Hello everyone,
There’s a little bit of news that I need to share so you can know what to expect from my blog this week. I guess the last time I fell off the radar I felt really bad for leaving my blog kind of hanging with no word from me. I’m not going to do that again so here it is.
I’ve been rather open about the fact that about two weeks ago I was diagnosed with a malignant thyroid cancer. Maybe I shouldn’t be so open about it, but I guess I’m just an open person. It has really helped to know that there are people out there (even virtually) who care. So thanks for that.
Anyway, on Tuesday, Nov. 9 I’m getting my thyroid removed. I’ll be in the hospital for a day or so after so the doctor can monitor various doctorly things. Then, they said I should expect a week to recover. While I’m planning on a lot of downtime, surgery tends to make me very, very ill. The last time they projected a day in the hospital I ended up being there 3 days because I was so violently ill. So, I’m not sure if I should expect a week recovery time or more. Depends on how I come out of anesthesia. Regardless, there will be plenty of book reading done once I get my head on straight, but I doubt there will be much blogging. So, after Tuesday this blog might be pretty dead for about a week, give or take a few days and who knows, I might bounce back faster than I expect.
Best case scenario is that this surgery removes all of my cancer. Then I will just need to deal with a really strict medication regime while they try to regulate my hormone levels to prevent reoccurrence. Worst case scenario is that the cancer has spread into my lymph nodes and I’ll need radioactive iodine in 4-6 weeks. That’s a 15% chance, so small odds but still bigger than I want. I won’t know anything until my surgery when they are poking around in my neck.
So, I’m hoping for the best but preparing myself for the worst.
Anyway, that’s what’s happening in my world. I’ll post a book review tomorrow of The Half-Made World and then things will be pretty silent. I’ll try to write a small blurb when I feel good enough about how the surgery went.
I have also been gathering together my “post surgery reading list” which is the following (in no particular order):
Leviathan – Scott Westerfeld
The Broken Kingdoms – N.K. Jemisin
A Shadow in Summer – Daniel Abraham
The Anubis Gates – Tim Powers (Started)
Avempartha – Michael J. Sullivan (started)
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson (started this one yesterday)
The Passage – Justin Cronin (started)
The Company – K.J. Parker
We’ll see how far I get on those…
Once again, thanks for all the support. It has been a huge, huge emotional boost for me during a very, very difficult time.
– Sarah
17 Responses
It always astonishes me – and even offends me – when a person I know (even only virtually) can be struck down by such a horrendous, horrible, terrifying illness. I hate that you're suffering. I enjoy talking to you online and read your blog religiously, and I cannot believe that you've been struck down (and so young). Basically, I will be keeping everything crossed come Tuesday that all goes well – here's hoping good wishes and happy thoughts will help you out a bit.
And don't worry about the blog. Life comes first. We'll all still be here when you get back, stronger and better.
More flippantly, this might give you a review backlist for all those times when you need a post on your blog! Shit. Maybe flippant wasn't the right way to go?
Anyway, I'll be thinking of you. Good luck – you're strong and lovely and, please God (even though I know you don't have those beliefs) you'll be fine.
A xx
Good luck with your surgery! I'll be sending good thoughts your way.
I hope everything turns out great.
I'll be thinking about you…and maybe I'll sacrifice a goat or something for luck 😛
Thanks for the well wishes, everyone. Amanda, your comment, in particular, really touched me. You are right, this will give me a reviewing backlist :p That's a positive.
I'm just glad this is a highly treatable cancer. I lucked out in that regard, but it's still terrifying. Handling this news has been interesting. Periods of intense mental stability punctuated by sheer terror. Haha… What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
Weirdmage, thanks for the goat sacrifice. Make sure you roast it over a huge fire and chant in some obscure language while you do it. :p
Wishing you the very best fighting this, Sarah 🙂 We'll pray to whatever obscure deity we need to in support (I get dibs on Egypt's Sekhmet!). We'll be here with hugs and cups of tea (tried and tested British medicine, look it up :P) on your return.
Good Luck, get well, and enjoy the books!
Please take care of yourself. You have my heartfelt wishes and good vibes for a quick and healthy recovery. Fantasy readers are the best fighters. Just make note that we are thinking of you. Hugs.
Hey Sarah —
strength to you, and every good wish, from a 37-year survivor of thyroid cancer. No cancer is good, and anyone who tells you this is the "good cancer" is an idiot, but you should know that statistics are very much on your side, and the odds are very good that in another 37 years or so, you'll be telling some newcomer to the disease to hang in there, things will be all right, tough as the going is now. You should know that there is an organization of thyroid cancer survivors, http://www.thyca.org, and a listserv where you can get a lot of questions answered. Take care, be well, hang in, and know that there are lots of people out there rooting for you, and old-timers like me happy to be a resource for you — Peter in Seattle
Peter, First, thank you for writing in. I honestly haven't met another person who has had thyroid cancer yet, though I keep hearing that people who have, or have had thyroid cancer are all over the place.
Thanks for the thyroid cancer survivors website. I didn't know it existed. I just spent the past little while looking around on there. Great information.
I'm glad the statistics are so favorable with thyroid cancer. It has been a huge comfort to me to know how great the odds are – and you're right. No cancer is a good cancer.
Thanks for writing in! Don't be a stranger.
I hope the surgery goes well and that the outcome is best possible. Horrible as this is, at least reading is one of the things you can do while you recuperate (rather than hanggliding, which is probably right out).
My thoughts and prayers are out for you. My sister was diag with breast cancer recently and has started chemo. Stay strong, and as they say with breast cancer…FIGHT like a girl!!
Sarah: I'll say a prayer for you. Last year my younger brother (36) found out he had Kidney Cancer. That was rough..you don't expect that from your younger sibling. And this week, both my wife's mom and my mom get test results back from "growths" that could be potentially cancerous. All this to say while I don't know exactly what you are going through, I do know how it affects everyone..so I'm sending along my good wishes and thoughts for the best possible outcome (and speedy recovery).
Good luck tomorrow Sarah! I'll be thinking of you. It'll be quiet on my twitter timeline without you 😉 But I hope you'll come through surgery well (I know anaesthetics can be a b*tch) and that they find no spread. Huge hugs for you!
Mieneke
Good luck with the surgery! 🙂
Sarah,
it is always a bit difficult to express oneself in a language which is not the first language.
Anyhow I hope some of my words transport the feelings behind.
Good luck with the surgery tomorrow! I hope you will recover soon. Take your time.
I think it is fine that you are so open. It is part of your personality. I'm just the other way round. But that is me.
You don't need to worry about your blog. Nobody will leave you.
Be strong and think positive … the future is yours
Best of luck tomorrow, Sarah. I'll be thinking of you. I hope you have a quick recovery and that you get the best possible news. Hang in there and don't worry about blogging until you're ready!
Sarah, I hope your surgery goes well and they get all the cancer out today. I read your blog a lot and think you are brave, and true, and deserve all the best that life can give. Take care of yourself and do what is best for you right now. And keep reading.