When you hear the word cancer it turns your world upside down. I was diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer in November of 2014. My immediate response was disbelief, then fear that I might not be here to help my kids grow up. I'm now operating on a healthy dose of stubborn optimism. I'm going to survive because I have to, I want to be here for my family.
          My story the short version: I have thyroid cancer with a spinal metastasis and need to travel for medical care. We are struggling with the financial burden of travel and care. Any help you can offer would be very much appreciated! Thank you so much for your support.
             My story the longer version:  I'd been struggling with my Rheumatoid Arthritis (RAD) symptoms for a decade. Due to severe pain and nerve damage in my right arm, I was checked for RAD associated nodules, instead finding a big tumor pressed up against my spine, which had eaten away half of the vertebrae and was wrapped around the nerve bundle leading to my arm. After the surgery we learned that this tumor was a metastatic growth from my thyroid. I had nodules in my thyroid and several lymph nodes were involved. The cancer had spread from my thyroid to the back of my neck.
          The next step after spinal surgery was thyroid and right neckectomy then radiation therapy, called a Cyber knife to help remove the remaining spinal tumor. Unfortunately it wasn't completely successful, there is still remaining active tumor pressed against the spinal cord sheath. Usually the prognosis for thyroid cancer encapsulated inside the thyroid is very good. However, things get more complicated when you have rare metastases like mine.
          It scares me to think of the odds too much, so I try to focus on living each day as it comes and doing everything I can to beat this cancer. Odds are only odds. They can't predict what will happen in every case, or as my psychology professor used to say 'the map is not the landscape.'
          Usually the next step in treating thyroid cancer is to treat the patient with radioactive iodine, I131. Since the thyroid uses iodine to function, and is one of the few tissues that does, it will take in the radioactive iodine and there will be very little damage to other vital organs and tissues. The radiation then kills remaining thyroid tissue left in the body after surgery. It takes about 6 months for the radiation for full effect and there are uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous side effects.
          However the location of my tumor, next to the spine, presents unusual problems. My doctors are concerned that the tissues next to my spine will become inflamed and cause paralysis. My doctors want me to travel to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York for a second opinion and possible treatments.
           It has been a stressful and difficult year to say the least. Very little of this journey has gone smoothly. Yet I feel very blessed. My friends came forward and helped with food, household chores, child care and support when I needed them most. I'm very lucky.
          It is hard to ask for help and yet I need to reach out again. Traveling to New York for multiple visits will tax our savings and income. If you can help out with a donation we would be so grateful. I totally understand if you can't help with funding right now. I would really appreciate it if you can share my Gofundme page on your social media. There are other ways to help that don't involve money. I could always use a hug or a cheerful card or note on face book. It helps to know that I'm not fighting this battle alone.
          I plan to use funds for air travel, lodging, food, and to help with the cost of treatments. Any unused funds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. If you are inspired to do more for the community you could join me and walk in the Relay for Life in 2016.  Thank you so much for your support! Much Love, Maika