Never Quit!

Those fellow thyca warriors can relate to that familiar feeling of scanxiety. That feeling of fear and anxiety that sets in as one simple test can determine your fate. Are you are going to be sweating bullets, or can you actually be breathing a sigh of relief? Is your cancer going to be stable, or does it go to the next level of sheer panic as the cancer is spreading? It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been at this, whether you are newly diagnosed or even an old pro at this, these feelings just never go away and it surely hit me hard at my most recent ultrasound. You know something is suspicious when you have three separate ultrasound techs that come into the room to scan your neck over and over. I don’t know, maybe they could have been training someone; I always have two techs, but never three! I guess I am fortunate to be at a facility that is very thorough. Sure enough, test results revealed yet another questionable nodule that has appeared that was not seen previously. They can’t be one hundred percent certain that there are calcifications in there, which can be a good indication that there are cancer cells present. The size of this nodule is too small to even biopsy and so now here we are once more, playing this continuous waiting game! My Tg, which is the tumor marker is slightly up and TSH levels are above levels that both my doctors and I are comfortable with. It puts me at greater risk of not being suppressed as I should be and maybe that is why this new node has appeared.

Before these tests I thought to myself that I wasn’t going to worry about what the results were going to show. However, this enemy we call cancer can strike at any given time and for people like me who have persistent disease, we simply cannot afford the luxury of not being on guard. Although they can’t prove there are cancer cells in there right now, my gut instincts tell me otherwise and it’s only going to be a matter of time before it will be proven. I have always been able to rely on my gut instincts and very rarely has it ever been wrong.

Naturally, this finding was upsetting to me. Why does this seem to keep happening to me? It’s like they appear out of nowhere. I’ve come to the conclusion that this is something which is going to continue to hang over my head. I am not going to lie, always being told “no we can’t do anything with this,” has certainly taken its toll on me. Nevertheless, I know how I choose to react to the situation can definitely make a difference in its outcome and where I go from here. I was going through some old messages and emails and just happen to come across a message from my friend, Rob who went through his own cancer battle that he unfortunately lost. I have mentioned Rob before in my blog. That message was one in which Rob told me that “when you start to lose your mental battle, your body will not be far behind.” Why did I happen to come across that message at this particular time? That message was something I really needed to hear; even from the grave Rob is continuing to support and give me encouragement. Thank you Rob, message received!!

I love this quote and it rings so true…….

People come and go throughout our lives and they are put in our path for a reason. There are many angels among us and are all around us; sometimes we don’t even recognize it. Nevertheless, I believe it is God’s way of taking care of us. I have much gratitude for those angels who have been put in my path on this journey. Rob has been one of my many angels in disguise and still continues to inspire me even though he is no longer with us. I never had an opportunity to meet Rob in person, only through online communication; however, I do look forward to the day I can see him on the other side and thank him for his part in helping to guide me through my own cancer journey. Other guardian angels include all my other fellow thyca warriors and most especially my doctors and I thank God every day for them. They are the real heroes and without them I wouldn’t even be here!

One thing is for certain, I know I have to be vigilant and keep a positive attitude throughout this whole experience. It is the one weapon I do have control over against this enemy, because if I don’t the cancer wins! If you are going through your own struggles and trials in your life, whether it be going through cancer, loss of loved ones or other difficult challenges, please know that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. It might not seem like it right away, but it will happen, it just takes a little patience and leap of faith! The message I want to get across is simply this…. that no matter what challenges you face in this life you must never, never give up! I want to close with the following poem which I came across that says it all!

 

Impacts

I was recently asked “what is an unexpected way that a cancer diagnosis has had an impact on your life?” As I have pondered and contemplated over that question here is what comes to my mind:

I never expected that losing many people to thyroid cancer would hit me so hard. I guess the main reason for that is because I’ve had that opportunity to get to know them and some very closely. Although, the majority of them I’ve never met in person as we have only communicated in online forums or on the phone, but yet I feel like I’ve known them my whole life. You get to know them and their families. That is the hard part, knowing the resulting effect of the loved ones that they leave behind. I am feeling this more and more as it seems we have lost so many in the last year and the numbers just keep on climbing. You always have that fear in the back of your mind, am I going to be the that next statistic?

