is very... tough. I want to live a long life, so quitting I went :). They have something called (Safer Smokes.com) Bravo smokes it is a 100% dried lettuce cigarette, NO NICOTINE< NO TOBACCO etc... nothing but lettuce! they dont taste great (taste like a bon fire) but after just a bit they do get better, at least it takes the urge away from needing the inhaling and blowing smoke desire. I used the nicotine gum as well, with both of these I quit cold turket last May for 5 months stress got the better hold of me fell off and on the wagon again till the 5th. Its mind over matter, with the addiction but it can be beat! extra food always helps . put 10 pds on last time :(. Good luck with the docs, probaly is the darn water out here! lol. Keep in touch let me know how it goes. I am not reading anymore info on the net made me worse than did any good! little advice if your senisitive to stuff like that like I am stay away from the info. I will be online till wed, the off to surgery and away for 2-3 days. GOOD LUCK and best wishes for good news! take care e-hugs ~~~**** to you. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Kelly

[ChitChatNine]

Will be thinking of you trying to quit.  It must be so so hard to do so with all your stress, but we are here for you anytime day or night .. if you are overwhelmed type out a post to us instead of taking a puff ... you can post as often as you need to .. we are here for you!

Cheryl