Taylor's Fight Against Thyroid Cancer
Donation protected
I am still in shock as I write this, but my sister and best friend, Taylor, at only 22 years old has been diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer; known by the medical term Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. Although this is heartbreaking and completely unexpected, and she has a long road ahead, anyone who knows Taylor knows she is unbelievably strong and ready to fight this.
Taylor graduates from the the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at RIT in a few weeks, and a few weeks ago she passed her board to become a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Since August Taylor has been doing her clinicals working 40 hours a week, unpaid. Little did she know that going into this field might have been her saving grace. While Taylor and her friends were in class scanning each other, they noticed a nodule on Taylor’s thyroid over a centimeter large. Nodules aren’t uncommon, but they decided she should go get it checked out. She got an official ultrasound done, and they then recommended she go get a biopsy just to be safe. She got blood work and other tests done, and they assured her the entire time this was just to be overly cautious. The doctor actually said, “9/10 times it is nothing, and if I were a betting man and was going to Vegas, I would bet it would be nothing”. Well, he would’ve lost that bet. The results were what none of us were prepared for: cancer.
Taylor will need to have surgery for a thyroidectomy, and then have radioactive iodine therapy, extensive and continued testing, and she will have to take thyroid medication for the rest of her life. Fortunately, the cancer was caught early enough that they say the prognosis is looking positive. The doctors say that she is very lucky that Taylor caught this in her ultrasound program because this type of cancer often comes with no symptoms and can silently exacerbate.
Any donations will go straight to Taylor for the surgery, continued testing and other medical expenses and recovery efforts. This will delay her getting a job after graduation from her program as she will be unable to work or look for work during her recovery. My family and I appreciate positive thoughts and prayers to help her get better as soon as possible.
Taylor graduates from the the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at RIT in a few weeks, and a few weeks ago she passed her board to become a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Since August Taylor has been doing her clinicals working 40 hours a week, unpaid. Little did she know that going into this field might have been her saving grace. While Taylor and her friends were in class scanning each other, they noticed a nodule on Taylor’s thyroid over a centimeter large. Nodules aren’t uncommon, but they decided she should go get it checked out. She got an official ultrasound done, and they then recommended she go get a biopsy just to be safe. She got blood work and other tests done, and they assured her the entire time this was just to be overly cautious. The doctor actually said, “9/10 times it is nothing, and if I were a betting man and was going to Vegas, I would bet it would be nothing”. Well, he would’ve lost that bet. The results were what none of us were prepared for: cancer.
Taylor will need to have surgery for a thyroidectomy, and then have radioactive iodine therapy, extensive and continued testing, and she will have to take thyroid medication for the rest of her life. Fortunately, the cancer was caught early enough that they say the prognosis is looking positive. The doctors say that she is very lucky that Taylor caught this in her ultrasound program because this type of cancer often comes with no symptoms and can silently exacerbate.
Any donations will go straight to Taylor for the surgery, continued testing and other medical expenses and recovery efforts. This will delay her getting a job after graduation from her program as she will be unable to work or look for work during her recovery. My family and I appreciate positive thoughts and prayers to help her get better as soon as possible.
Organizer
Lexi Combs
Organizer
Scottsville, NY
