Steven’s Cancer Journey
Uncover how a Netflix documentary led to an improbable thyroid discovery for Steven! Join the journey from screen to surgery.
Steven Strogatz // 30 Stories Campaign™ // Thyroid Cancer Awareness
I recently appeared on a Netflix documentary “A Trip to Infinity,” which interviewed mathematicians, physicists and philosophers on their opinions regarding the fascinating concept of infinity. After this documentary was released, I received dozens of emails from colleagues and viewers of the documentary.
One email I received was written by an endocrinologist who had watched the documentary and had noticed a large lump on my left neck. I did not know about this issue at all, and so, I sought the guidance of my primary care physician.
I underwent a routine CT scan, ultrasound scan, and FNA. The tests revealed a large nodule on the left lobe of my thyroid that measured 6.5 cm. The imaging tests also revealed the possibility of enlarged lymph nodes. Since I have a family history of thyroid cancer, I reached out to a head and neck surgeon in a high-volume medical institution for guidance.
If I had not appeared in that documentary… the nodule may have gone undiagnosed for another several years!
I wanted to consult an experienced surgeon, and upon meeting with him, I knew I could expect a fantastic experience working with him. He explained the situation incredibly carefully and we decided to undergo a hemithyroidectomy in the summer of 2023.
After the surgery, my recovery felt quite painless and easy. My surgeon prescribed Tylenol for residual pain. I experienced some issues with sleeping and noticed a slightly hoarse voice. Beyond that, any pain I experienced subsided in three days. I monitored my health cautiously for about a week, and then I fully resumed my normal life.
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Looking back on the past eight months, I am glad that I sought the help of an experienced thyroid surgeon from a high-volume hospital. This helped me tremendously. Despite the long commute to reach him, I highly recommend any patient make any commute necessary to work with an experienced physician.
Also, quite coincidentally, the Netflix documentary I appeared on played a huge role in my journey. If I had not appeared in that documentary, and if the endocrinologist watching it had not kindly emailed me, I might not have known of the lump in my neck, and the nodule may have gone undiagnosed for another several years!
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