The wait is over…almost 4 weeks ago blood was taken from me and shipped to California for an experimental blood test that could detect cancer cells. If you have followed my story you know that I not only have a strangely aggressive thyroid cancer which has kept coming back, but I also have thyroglobulin antibody. In the majority of thyroid cancer patients, thyroglobulin level changes in blood is used to detect cancer, but for me, I am in the select few whose body has an antibody against that. Because of that, I have had to have alternating PET scans and ultrasounds every three months to detect my cancer. Add that to the radiation drink (which I later found out my body is resistant to) and seven weeks of external beam radiation and I should be glowing. Fortunately for me, a couple things happened, some physician/scientist discovered this test that would work for people like me, and my personal doctor happened to be at a conference when he talked about it in December. The test is not yet available to the public (it will be very soon) but since the two of them met and personally talked about my case, they agreed to check my blood.
Today I got the call that I am cancer free. If you have had cancer multiple times you beam with excitement for about 30 seconds and then hesitate and say ,”Are you sure?” which is what I said to my doctor, followed by, “How accurate is this test?” He told me that he was fully confident in this test to the point that he said ,”I’m going to say we repeat all tests in a year.” A YEAR? I’m used to seeing him every 3 months followed with bloodwork and some type of scan. I told him a year was too long for me and he said his door would always be open. He said if I needed to see him every week he would not say no. My doctors have become my friends and comfort. I have had to lean on them so much over the past four years and when I don’t see them, I miss them. A year seems so long.
For now I feel great. My last post was about do overs with my day starting awesome and ending, well, not so awesome. Today my day started not so awesome (been battling flu like symptoms all week passed along from one family member to another), but is ending on a high note. I still have that hesitant joy, but I’ll let loose for now because I know God is in control. Thank you all for your continued support and for joining me in this crazy lipstick journey!
Today, actually right this minute, I’m swiping Lancome Le Absolu Rouge in Merlot on my lips. It is an impossibly GORGEOUS deep red which is great for going out. Yes, I know it’s late, I don’t care…maybe I’ll walk in the kitchen after this and end the day with an actual glass of Merlot…cheers.
Anna's Lipstick Journey 
I believe the earth moved just a little because a thousand or a million people were doing a happy dance all at once!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Yes Jo, I believe I felt it!
Yippeee!!! I know I’m happy dancing with Jo. (Oh sweetie, you should see her enthusiam!)
Yay! I’m dancing right where I am! Thank you!
alleluia! God loves you.. we love you.
Wonderful news! I read your blog for the first time last week when I was waiting to hear back from my post radiation scan. I was so happy to log on today and find that you had received your news and that it was great! I’ll do a little dance for you. Thank you for sharing your story.
Hi Janna! Thanks for stopping by! How is your journey going? Hope we’re doing a happy dance together!
Thanks Anna! Very good. Received word from my post-radiation scan that the cancer was isolated to my neck. No mets. I was diagnosed at 21 weeks pregnant. Gave birth to a lovely baby girl Nov 30th, total thyroidectomy and right side neck dissection on Dec 13th, post-op infection with re-hospitalization on Dec 16, and radiation Feb 3rd. So, the last few months have been crazy. I had to do the radiation without thyrogen because there is a national shortage so I am still recovering from being off my synthroid and I have a newborn, so I am tired, but good. I started blogging when I was diagnosed as a way to cope while I was pregnant. Please check it out if you have time. Thanks again for sharing your story. I find reading other people’s experiences so comforting.
A newborn and hypo at the same time? Bless you…every week gets better! Can’t wait to check out your blog! Love hearing other people’s stories!
I was so happy to read your news. Hugs! Embrace the moment and continue to live life as you have been. You are braver than you realized and the strength.. it keeps growing inside of you.
Thank you Brenda! Strength and courage? I think we just rise to the occasion whatever it may be…thank you for your constant encouragement!
really amazing..nkaka inspired..
i was so happy to read your story,just embrace the faith to our lord jesus christ..and he do the rest..god bless!
Thank you Matilde!