That’s the best advice you can get regarding internet research. No 2 people are ever in the exact situation, so it’s very important to rely on what the experts are telling you in conjunction with what you find out on your own.

I don’t have Thyroid cancer, but my situation has some similarities to yours. I’m 24 and have Synovial Sarcoma, which grew in my right knee. It’s quite a rarity in terms of cancer. I also have the distinction of being a recurring patient, which just happened recently. After surgery, chemo, and radiation, I was in remission (age 16) and remained cancer free for 8 years. Then, out of the blue came a tumor on my right leg this summer. It’s as simple as a couple of cells being out of the surgical site and surviving the chemo…. but the fact that it laid dormant for 8 years is weird. I’m sure long after my treatments are over that I will be an odd statistic on the homework assignment of an aspiring Oncologist at the U of R or some other college.

Finding info on my type of cancer will date you back to the 1980′s, typically… so it’s hard to apply that same information to my current situation. Last week I had to decide whether or not I wanted to amputate my leg. According to the information on the internet, I should have… but the past 8 years has brought about new forms of radiation treatments, and the information online is anywhere from 5 to 30 years old.

I also understand where you’re coming from as a young adult. Most of the friends I made in college didn’t find out about my experience with cancer until months after we got to know each other. I’m happy to share every detail with them, but it’s not something I like to throw out there when I’m just getting to know someone. It’s not necessarily something that I hide, I just don’t want people gaining that knowledge about me until they know how I am as a person.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks for sharing your story. I am thyroid cancer survivor too. I am a survivor of both (papillary carcinoma) thyroid and Hodgkins lymphoma.

It’s good that you are taking responsibility of your situation and seeking out information. Remember though, that to take internet sites with the littlest grain of salt. Combining what you find yourself with what you know through doctors and other experts is a good way to balance out what you learn.

It seems easy to say hang in there—but it sounds like you are trying to do just that.
And thanks for offering to help others and answer any questions.

Where are all our thyroid peeps at? Wanna chime in?

TLC Program Coordinator
Leah Shearer