Tom’s Cancer Journey
From a lump in the throat to triumph over thyroid cancer, read Tom’s inspiring journey of resilience and victory.
Tom Bitondo // 30 Stories Campaign™ // Thyroid Cancer Awareness
For the longest time, I felt something funny in my throat. Despite feeling this strange sensation in my throat, I always brushed it aside during my physical exams and none of my primary care physicians focused on this symptom.
In the summer of 2013, I got into a large car accident. I went straight to the hospital, where I stayed for a few days. During my hospitalization, I wondered if any of the physicians would say anything about the lump in my neck. However, none of the physicians I worked with mentioned it and due to the other issues I was having related to the accident, it was not my focus at this time either.
I brought up my concerns… the physician felt two large nodules near my thyroid.
Three and a half years later, I had a bad cold, and received antibiotics from my primary care physician. This cold had gotten so bad that I went to the emergency room. During that visit, none of the physicians noticed anything significant on my neck.
A few weeks later, I had a physical exam coming up, so I suspected this would finally be the time when the physician would evaluate what I could feel in my neck. Fortunately, I brought up my concerns, and the physician felt two large nodules near my thyroid. He immediately sent me for a sonogram, and noticed something on the sonogram. He then sent me for a needle biopsy, which revealed that I have papillary thyroid cancer.
…have a physician check on medical issues that you feel concerned about.
Once I learned of my diagnosis, I visited an endocrinologist and thyroid surgeon. While I could not get an appointment with my thyroid surgeon for an entire month, I scheduled an operation. My surgery lasted almost five hours, because my thyroid cancer had advanced and entered my voice box and back of my neck.
Luckily, I could easily talk after my surgery. I took a radioactive iodine pill and quarantined for a bit. However, I felt great after my surgery. It truly felt surreal to feel so normal after such a long and complex surgery. After my surgery, my surgeon and I decided to set up regular follow-ups every six months.
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In early 2022, I missed a follow-up due to COVID-19, and the following visit revealed that I had an elevated thyroglobulin level. While this was five and half years after my thyroid cancer diagnosis, I decided to check on this issue more closely. I got two expert opinions on my elevated thyroglobulin. I decided to go with the second opinion. The new head and neck surgeon I consulted with examined the other side of my neck, and verified a third cancer spot that the PET scan had missed.
This new head and neck surgeon I consulted was tremendous. He explained his decision–making patiently and thoughtfully, and he took so much time to ensure that I understood the situation. My surgeon even gave me his direct cell phone number if I had any further questions. Three days after our initial consultation, he called me directly and told me to schedule a surgery in the coming weeks.
…stay prudent about having your thyroid checked early and frequently… thyroid cancer can be managed effectively!
I scheduled a surgery with my new head and neck surgeon, and I went into the operation confidently, despite knowing that there was a risk of injuring the nerve that innervated my vocal cord. I’m grateful that I felt little pain or discomfort after this surgery. Any signs of scarring did not appear, either. To this day, I follow up every six months with my head and neck surgeon, and regularly consult with my endocrinologist.
I cannot recommend enough the value of always having a physician check on medical issues that you feel concerned about. I lived with a funny sensation in my neck, but for quite a while, this went unnoticed. I would highly suggest having any physician, even a dentist, check on your neck if you feel worried about it. Make sure to voice your concerns and tackle thyroid cancer early. As long as you stay prudent about having your thyroid checked early and frequently, thyroid cancer can be managed effectively!
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