The other reason is because I get to thinking well now who is going to be there and uplift me when I am facing more challenges that happen with this beastly enemy? I guess it makes me feel a little bit lost in a way and then thoughts start rolling in my head and then I start to question everything. Why do things happen the way they do? Why do people have to die from this disease and other tragic events? Sometimes in this life we will never know that answer and have to just go on faith and trust in the almighty, no matter how hard that is sometimes. This is a constant wrestle that I have with God and one day I will have that extended conversation with him face to face and get those answers, as will all of us.

Nevertheless, I am realizing now that it is up to those of us survivors who are left to keep the driving force going and to be the ones who are there to uplift and encourage everyone else and even more importantly to those newbies – those who are just now facing cancer and need that direction in understanding about this disease. Those that I have lost were my guiding light, because when I started this journey four and a half years ago it was as though I was flying blind, not knowing anything or where to turn. I have to say how truly grateful I am for those that were there for me and so now it is my turn to pay it forward and be someone else’s guiding light. Each and every person I have met along this journey has helped me in one way or another, whether it be the many doctors, nurses and other survivors; each of them have played such a crucial role in where I am today. I want to encourage my fellow survivors to do the same and to be the difference as you never know the impact you can make on someone else’s journey! I will continue to make it my life’s mission to be that difference! If I can make someone’s journey a little easier, I want to do that because someone did it for me!

In addition, as I have been facing losing people in my life over the last few years, I have been reminded that life can and will go on. If anyone has faced loss or heartbreak in their life perhaps the lyrics from this song can provide you some comfort. It is a song entitled “Tell you Heart to Beat Again” by Danny Gokey and it has a powerful message that I want to share; I hope it helps you as it has helped me to have a better understanding about loss and that we can move beyond the bad things that happen in our life. I’ve also come to that realization that I’ve had to mourn that loss of a life that I once knew, the life before the cancer happened. Nevertheless, we can all come to an understanding that there is purpose even in our darkest moments as we face the many challenges in our lives.

 

Having cancer has helped me to truly understand what is important in life and that each moment is precious and something I’ve learned not to take for granted! Another great principle I’ve learned is to be sure to tell the people in your life how much they mean to you and that you love them, because you never know when that opportunity will come knocking again. No one wants to have regrets, so seize those opportunities when they come. We have to live life to the fullest extent possible, because tomorrow is never promised! I really like this quote and it speaks for itself:

When those opportunities arise to be the difference to someone else we need to grab it and run with it! You never know the impact and imprint you can have on someone else and something which I will always strive to accomplish, as I said before someone did it for me and I want to return the favor!! I want to end with this important quote on how one can make an impact. It doesn’t have to be something big and it’s those small little things that have the greatest impact. You can make a difference in the life of someone else, so be the one!!

 

 

No Action

So I have been on this cancer journey for a while now, four years exactly and it has been one very bumpy ride full of many different twists and turns. Today is no different as another twist is added to the story. Most cases of thyroid cancer can be treated with removal of the thyroid, radioactive iodine treatment and then a pill for the rest of your life. It seems simple enough, right? However, it has been somewhat more of a challenge in my case as I have had continuing persistent disease despite going through all the traditional treatment methods.

So this pesky cancer still remains on my laryngeal nerve which is under some fairly extensive scar tissue. Trying to make a second attempt at removing it surgically poses risks of causing injury to the nerve, which in turn could have a drastic effect on my voice; this is something that my surgeon doesn’t really want to do as he is not sure that he can get to it safely at this point. My case has also been reviewed recently by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors that included endocrinologists, endocrine surgeons, and interventional radiology and other folks to determine if other less invasive procedures such as ethanol alcohol ablation or radio-frequency ablation could be utilized. However, those procedures pose an even greater risk as it could potentially paralyze my vocal chords and put a hole in my trachea. So now the decision is pretty much to do nothing but wait. Knowing that I still have these cancer cells housing and residing in my body has been very difficult to say the least and I would do just about anything to have this cancer gone.

