Category: Cancer Journey

Since having the 2nd lump removed, I continued to have US scans and TG blood tests. The TG levels should ideally be undetectable, but mine have been creeping up. An US scan also showed some slight regrowth in the area of the thyroid bed. The Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) met to discuss the situation and have…

Just before Christmas 2024 I went for a routine Ultra Sound (US) scan. I had continued to receive surveillance US scans and Thyroglobulin (TG) blood tests to make sure that there was no return of disease. The radiologist had me lie completely flat on my back, instead of just leaning back as I had been…

I was extremely privileged to be offered yet another chapter of expert care. Respiratory Physiotherapy was to take place at the Royal Brompton with Jacob Beard. In the first session Jacob got me to breath normally in a relaxed seated position whilst he observed and timed my breathing. I had read 2 books about breathing:…

After allowing some months to evaluate whether the Supraglottoplasty had resolved the breathing issues on exercise, I was able to return to Professor Hull at the Royal Brompton for a repeat Continuous Laryngoscopy during Exercise test. This time I did the test on the tread mill as running is more likely to bring on the…

In November 2022 we were beginning to socialise again after a long period of lockdown. We were happy to be invited out to see some dear friends with a young family. We had a lovely time, but unfortunately I caught some viral infection from one of the young ones! Quite often a virus will linger…

When the thyroid gland is removed, the parathyroid glands frequently get bruised during surgery and mild hypoparathyroidism is rather common after surgery but usually resolves after a few days to weeks.  In my case, the parathyroid glands stop didn’t recover for about 20 months. I needed to take a calcium supplement during that time. By…

One consequence of the variety of treatments that I have been through is that I have learnt quite a few new words. An example being: Supraglottoplasty! I am certainly not a small child, however, some of the anatomy of my throat had prolapsed due to the absence of innervation on the right hand side. If…

I think that one reason that I have not found my treatment arduous is that I tend to treat it like a science experiment or project involving myself. It really is quite incredible and fascinating what can be done! This is particularly the case with the Continuous Laryngoscopy During Exercise (CLE). This is a cutting…

RadioIodine Treatment is a special form of therapy aimed specifically at thyroid cancer. The thyroid gland is the only organ that absorbs Iodine. Following nuclear accidents, people are given Iodine supplements so that they will be prevented from absorbing any radioactive iodine that would kill their healthy thyroid cells. In the case of thyroid cancer,…