Endocrinologist

That is a new word in my vocabulary.

I saw one today.

I wish I had some big news to tell you, something definite in this new fight for my life. However, I left asking my husband, "So, after that appointment, what do we know for sure?" This doctor wants to confirm the diagnosis of medullary cancer, which is fine with me, these things need to be known for sure. It is not that she doubts the pathology report, it's just that there is a blood test that further confirms this diagnosis. I had the blood drawn today and will hopefully have these results before I see the surgeon next week. If this blood test shows a high level of calcitonin in my blood, then this is most definitely medullary. If the level is normal, they will have to do a second type of blood test because a normal test does not mean that it is not. Confusing? Tell me about it. If in fact all things point to medullary, this doctor may want me to go to a different surgeon because of the tricky nature of such cancer. If it is a simpler type of thyroid cancer she is fine with the surgeon I am seeing next week. She is pushing Mayo Clinic in Minnesota if it is medullary. My insurance does not pay so well at Mayo, so we will have to put that in God's hands if that is to be. So, I really do not know much tonight.

This is what I know for sure. My pathology report leans toward medullary cancer of the thyroid. A specific blood test is also needed to confirm this. I had the blood test today. I am playing the waiting game. If the blood test results come in before next Wednesday when I see the surgeon , the endocrinologist will call me with those results. She just does not seem too eager to act on medullary cancer unless she is for sure that is what we are up against. She did let us know that things get more involved and more aggressive with that type of cancer.

I wish I could take a long nap until the test results come in...