I don’t know if you have ever lived in the south and with the heat and humidity comes along with it all kinds of pests. One particular kind that I just absolutely loathe is the cockroach. When I lived in Louisiana it seemed like they were everywhere. It is really disgusting when they invade your house and they seem very hard to get rid of and just when you  think that you have zapped them all, another one appears. That is what this cancer kind of feels like; we’ve tried pretty much every method known to rid my body of this disease, but it just doesn’t want to leave!

So we have done this waiting and watching for the last three years and I was hoping that with these changes in the appearance of the nodule that these other additional options would be able to be utilized. I am a very action oriented person and if I see a problem I find a way no matter how, to find a solution to that problem and just plain fix it! To play this waiting game and not doing anything has been very challenging. However, sometimes the reality in life is that there are simply no clear answers, which appears to be what is happening in my case. Maybe perhaps then the real answer is that NO action is the best one of all! After talking it over with a very good doctor friend he’s made me see this with a different set of eyes by thinking in terms of the bigger picture.  He raised the following questions and something I had to think long and hard on.

• Do you want to kill some cancer cells and assure yourself you will paralyze your vocal chords?
• Are you willing to accept the resulting effects of what could happen?
• Are the risks really worth it?

My entire medical team has answered a resounding NO, that they do not feel that these other non-invasive procedures are going to be of any benefit to me and it is most likely not going to extend my life by any means. Even if they did try these procedures there is still the likelihood it could come back again, especially given the fact of the aggressive tumor that I had. On the other hand, this remaining cancer could sit dormant for many years and possibly forever, so why not wait this out and save myself some heartache and grief?  The resulting effects of what could happen would make my quality of life go downhill mighty quick and why put myself in that situation? Now I think the light bulb has finally come on for me to realize the magnitude of what could happen and I am not sure that I want to expose myself to such great risks. The way my luck has been in this journey, I simply would not have a good outcome. If I am getting the same feedback from all these medical experts, it would be wise of me to listen and heed their advice.

For the longest time I always kept thinking to myself, why are the doctors doing this and not taking any action? The fact of the matter is that their inaction was indeed the best action of all! My medical teams have always done what is in my best interest  and I just didn’t even realize it until now. They have probably saved my life, or in the very least have saved me from more complications that I just don’t need; in years to come they will most likely be saying to me “ I told you so.” Sometimes it is hard to accept those tough decisions in life as we want what we want. They were giving me that tough love just like a parent has to do from time to time, no matter how painful. I am sure it is just as hard on the doctors who have to make these tough decisions and I honestly don’t know how some of them do it. One thing for sure is that having a competent team that looks out for you is so imperative; I have been so fortunate to have such caring and compassionate doctors who are concerned with helping me to survive this disease! The doctors on my medical teams are truly among the elite and pretty much the best doctors in the country, in my opinion. All I can say is that God put the right people, in the right place and at the right time, specifically for me.

So in this case, NO ACTION is the best course of action after all! As I reflect on this, I have been reminded once again of the following quote, which there is so much truth to.

 

 

This principle was taught to me by my very good friend, Rob Bohning, who recently lost his very lengthy battle with thyroid cancer. He lived this very principle as he did not let a bad set of circumstances drive him down; instead he used it for good to help others in their path by showing others that you do beat this disease by how you live your life and the example you set. What I can do to pay it forward to honor him and what he taught me is to follow his shining example to uplift, inspire and encourage others in their journey. It doesn’t matter if you are just starting this cancer journey or have been at it for a while, you will come to appreciate the importance of having someone you can lean on for support, those who have and are walking this same road and can share with you their experiences and insight on what they have learned along the way. Moreover, you have to continue to move on and drive on with your life even when circumstances in this journey try to drive you down, because as Rob told me many times that “you have cancer it does not have you.”

