Fight

A few months ago I wrote about coming to terms with possibly having breast cancer.

I was "at peace" with whatever it was that was going to happen.

But was I?

Fast forward and a month after the breast lump discovery, I am being checked out for a lump in my throat, a large thyroid nodule (5.9cm x 5.2 cm x 3.6cm).

Um, what?

I was so confused at first. How could this happen? Again?

I again went through a series of tests. Ultrasound, blood work, fine need biopsy, more ultrasounds, another biopsy, then a genetic test.

The first biopsy came back as "suspicious for malignant cells".

After reading every NIH study I could stomach, I was terrified. Did I have thyroid cancer?

I read more and more and more. I ordered blood tests for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. I got my cholesterol measured and my vitamin D, I got tested for Epstein Barr Virus (and my antibodies were VERY elevated).

My Dr. sent me out to an endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic. There they did another ultrasound and another biopsy.

Biopsy came back as "suspicious for follicular neoplasm". Dr. suggested surgery to remove my thyroid.

I was devastated again, how could this be?

I read more. And more. Consuming 100's of journal articles and several books. 

I made massive changes.

I quit coffee on February 17th, 2020. It's April 3rd and I am still "sober".

I went on the Autoimmune Diet. No wheat, dairy, eggs, legumes, nightshades or fun. I basically ate chicken or salmon at every meal with a side of sweet potatoes and broccoli, kale, asparagus with olive oil and a few dashes of herbs and salt. That was it. After 2 weeks it felt pretty normal, and I felt energy returning to my body. The first 2 weeks were hard because of the coffee detox and the restrictive diet, but I knew I needed to change something.

On March, 31st, 2022 I met with an endocrine surgeon to discuss options. She told me that my Afirma test (genetic test) came back benign, however, it didn't mean that the nodule was 100% cancer free. With such a large nodule, biopsies could miss pockets of cancerous tissues. The surgeon suggest lobectomy, which is currently scheduled for August 17th, 2022.

With all of this said, I am fighting. Before I was "at peace" with whatever would happen, but then I realized, I was being lazy and complacent. I had given up on myself. I was tired.

After feeling sorry for myself for a few weeks, I realized I wasn't ready to go just yet. I read a book called How to Starve Cancer  and also Radical Remission that changed the way I thought about cancer. If I had it, there was a very good chance I could "beat it". I began reading about alternative treatments and how people had beat the odds.

I have lots of room to improve still. I have lots of things to do and be and see. I am not ready to be done yet. I have so much more to do.

Yes, cancer is a disease, but its your body telling you that something isn't quite right. There is a imbalance somewhere. Something that you are doing is changing something inside. It's not your fault, no, but you can evolve and resolve the conflicts within your body. If we take time to be honest with ourselves, to truly listen to that inner voice, you will hear what you need to do.

Am I cancer free? I have no idea. But, I will fight.