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I saw my surgeon for the post-surgery checkup and path report discussion. I'm happy with the incision and how it's healing, and I'm ok with what the path report says.
Sure, it would've been ideal to hear "oops.. guess we didn't need to take that out" but I didn't expect it to happen.
And so, without further ado, the Pathology Report Final Diagnosis
Thyroid gland, total thyroidectomy: Encapsulated partially cystic papillary thyroid carcinoma with focal oncocytic cellular changes. No evidence of malignancy in 12 identified lymph nodes.
Hashimoto's thyroiditus
Unremarkable thymus
Small focus of parathyroid parenchyma within the thymus
It was a 1.5cm tumour inside a 2.5cm "partly cystic well curcumscribed lesion". It was encapsulated, which means that it's totally surrounded by a capsule. It was also confined to the thyroid, with no evidence of vascular or lymphatic invasion. The twelve lymph nodes they took out were all benign. The report also says that no metastatic carcinoma was present.
This is good.
I'm really, really lucky.
I came out of the surgery with almost no effect on my voice - what there is is limited to my singing voice, and it's getting better every day. The idea of not being able to speak was what I feared most going in. As Ross can tell you, that's not an issue.
I came out with my parathyroids functioning reasonably well. How well remains to be determined in the next week as I stop taking the 3 grams of calcium a day I've been on.
And what cancer existed is gone, from every indication. I still have to go through the RAI, to kill off any existing thyroid cells. But largely, that's so we can be sure in the years to come that it doesn't come back.
Thank you to everyone who sent positive thoughts my way in the last while. Wish me luck as I move into the next phase.
However, I point out that I still have not seen any sign of my GloWorm. I don't wanna glow alone!
Sure, it would've been ideal to hear "oops.. guess we didn't need to take that out" but I didn't expect it to happen.
And so, without further ado, the Pathology Report Final Diagnosis
Thyroid gland, total thyroidectomy: Encapsulated partially cystic papillary thyroid carcinoma with focal oncocytic cellular changes. No evidence of malignancy in 12 identified lymph nodes.
Hashimoto's thyroiditus
Unremarkable thymus
Small focus of parathyroid parenchyma within the thymus
It was a 1.5cm tumour inside a 2.5cm "partly cystic well curcumscribed lesion". It was encapsulated, which means that it's totally surrounded by a capsule. It was also confined to the thyroid, with no evidence of vascular or lymphatic invasion. The twelve lymph nodes they took out were all benign. The report also says that no metastatic carcinoma was present.
This is good.
I'm really, really lucky.
I came out of the surgery with almost no effect on my voice - what there is is limited to my singing voice, and it's getting better every day. The idea of not being able to speak was what I feared most going in. As Ross can tell you, that's not an issue.
I came out with my parathyroids functioning reasonably well. How well remains to be determined in the next week as I stop taking the 3 grams of calcium a day I've been on.
And what cancer existed is gone, from every indication. I still have to go through the RAI, to kill off any existing thyroid cells. But largely, that's so we can be sure in the years to come that it doesn't come back.
Thank you to everyone who sent positive thoughts my way in the last while. Wish me luck as I move into the next phase.
However, I point out that I still have not seen any sign of my GloWorm. I don't wanna glow alone!
I am The Moon