Grateful Blog

Friday, April 6, 2012

Grateful to have woken up today to relief after a real scare in this ongoing recent roller coaster ride of a cancer diagnosis in my family.

We all thought my sister’s diagnosis of thyroid cancer was the “best-case scenario.” If you have to have cancer, we were told, thyroid cancer is the best kind to have — “best” being a relative term here, of course. And hers was caught very early, thanks to Canada’s health care system that gives full-body scans when you turn 40 years old. The lump was found before any symptoms were felt. The surgery to remove the thyroid glands was uneventful. One radiation treatment would take care of it.

What we didn’t know, until last week, was the kind of thyroid cancer my sister has. We didn’t know until last week what the endocrinologist told her was discovered after the surgery, that she has the scariest (my term, not his) sub-type of thyroid cancer, something called diffuse sclerosis. 

I had considered myself an expert internet surfer and searcher until this past week when I could find frustratingly little information about this type of cancer other than the repetitive search result: that it was the rarest form, the fastest spreading, and the hardest to treat. There are no positive terms, relative or otherwise, in there.

She had x-rays, blood tests, and another ultrasound to determine if the cancer had spread, and then we sat back to play the waiting game.

This morning, the waiting game is over and the news is good again. The cancer has not spread. One lymph node is slightly enlarged, but the expected one dose of radiation should take care of that. 

Relief seems an insufficient term for this feeling but it will have to do.  

Today I’m grateful that my sister has recovered enough from Tuesday’s surgery to go home and continue her recovery where she wants to be — with her boys. 

I’m also reminded of how lucky we are to have such an amazing extended family full of love and support. Very lucky, indeed.

Today I’m grateful for: 

• People who have virtually nothing who are still inclined to give to others. It really amazes and impresses me. 
• Friends who have a sick sense of humor, causing laughter to the point of crying in the middle of a work day. 
• I’ll take all the rain we’re getting today and expecting in the next few days, with the hope that it will all be done by the time my in-laws — including four kids including three boys aged five and under — show up for a visit this weekend.