50/50

Where to start.....  I am thinking a time line is best

1/30 My first OB appointment. Baby measures fine and sounds healthy, but my doctor finds a lump on my thyroid.

2/2 Ultrasound done on thyroid.

2/6 Nurse calls and reads me results of ultrasound; 4 nodules (lumps/bumps) found on the right side of my thyroid.  One of the nodules measures abnormally large and I will need to have a biopsy. Turned out two of the nodules would be biopsied because of their size, the other two are very small. I feel worried, not too worried, nodules are fairly common, but still.

2/8 Ouch! Biopsy done; 3 samples from each of the two nodules are taken. Because I am pregnant I don't get the luxury of the nice anesthetic. Ouch! Almost 2 hours later and I can tell you a needle in your neck doesn't feel that great. I am told someone will call me with my results by Friday or Monday morning at latest.

2/10 No phone call

2/13 Noon still no phone call so I call the nurse to get my results. She tells me the doctor will be calling later that afternoon with my results and some information. WORRIED.

6 PM dinner with friends, my OB calls and lays it on me. The phone call is sort of a blur. Results were not what she expected.... possibly cancer... abnormal cells.... size of largest nodule is very concerning....  she's working on finding a specialist to see me, because I am pregnant it is difficult... found someone...

2/14 Specialist calls, earliest appointment is 2/29 and that is squeezing me in.

Fast forward through 15 days of worry....

2/29 I saw the thyroid specialist. He went over in detail my biopsy results and my options. There were 4 different types of cells found in the biopsy, not normal results. The size of one of the nodules is very concerning, it is covering a large part of the right side of my thyroid. The chances of me having cancer are about 50/50 the Dr said. 50/50 the glass is half full, right?!

In order to find out if I have thyroid cancer the right side of my thyroid needs to be removed completely. If I was not pregnant it would not be a problem, they would do it in the next few weeks. Because I am pregnant it is a little more complicated. See if they remove the right side and find out it is cancer then I need to have my whole thyroid removed and radiation, not completely possible since I am growing a new life inside of me. If they remove it and it is not cancer well then the nodules and bad cells are gone and we can just move forward (let's hope this is the case). The surgery to remove half of my thyroid is not typically dangerous, it is a night or two stay in the hospital, but with an increase in blood flow because of the baby the risk is higher of bleeding complications, if something were to happen during surgery, not likely but possible, the chance of me losing the baby are very high. Not a chance I want to take and not a chance the surgeon wants to take either. My OB will take monthly blood samples to run tests on my thyroid, if something changes drastically we will reevaluate otherwise,  I will likely have the surgery to remove the right side of my thyroid within a month or two of giving birth, when if something (cancer) is found it can be addressed. So now we wait, wait for our sweet baby to be born in August.

My faith has grown as I've looked to my Savior for peace. I think I grew my first grey hair too.  I am strengthened by my family and friends love and prayers through these last couple of weeks. My heart swells to know you all care for me, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I hope I can and do show my love for all of you as you have for me.

Kallie