I want to end this post with the following quote:

 

 

Sometimes it takes getting knocked down a few times to stand taller than you ever have . For me the choice is very clear to “ALWAYS GET BACK UP and FIGHT ON!”

 

Tribute to a Warrior

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People may come and go throughout our lives, but there are those few people that touch our lives in such a way like no other; those extra special stars that put a stamp on our heart so deeply and we are never the same. One such unique individual that I have met through the online cancer support group forums is a wonderful man named Rob Bohning.  As many can attest, the influence this man has had on so many people as he has shared his own journey with Thyroid Cancer, as he has been there to inspire and uplift others in their good days and especially during their darkest of moments with this disease. Despite the many difficulties he was going through himself, Rob’s thoughts always seemed to be towards his fellow thyroid cancer survivors and what he could do to help them. He was the leader of the pack and truly the “one” who always put others needs ahead of his own.

So what exactly defines a cancer warrior? I think that all who are touched by cancer in one way or another are warriors, whether you are the one going through it, family members, friends and even the doctors themselves trying to battle this beast of a disease that sometimes seems to have no end. The struggles of these brave souls are many with what cancer puts them through both physically and emotionally. Those going through cancer each have a story to tell. Although every journey is different, cancer survivors have such a common bond in relating to one another and being able to support each other in this fight, which is why support groups are so important.

I met Rob through the Light of Light Foundation Facebook support group. Through these online forums I have been able to gain more knowledge and understanding about thyroid cancer and its effects. As I have mentioned in previous blog posts for the first year after my diagnosis I felt like a little lost puppy not knowing how to navigate my way through this disease. However, when I stumbled upon these online support groups I felt as though a weight was somehow lifted and that I could see a light at the end of the tunnel after all. The knowledge gained through these forums has taught me what questions I need to be asking my doctors and the skills necessary in learning how to advocate for myself. I am truly grateful that I have been able to have that support from someone who gets it as they are living through it and walking in similar shoes.  I have been able to develop many lasting friendships with those in the online support groups; although I have never met many of these people in person we are uniquely bonded together by similar circumstances.

With that being said what I want to do with this blog post is to pay tribute to one of these true warriors who has had such an impact on me as I have traveled this path. Unfortunately, Rob lost his very lengthy battle with Thyroid Cancer. He always shared his wisdom and honesty and was always straight forward about it. I think what I loved most about Rob is his testimony and faith in God. He was a man of enduring faith and was an instrument in God’s hand spreading his message of love and hope even amidst the darkness that this disease can put on a person. Here are a few lines of what Rob spoke about in our discussions that I want to share as they have such great meaning to me and are pretty powerful.

“Cancer is a hard diagnosis. But many have lived with it as a chronic illness for years. Even a stage 4 diagnosis is not a death sentence. ( I really thought that I did receive a death sentence with my Stage 4 diagnosis, but Rob has taught me to see things in a different light)

“I will tell you that fighting cancer begins in the mind. If you lose the mental battle with it, your body won’t be far behind. So wake up each day and be determined to live your life to the fullest.. and choose to beat it. I know there are bad days of pain, new things that pop up, and new things that can worry you every single day with this cancer. But take it a day at a time, and do not let it control your life. Remember, you have cancer, it does not have you.”

“ I do what I always do–I choose to pray. I know this battle ultimately resides with God. It’s His to fight in the end. All of us are merely renting these bodies and they will all break down over time………

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says:” there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens”

If you are in a healthy season, enjoy every minute of it. If you are not healthy, embrace that too. Because in these deep furnaces of affliction, God will infuse you with iron and you will be able to withstand anything. “

“It matters when you are put into the fire, because it withstands despite the heat. So embrace your sufferings if you can.. you will learn the most during this time about yourself, and God does His most precious works in you when you are being refined in the fire.”

