Last year November 2020, I noticed some swelling on the left side of my neck, which i thought were just enlarged lymph nodes. I thought nothing of it; as it’s not uncommon to get this due to infections like sore throat. However, it started increasing in size and number, and I got worried.
After discussing with a Medical MO from my hospital, I took some blood tests. All turned out normal. Anyhow, I was advised to get a biopsy of the lymph nodes just to ensure that it was nothing. Thankfully, I was still in surgical department, and had just finished breast and endocrine (B&E) rotation, which is the department doing biopsies. I’ve gotten to know some MOs there; they were so helpful. An ultrasound of the neck was arranged. This showed multiple suspicious looking lymph nodes & thyroid nodule. Another biopsy was ordered. Thankfully, because I knew the bosses in B&E department, everything was done within 1 week. Exceptional speed in a government hospital!
2 weeks later, the biopsy results showed Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. It was very shocking news to me, but I take comfort that this was a very slow growing cancer and has a 95% cure rate, especially in young patients like me.
The enlarged lymph nodes could indicate the spread of cancerous cells there. I would not only need to remove my whole thyroid (Total Thyroidectomy) but also the lymph nodes (node dissection) plus further radioiodine ablation. This would take 2-3 months.
I decided to fly back to KL for treatment, where my family is. I had to be quarantined for 2 weeks and only met the doctor after that. An ultrasound was repeated and it turns out that all the lymph nodes have disappeared! It became more like an infection rather than the spread of cancer. Thus, I was only required to remove my thyroid. No need to remove the lymph nodes, which was a much riskier operation. Praise God!
The whole operation went smoothly, without any complications. I was discharged a day later. Again, praise God!
A week later, the thyroid test showed no spread. This meant I no longer have to go for the radioiodine ablation. My treatment is completed. Praise God again!
God has been so good. I could see His hand at work in so many areas – from putting the right people in my life to get things done quickly, to the good surgical outcomes. If I didn’t just finish my B&E rotation, and met all the people I have met, I wouldn’t have gotten all these done so quickly. Looking retrospectively, although the lymph nodes weren’t anything serious, it prompted me to investigate further leading to the discovery of my thyroid cancer at a very early stage.
Throughout this time, I always had His peace in my heart that everything will turn out well because He is in control. I don’t know why these things happen to me, but I pray that I can glorify Him in everything.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Natasha Tay Jia Ying, FGT Kota Kinabalu.