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You are here : Cancer Blog » Cancer Survivors » andreaj

Vital Info

Name:
Andrea (andreaj)

Member Since:
October 1, 2009

Location:
Columbia, Maryland

Birthday:
July 8, 1951

Profile:
Cancer Survivor

Cancer Info

Type of Cancer:
Thyroid Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer:
Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Diagnosis Date:
August 13, 2009

Stage of Cancer:
Stage 4

Tumor Size:
03

Lymph Node Involvement:
Yes

Surgery:
Thyroidectomy, Lymph Node Removal

Radiation:
Radiation Therapy

What I Hate Most About Cancer:
Constantly waiting: for the next scan, the next labs, the next exam, the next results. Waiting never ends.

What I Have Learned From Cancer:
Still waiting for an epiphany.

Metastasized? Where?:
Cervical and superior mediastinal lymph nodes

Cancer Center:
Johns Hopkins, Baltimore

End of Treatment Date:
December 24, 2009

Thyroid Cancer Symptoms:

I didn’t recognize them as indicating cancer: some trouble swallowing, turtlenecks bothered me, a little hoarseness.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects:

Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital,Oct. 21, 2009. Total thyroidectomy, bilateral central & right lateral neck dissection, autotransplant of one parathyroid.Removal of 75 lymph nodes; 26 malignant

Radiation or Proton Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects:

RAI Dec. 18, 2009, 154 mCi.
Permanent damage to both parotid glands.

Stats

Posts: 65

Photos: 8

Events: 6

My Supporters: 132

I Support: 160

Comments: 2370

Andrea's Profile Page

Biography

I am the first in my family to have cancer. The fact that there is not a long genetic history is good, of course. I am 58, I have three lovely adult children and a terrific husband. My mom died a few years ago from Parkinson’s; my dad is 84 and in great shape. His father lived to 98, so my illness has been a little tough for my dad. I teach high school social studies. I love teaching but it is consuming. Becoming a cancer patient/survivor means entering a parallel universe and there is no going back.

Cancer Symptoms

I didn’t recognize them as indicating cancer: some trouble swallowing, turtlenecks bothered me, a little hoarseness.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects

Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital,Oct. 21, 2009. Total thyroidectomy, bilateral central & right lateral neck dissection, autotransplant of one parathyroid.Removal of 75 lymph nodes; 26 malignant