Unleashing Resilience: Reflecting on a Year Post-Total Thyroidectomy

                                                                      Hope Beyond Uncertainty
                                                                 (Lailanie S. Arcenas,  LPT, RGC)

In late 2020 when the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic knocked in the seabed of many families, it gave an undeniable huge impact on my life as I discovered that I have a nodule in my left neck. I thought it was just a simple cold so I took a mega-dose of vitamin C for several months. As such, I experienced emotional turmoil in the same year. Work-related stresses cannot be underestimated. As I grasped what should I do, I went several tests for my thyroids like TSH, T3, and T4. Everything went alright as my results were normal. However, in the year 2021, my blood pressure fluctuated which fueled me to have my neck ultrasound in one of the private hospitals in the town. One solid nodule with calcifications was discovered with TIRADS 5 in the findings.  As a researcher by nature, I googled it and was amazed that it was 80% highly suspicious cancerous. My ENT at the said private hospital asked me to prepare a sum of money for my immediate operation and my husband agreed and keep convincing me to be under her care and treatment. Well, that was the same time we are creating our happy place for retirement to be, our mini rest house in one of the best towns in Bulacan where trees, chirping birds, morning sunrise, and air breezes are so different from the city. In other words, we spent every single penny that we saved on buying the piece of land and putting our dream house at the peak of the mountain.  So, my mind went blank for seconds, and asked myself, what would be my next step and I should be rational this time because it will cause us financial suffering. The following day, with a burning spirit to save the remaining penny that I have, I visited one of the public hospitals in Manila but due to heightened health protocols, I was advised to have my online transaction first. So, at that very moment, I transacted online and luckily, the ENT Department responded and asked to visit on the second floor of the hospital building. I was scheduled for a fine needle biopsy in the next 3 days. While traveling and going home, I keep murmuring to myself "You made it Lanie, just keep going". The day had come, and with so much anticipation based on my readings, I was right. The fine needle will hit your nodule without anesthesia. A small amount of tissue or fluid from my left neck was removed from a suspicious area to check for cancer cells. I was trembling while enduring the pain because the ENT need to hit the nodule 3 times (I have poor pain intolerance due to my previous natural childbirth), he said that there were blood vessels that blocked the needle and it made the biopsy so bloody. With so much positivity, the ENT guided me to bring the specimen to the nearby prominent private hospital. So, I did. After 5 days of waiting, I received the result written saying that there was no specimen from the nodule taken. I repeat the fine needle aspiration on the same day with the same doctor. the result was the same. Imagine the anxiety and agony of repeating the fine-needle aspiration biopsy and having the same results stating that the doctor did not hit the nodule. I almost lost hope. I asked my ENT doctor if I could have an ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy. he agreed but he needs to schedule me for the utilization of the equipment. So we agreed on the schedule which is Thursday of that week. I went home and contemplate my decisions. While lying in my bed, I received a message from the Oncology Surgeon department (I forgot to tell you, on the first day I was advised for online transaction in the hospital, I sent many messages to the ENT and oncology surgeon departments and that's the reason why they sent a message to me). I open my messenger and read "Nabiopsy na kayo? May nakakita na sa inyong surgeon sa JR po?" As I read these questions, I was a little disappointed thinking how this person was not aware of my physical transactions in the same hospital where my 2 fine-needle biopsies were done? I inhaled and calmed myself and I immediately sent the 2 biopsy results that I had to their ENT department. I elaborated and presented the scenario. He asked me if it is okay for me to transfer to their department. I asked him if the ENT department will not be offended, and he told me that everything is based on my personal decision. So, he scheduled me for an ultrasound-guided biopsy. That was Friday, another uncertainty chilled down my spine while pondering the painful experiences that I had during my last 2 biopsies. I met my oncology doctor, he was calm and his positive energy was eminent to his aura. In an instant, I gave my trust to his words and whispered to myself "Thank you po Lord". After my fine-needle biopsy for the third time, the team of oncology doctors discovered that I have a 3 cm nodule in my left thyroid with another 3 small nodules and the result confirmed that I have papillary carcinoma stage 1. After 3 weeks I was scheduled for my total thyroidectomy. I woke up as if nothing happened. I am writing this article 20 days after my operation. I did not pay anything in the hospital because their health system was really superb (Phil health and social service).  As of today, I am suffering from chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis where hives and skin itchiness cannot be avoided without taking an antihistamine. But, having the best oncology surgeons and public hospital who served its citizen with the best work ethics of a public servant could have been a huge blessing already to me. As of today, I am preparing for my Radio Active Iodine in the next 3-4 weeks. 

I am more than thankful to my oncology surgeon and to his team for putting extra care during my operation. As such, there are so many loving people who expressed their love towards me which really touched my heart in many ways. 

Indeed, I am blessed. My voice remained. I am still breathing and happily living with my 3 kids and loving husband.

This gave me a realization that there is always a light in every darkness of our lives. Our Powerful God will send people who will really help you regain your faith and will make you believe that there's always hope beyond uncertainty.