My name is Stephanie. I am 27 years old.

Update: My thyroid has been fully removed. The next steps in the next couple of weeks will be setting up treatments. Even though my thyroid was fully removed you cannot remove every cell of the thyroid without treatments. I have a genetic mutation that makes the chances of this cancer coming back indefinitely. As of right now I have a doctors appointment on may 8th to discuss the treatment plan and how many times a week and for how long.  As of right now my doctor is leaning towards radioactive iodine but this could change. This means I will be admitted in the hospital for these treatments. Below is how it all started. 

I am still asking family and friends to help support medical expenses for surgery due to thyroid cancer. I was diagnosed at 14 with an autoimmune disease, meaning my thyroid has antibodies that attack it. It is still not known medically why the body does this, as it is attacking my thyroid thinking it is a foreign object. As I have dealt with this for over 13 years I have dealt with a lot of side affects due to my thyroid and nodules. Causing swelling resulting in choking on food, hair loss, weight gain, weight loss, fatigue, body aches and many more side affects.  I have been blessed to have such a great doctor who has always run labs and ultrasounds to keep an eye on it.

Through those 13 years, I have suffered from many nodules growing on my thyroid. Many would grow and eventually grow smaller until they were gone. Around 2015, I had an alarming nodule and a biopsy was performed. The biopsy in 2015 came back benign, but the complications of the biopsy left me in pain for weeks, not being able to leave my bed without the help from my amazing mom. Through over 13 years of bloodwork and ultrasounds, I know the routine. This time it feels different. Laying in a room, hearing the ultrasound machine waves in my neck and looking at a screen measuring my nodule, I felt uneasy. When I received the report stating it was TI-RADS 4B, my heart sank to my stomach. Being on a scale of cancer is terrifying. Especially seeing the size of my nodule 10x7x12 and being solid.  My genetics/family history has had thyroid cancer, thyroid disease, and thyroid removal surgeries. When I received my records and I was able to fully review what the report said, on my other thyroid lobe I have small nodules growing that are too small to size yet. 

The nodule in my neck is painful. I am in the process of getting bloodwork done and working on a consultation in Tampa to schedule surgery. Removing my whole thyroid is the only option due to over 13 years of nodules and to avoid any future nodules, pain, cancer and ensure I won’t have to go through this again.

Given my genetics and other diagnosis like Hashimoto’s disease it increases my chances that this nodule is cancerous. 

Surgery for full removal of my thyroid is the only choice for my health, but I cannot do that without the support of family and friends financially. So I am able to get the surgery done. As many of you know, I have a daughter who is six years old and she is my world. I feel so beside myself as I am so used to being so independent for my daughter and I.  I am worried.. If you have made it this far reading, I want to say how much I appreciate you. I also want to share that it is scary—scary finding out, scary moving forward, and it will be scary going through this. There are so many possibilities medically that can make your head spin. I know with the grace of God, I will get through this and the love from my daughter, my niece, my mom, my brother, and other family and friends. I know how much I am loved and how much I love them.

I have estimated what the cost of surgery, labs, possible biopsy, and other factors like medication would cost. I am raising money specifically to go towards any medical bills.

Please share and please pray