“The Best Kind To Have”

Those are the words I feel like I am endlessly repeating when telling my family and friends about having thyroid cancer. Since getting my official diagnosis last Thursday, I have had to explain my story numerous amounts of times…which really, I don’t mind. What I do mind however, is some of the responses. Let’s take my cousin for example. After I told her in great detail about everything, including saying that it did not spread to my lymph nodes and was just contained to that nodule in my thyroid, she must have asked me at least 5 times, “so is there a possibility it spread somewhere?,” and “are there any remnants left?” ….which then I repeat what I previously said for the upteenth time. I know she is just concerned, but seriously. Then she proceeds to ask, “so if you don’t have a thyroid, does that mean you’re going to get fat?” WTF?! I really was like “come on now!” Then if that wasn’t enough, she says “so will you not be able to have babies?” WOAH!!!! I was at the point where I really just wished I was in a dead zone and we “accidently” lost reception. So I tell her that I am taking a pill which will act as my thyroid, so no, I won’t get fat….and that yes, I can still conceive a child. When her other line clicked in and she asked me to hold I politely told her I was on my way out and had to let her go…which was a lie.

Now come to think of it, she has really been the only one to annoy me with her comments. Everyone else has been very understanding and supportive. My poor mom’s eyes fill up everytime I say the “C” word….she really can’t bring herself to say it. Her father died of lung cancer when I was 12. Although I have stressed that thyroid cancer isn’t even on the same planet as lung cancer, I can understand how this would bring back sad memories for her, and how she would have an exceptional hard time with her daughter having cancer. She does understand that I am going to be okay which is really all that matters. She keeps telling me I’m the strongest person she knows and that she admires me so much. Having my mom tell me that really means the world to me.

A few people have commented that my little angel baby saved my life. I haven’t even thought of that before, but they are absolutely right. My baby truly is an angel, and although it couldn’t have turned out the way I had originally hoped, that baby was a blessing.