 

One other amazing quality that Rob had was his talent and passion with photography and here are a few pictures of how he captured nature’s beauty. The first is a favorite of mine and words that I now live by which Rob taught me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rob would often speak about the things that just stick with you forever and how serving in the Marine Corps helped to prepare himself to have the fight and attitude to win the battles of life. Without a doubt those marine experiences did prepare him for this war and battle with cancer.

 

 

Another important quality that Rob demonstrated was the deep love he expressed for his wife and beautiful children. It was very obvious in the way that he spoke of them and proudly shared pictures of them with us. He taught his children well and I was so impressed when his son Andrew, wanted to do his part in helping his dad fight this disease when he did a triathlon last year to raise funds for research and had raised over $7000. The apple surely doesn’t fall far from the tree there. The impact of one small little boys’ wish was great and I am sure that Andrew is going to do great things and make an impact on the world, just as his dad has.

Rob was there for others sharing his love for God and his testimony of faith through his actions. Here is a short clip of of how he shared his cancer journey and his faith which was done about a year  ago and and I will let this video speak for itself.

 

One song that comes to my mind when I think of Rob is by Kutless entititled “Even If” which is a video with lyrics that I want to share:

 

 

Although the healing just did not quite come for Rob and yet in the midst of all the suffering he went through, he still knew who God was and chose to have gratitude even with the trials and challenges he was facing. He was one extraordinary man teaching others what it means to endure to the end.

It just seems so surreal and I can’t believe I will not be able to have conversations with Rob again. He was there providing such wise words of wisdom and I could always count on Rob to lift me up  and give me encouragement when I was feeling down. The ThyCa community has been greatly affected by loss of this amazing individual and his death is greatly felt among us.

I look forward to the day, as do many others when we can see and talk with Rob on the other side to tell him face to face just how much he influenced our lives. Rob was such a true warrior in every sense of the word and fought this fight to the finish; this brave soul may be gone, but he will never be forgotten!

Knowledge is Power!

I was fortunate enough to attend the Thyroid Cancer Survivor’s Association’s annual conference which is in its 17^th year that was held on 17-19 October in Denver, CO. What a truly amazing experience and something which any thyroid cancer survivor can benefit from attending at least once. It’s not only the information gained about this disease, but those connections with other people who are facing similar circumstances. It was great being able to actually talk and meet those in person whom I have been communicating in the online support forums with.  I just love meeting new people and hearing their stories of where they have been in their journey; we really do learn from one another.

For the very first year after my diagnosis I really felt like I was up a creek without a paddle. I had no idea of how to steer my way through this cancer diagnosis. The only support system I had was my immediate family who did their best to provide that assurance to me that I was going to be ok. However, it would have been a much easier journey had there been someone I could talk and relate to who knew what I was going through and experiencing. At the time of my diagnosis, I was going in between having to be rushed out of Japan back to the United States in order to get good medical care, being separated from my immediate family for many months and then returning back to Japan for only a short time as then our family was transferred back to the United States for my husband’s job just so that we could be near some good facilities for my follow-up care. After our move to Colorado, I was able to learn about the local support group which I found out about from a flyer which was in the endocrinology office. So I thought to myself, what the hell I might as well kill two birds with one stone. So after one of my medical appointments I decided to stay a bit longer in Denver in order to attend the support meeting. Was that ever a good decision as the support group has been such a lifeline for me. It has helped me to know what is and is not normal and the questions I need to be asking my doctors. More importantly they are truly a wonderful group of people that I now call my dear friends. I would have to say that the majority of what I have learned about this disease has come from support groups, both local and online. Our doctors simply don’t have the time to tell us everything we need to know about our disease and why we need to be our own advocate and educate ourselves.

