The Suspense is Killing Me!

It's exactly one year since I had my surgery and despite everything it's not been a bad year. I've had great support from friends and family. I've tried my hand at some new things with a modicum of success. We've travelled and enjoyed it, been to theatre and concerts and I have been reasonably fit and healthy. I felt I was on the mend and ready to look forward. We have even made plans; a trip to America and Canada in October and the possibility of renting a house in the Lake District on 2009.

When we talk of the future the Gods laugh!

In the last 2 months things have started to go wrong. Sadly my dad died at the start of June. Within days I'd lost my voice. At first it was thought to be only a strain as I had been talking a lot but when I couldn't find it I went back to the hospital. An examination showed nothing sinister but also nothing to explain the voice loss. So I was referred on. I had a CAT scan, it showed nothing; I had an MRI scan, it showed nothing; I was sent for a PET scan (they were throwing an entire menagerie at me) - the ultimate in scanning technology. When I went for the results on Tuesday I was told they had not seen the scan and nor had the radiologist so they could not tell me what the scan showed. However a written report said there is "some activity" in the region of my thyroid gland. They were not willing to guess, speculate, suggest or hypothesise exactly what that meant.

However I was told some of the possibles.
It could be a new tumour. If it's in my thyroid it's a new cancer unconnected with last year's. The gland could be removed by surgery and the area treated with radio-active iodine. I'd then have to live on a diet of drugs to make up for the missing thyroid gland.
It could be a remnant of last year's tumour that was not killed off by the radio-therapy. It could also be removed by surgery, a lesser operation than last year's but still not something to look forward to. However they couldn't follow it up with more radio-therapy as I've already had all my body can tolerate. I didn't ask whether more than one little cancer cell might have survived the radio-therapy - I'll deal with that scenario if I have to when the time comes.
Alternatively it could just be showing inflammation. To be sure there is swelling and stiffness in my neck, the after-effects of the therapy but the ENT consultant thought it was too long after the treatment for the effects to only just be showing.
Infection is unlikely; the one I had last summer is well over and I show no other signs. However, whatever it is, it is small. It was not even spotted on the first two scans. It was suggested that anything that small would be unlikely to explain my voice loss so there may be another cause and that might be the damage to the tissues in my neck.

So I have to sit and wait another 2 weeks before a diagnosis and then, if necessary, go on to treatment options. It's rather disappointing and a bit disheartening but I'll just get on with what I can for now and try to forget about it. I've certainly got plenty to do what with garden, kitchen, bathroom and exterior decorating. With luck it will all turn out to be a false alarm and we can get on with our trip to America in October. Without luck it could be a bit of a bummer.

Many of you have been invited to my party on Aug 30th. Just watch this space. If things go wrong I may have to cancel. My appointment is on Tuesday 26th so I hope I'll know something more then. If I have to cancel I'll try to email you and I'll post a notice here. I hope it won't be necessary.