The Big C

Today I went with my mom to a doctors appointment. My mother has thyriod cancer. She had her thyroid removed about 5 years ago and underwent radiation treatment then. Recently she has had to go through radiation again. The doctor today, felt like we were in good shape, all looks well and now mom will just have to be monitored closely for the rest of her life. A little known fact, thyroid cancer never goes into remission like other cancers - it is either cured or not. In mom's case - it is not. Will it kill her - not likely, but the metastatic thyroid cells will just linger in her body, being controlled by the medication she will be taking.

I think dealing with any loved one's possibly terminal disease is hard. This has been a hard journey for us all. Lots of trips to the doctor, lots of unknowns. I have written about this and I have written a some poems too.

Today as I drove home, I thought about how thankful I am that this has had a reasonable, positive, and livable outcome. The best case scenario is blood work 4 times a year. The worst, well a trip to the cancer center and some serious serious thyroid cancer specialists.

I have always tried to take care of myself. Working out and trying to eat right. I have bad genes - I have known this for along time. In the last 3 years I have gotten increasingly diligent and motivated. I want to live a long and healthy life - and I believe that the choices I make now, very well will impact the future.

So for now I am focused on enjoying the time I have with my mom and ever hopeful that she will be here to see her grand babies big moments. I am also working towards ensuring that God willing I will be here to see all of my grand babies big moments.

So the power of the BIG Cs - Cancer and Choice.