With that being said the support groups have spoken very highly of attending this annual conference that the Thyroid Cancer Association has every year. This is a conference where they have experts from all over the country come and talk about various topics. It is at a different location every year and this year it fortunately was held in Denver, so I was able to attend. There is new information that is evolving all of the time as researchers find new ways of treating this disease. The conference was full of so many wonderful speakers  with doctors from all over the country from some of the top cancer centers such as MD Anderson, Memorial-Sloan Kettering, John Hopkins, Massachusetts General…….the list just goes on and on.

The topics which I was most interested in were other treatment options for those with advanced disease that have failed traditional treatments with radioactive iodine. I wanted to educate myself about the chemo drugs that are being used in clinical trials that have had success. This will be the next step for me when this watchful waiting approach will no longer hold for me. My medical team will have to determine whether surgery is still an option, but I do understand that it might not be feasible, because of where my cancer is still located. It could possibly be too risky, but that is a decision which my surgeon will have to assess, but something that we will do together. I am fully aware that my cancer will grow at some point in time; we may need to explore other options and I just want to be prepared for what lies ahead.  It was quite interesting to hear these doctors explain about the different chemo drugs that are successful, but they also explained in great detail the science in how they work in a language that was easily understandable. I was able to gain knowledge about the different mutations and what specific drugs are being used to target these mutations. In addition, I learned about a clinical trial that Memorial-Sloan Kettering is working on to reverse the effect so that those of us who are RAI refractory can then have the ability to take up the iodine so that type of therapy can then be utilized.

One amazing speaker Dr. Steven Sherman, chairman from an organization called ITOG (International Thyroid Oncology Group) talked about the group and what their mission and purpose is.  This is a collection of scientists, doctors and patient volunteers in which they focus on identifying new therapies for thyroid cancer and improving patient experiences. More information can be obtained at their website:

http://itog.org/

The Dinner/Auction was a very fun night. At the live auction someone had offered to do a dance on the table to get people involved by pulling out their pocketbook to raise funds for research and throughout the night over $35,000 was raised for thyroid cancer research. One of the great doctors was honored for his work and support of all thyroid cancer patients, Dr. Bryan Haugen, who is such an amazing man! In addition, there was dancing which was a total blast and I think was just a fun night where we could all relax a bit and not have to think about cancer, but just to have some good old fun!

Overall, there were more than 600 people from the US, Canada, and United Kingdom which attended the ThyCa conference this year and from what I hear it was the biggest attendance on record! So much information was gained at this conference, but the key message that I want to get across to people is to educate, educate, educate yourself about your medical conditions and be aware of your own body, so when you see those red flags come up that you need to take action, because for some it is just too late. What I think is the big take away here is that knowledge is a powerful tool that we can utilize and something which needs to be shared which is why I continue to share what I know about this disease. I came across this quote that I think is very fitting:

 

 

 

 

A boy and a dream…….

This one is too good not to share and I don’t think that my good friend would mind me posting this on my site. An 8-year old boy named Andrew had a dream to do something in which he could help his dad, Rob Bohning who is fighting a rare and incurable Stage 4 Medullary Thyroid Cancer. His idea was to participate in a kid’s triathlon in order to raise funds to help those with this type of thyroid cancer. There is very little funding for research because there is such a small population of those who have it and those pharmaceutical companies don’t have much to gain to fund research for this. So it is up to non-profits and patients themselves to raise funds to research this cancer. It started out as a small dream, but something which turned out bigger than you would imagine. In just a short few weeks’ time, this little boy’s dream was brought to reality and was able to raise nearly $7,000 to research Medullary Thyroid Cancer.

I would have to say that the apple surely doesn’t fall too far from the tree as Andrew has learned well from his dad what it means to persevere and to give everything all you got. Rob Bohning has been such an inspiration for me as well as many others, and who has the drive and determination to keep fighting a disease that thinks it will override him, but time after time he has proven to cancer that it WILL NOT WIN! Here is the Facebook link which chronicles this boy’s wonderful dream that has been brought to light:

https://www.facebook.com/AndrewsTriathlon4Daddy?ref=br_tf

As I am writing this, Rob is back at MD Anderson with yet another operation so that doctors can do what is necessary to slow the progression of the cancer. Nevertheless, I am sure that Rob’s Marine training has paid off in helping him to fight yet another war. I pray that God continues to watch over Rob and the many other true cancer warriors who continuously teach us what it means to conquer and overcome and to NEVER surrender!

