In 2008 at age 38 I was diagnosed with Pap Thyroid cancer that had spread into surrounding muscles, I found it myself. My greatest fear was leaving my 3 kids. In 2020 at the age of 50 I was diagnosed with Clear cell Renal cancer after getting a CT scan for an umbilical hernia. The Doctors freaked out I wasn't afraid. They didnt think I took it seriously. I have had multiple benign lumps. Breast, skin, stomach, and including a hysterectomy in 2011 due to multiple fibroid tumors. 4 of my mothers sisters have died from cancer (brain, lung, pancreatic). My mother survived her breast cancer. Both my Grandmother's had cancer and 1 of my Grandfathers.
My Dermatologist not my Oncologist sent me for testing after both cancers and it came back for Chek2 Gene Mutation on myself. Both my daughters tested positive. My son, half brother, and father were negative.
15 years now without a Thyroid or any problems. I got the RAI (Radio Active Iodine) pills treatment and body scan. Then a year later the RAI body scan. Then another RAI body scan. After 5 years remission a yearly ultrasound. I'm followed by an Endocrinologist every 3 months because my generic synthroid would never stabilize. They finally got it stabilized last year using true synthroid. Now I go every 6 months.
They removed half my kidney in 2021. No treatment since it was caught very early at Stage 1. I got a MRI at 6 months and now I get a yearly MRI to check. My kidney blood labs are all good.
They wanted to do a double mastectomy this month but, I denied it because my last surgical biopsy (my 2nd lump) at the beginning of the year gave me horrible pain (mastectomy syndrome). I get a Mammogram yearly since 40 and now a Breast MRI 6 months later. Colonoscopy every 5 years as recommended by American Cancer Society guidelines for Chek2.
So far neither cancer has slowed me down. I never miss a scan or check up. They do extra scans on me because of the Chek2 a normal kidney cancer would have finished scans by now. I have a Endocrinologist I see every 6 months and an Oncologist I see every 6 months for follow ups.
I'm not one to live in fear of much. I am doing all I can to keep cancer at bay. I figure if I'm doing all I can do then it's either going to happen or not. I've already done better than anyone else in my family beating cancers butt. The only way I can truely beat cancer is to not let it control my life. I know it can happen at any time so I live my life without regret and I'm ready if/when it finally catches up to me. Nobody in my Mother's family lived past 74. My mother passed away from a heart attack 8 months after she beat breast cancer. I was notified after I got out of surgery for my kidney cancer. To me fear doesn't help anyone/anything, cancer wins. Spending my time having a good quality life is how I win. Making sure my daughters get their check ups and enjoing my life is winning no matter how I go in the end.