My Radioactive Mother

March 5 Update:

Success! Body scan is clear. Will have to run a staged test in September, but it won’t be like this one. Just have to stay on top of it. Happy Dance!

March 2 Update:

Ok, just “udderly” got tired of the weight gain from having no thyroid and now in isolation for radioactive iodine treatment. I needed exercise. Plus my speech was slurred!

So I started an exercise plan last night. Not sure if the pill has anything to do with it! May need new clothes. Don‘t think there will be any discipline problems at school next week.

Go ahead—send them to the office!

Too Much? I know—green never was my color!

March 1 Update:

“Home and glistening!  Not quite up to a full glow but building!  My tongue is tingling.  I read that some lose taste bud sensations for one to two weeks.  At 3:30pm I start sucking on lemon drops to make the salivary glands really work to keep them protected from exposure I guess since they are right up there where most of the radiation is going.  My brain too?????  HMMMMM.  Love ya!”

As my mom starts her single treatment for thyroid cancer (radioactive iodine), I thought I’d share her update she sent via email last week. Yes, that is her own art work. I love her. *smiles* This is my mom and her attitude towards life, and where I get my mild insanity.

Background: In January, she was diagnosed in surgery to remove part of her thyroid gland. They removed the entire thyroid, but testing is necessary to ensure all thyroid, lymph node, and cancer cells are gone. Thyroid cancer is one of the most localized cancers, and easily treatable. The thyroid feeds on iodine, so to target treatment, the body is denied iodine (think a diet with no salt at all, most has iodine in it). They then give a pill of radioactive iodine, a small dose at first to identify any remaining cells. This was sent after taking that small dose.

Went for my pill this morning. No big deal – feel normal – had my picture taken. Right as rain.

Can’t eat, drink or lay down for 2 hours. Don’t have to be isolated in my room but have to keep my distance. No kids under 8 and no pregnant women. I’m in the wrong job for that!

Have a wonderful day – it’s beautiful out there! Stay tuned for glowing reports!

Love, Bunny

Tomorrow, March 1, she goes in for the full dose of radioactive iodine. The body scan Friday did reveal some remaining cells, so they have to be obliterated (I love that word). She’ll be in isolation for 2 full days, we can only pass food through the door. After the two days, we can go near her, but still best to not have “contact” for a few days. By next weekend she will be radioactive no more. Well, she will, but won’t be putting off any radioactivity.

This has been a relatively easy cancer experience if there can be such a thing. I am blessed to have great friends all around me. If you think about anyone today, focus on those fighting the harder battles with cancer. My best friend in high school is about to lose his 45 year old uncle, Dale, to a rare form of cancer either tonight or tomorrow. All my thoughts go out to his family and their continuing fight.

As my good friend Kristy says “Fuck Cancer.”