It’s Not the Destination but the Journey

In life it’s not so much about where our final destination is, but about the journey itself and how we arrive there, and by being able to find that joy and peace as we travel along that path. There will always be bumps along the road that we may feel at times are impossible to navigate through, but we have to reach deep down within ourselves and realize that we are much stronger than we give ourselves credit for and that we can overcome these difficult challenges. Although I have had my share of those bumps in this journey, I am extremely grateful for this experience and the many lessons I have learned along the way. This journey has helped me to truly understand what hope really means; this experience has helped me to be more optimistic and to always look for the good in every situation, no matter how difficult or unpleasant it can be.

Throughout this journey I have learned that any circumstance that happens in your life, the way in which you react to it can play a major role in your overall health and well-being. When I had a poor attitude about my situation, I really believe it did have an effect on my physical health as well. We can choose our own happiness and where we are headed in life by the attitude that we carry even when we are faced with difficult situations and circumstances.

When we have a positive mindset, we are able to turn those challenges into successes and accomplish things we never thought would be possible. I believe that body, mind and spirit are truly all interconnected; when we can find and maintain that balance it can only lead us on a road to a happy and successful life.

Cancer has truly changed my life. I am loving life and happier than I have been in such a long time. I now have the courage to embrace my fears and to always keep walking forward with my head held high with the confidence that I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to. I know that the sky is the limit and if I can survive cancer NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

Awareness

Well it is that time of year when summer ends and kids are back in school and after a nearly three-year hiatus I am back to working once again. I have started working for the local school district working with special needs children again. It is such a wonderful feeling to be back doing what you love and I didn’t realize just how much that I missed it! These children have such amazing sweet spirits that can accomplish more than what they are given credit for.

With that being said it is also Thyroid Cancer Awareness month. The history behind this awareness month is that it is a “worldwide observance, sponsored and initiated by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association which began in 2000 as a week in September and then in 2003 was expanded for the whole month of September. Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month promotes thyroid cancer awareness for early detection, as well as care based on expert standards, and increased research to achieve cures for all thyroid cancer. People and organization in 56 countries around the world take part.”

As a thyroid cancer survivor, it is my mission to spread awareness and to help others in their own journey with this disease. My hope is that this blog will get the word out about thyroid cancer, survivorship and much more. Tips which can help you to spread the word are by taking a look at ThyCa’s link on how to help:

http://www.thyca.org/how-to-help/awareness/awareness-tips/

Relay for Life

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I  was able to get involved in the Relay for Life event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society which was an overnight event in which people raise funds to help cancer patients. People all over the country have these events to honor cancer survivors and those who have lost their battle. They have these teams that raise funds which goes to the American Cancer Society. The money is used for research to combat this disease and provides services for those cancer patients that need it.

At the event which was held in Fountain, Colorado I joined a random team, with people I had never met. It was held on the track of the Fountain Middle School which started with an opening ceremony having survivors walk the first lap in celebration of their victory of survival. Next, they have caregivers walk a lap as well. Since this was an overnight event people on the teams walk throughout the night into the next morning. There were all these tents that were setup all around the track and so you would walk as much as you could and take breaks resting having at least one member of your team walking the track all night. Throughout the night, they held this Luminaria ceremony in honor of those who have passed on and to those continuing in the fight. I had made individual bags of those close to me who had cancer, including both of my grandmothers, one of whom had lost her battle to Lymphoma. A candle was placed in each bag and the bags completely surrounded the track. It was truly amazing and it was so eerily silent during that time. The event closed the following morning. It was such an incredible experience, meeting so many people affected by this disease in one way or another and really glad that I was able to participate in this event.