On May 24th, 2011, at the age of 27, I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma. The title of this blog, “Just Cancer” is part of my satirical commentary on the perception of this disease. All throughout this process I have been told by well-meaning medical professionals, family members and friends that this is the "good" cancer to have. To which my pithiest response is: there IS no good cancer.
Despite what you may have heard, thyroid cancer is a serious and sometimes fatal disease. It is not easy to go through and should not be dismissed. It is the fastest increasing cancer, with more than 56,000 people diagnosed in 2012. It is especially prevalent in young women and especially fatal for men. This blog is my attempt to reach out to that wider THYCA community with stories, advice and support.
I am also starting this blog in part because, with or without cancer, I am a writer, and this feels like something worth writing about. In fact, those who know me best responded to my diagnosis with, “Well, at least this should give you something to write about.” (I did in fact have things to write about prior to becoming disease-ridden, but I appreciate the proffered silver lining.)
By recording my experience of thyroid cancer, I hope to be offering a more personal version of what to expect than that offered by traditional medical sites. I might at the very least be creating something other cancer patients can laugh at, identify with, or use to quell their fears.
Thank you for creating this blog. Three weeks ago I had half my thyroid removed for a 6.7cm (huge I know!) mass found on it by accident in March. I then found out that although three biopsies had been "clean", that it was cancer - "the good kind". So had the rest out four days later. It's been terrifying and horrible, and your blog has let me know I'm not alone. I go through RAI in Sept and feel prepared for it thanks to you.
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