On this episode of the @CancerInterviews podcast, we will hear how Valronica Scales survived thyroid cancer.  Her journey began when she experienced extreme weight gain, which she soon learned was tied to swollen lymph nodes, five of them, the size of golf balls.  After a fine needle aspiration of the lymph nodes, she learned by telephone she had that at age 30, she had papillary thyroid cancer.  Surgery removed 99 lymph nodes, 33 of which were cancerous.  Initially, she was treated with radioactive iodine.  When that was ineffective, she underwent radiation external beam therapy, which was painful, but led to survivorship.

 

Valronica Scales of College Park, Maryland was leading a healthy lifestyle, but in 2015, noticed that in a year’s time, she had gained about 40 pounds.  This was especially noticeable because she is 5’2”.  When she was visiting her sister, who was a health care professional, she was told the weight was because of outsiezed lymph nodes in her neck.  There were five in all, the size of golf balls, plainly visible.  After seeing her primary care physician, she was referred to an endocrinologist, who conducted a fine needle aspiration.  Her neck was numbed, did three aspirations with a large needle and pulled out tissue.  Results from subsequent tests showed Valronica had papillary thyroid cancer.

 

Valronica’s diagnosis did not a tall cell variant, which is a very aggressive type of variant, but did have a hobnail feature, a unique type of feature in terms of the cancerous cells. 

 

Her subsequent, eight-hour surgery called for the removal of her entire thyroid.  In so doing, 99 lymph nodes were removed, 33 of which were cancerous.  After the surgery, her doctor opted to put Valronica on radioactive iodine, but she turned out to be radioactive iodine resistant.  The next option was to undergo radiation external beam surgery, 31 treatments in all.  Though they were quite painful, and resulted in the loss of 40 pounds because she could not eat normally, on New Year’s Eve 2015, she had completed her cancer treatment.  However, her journey was not over.

 

Because her radiation treatment extended from her neck to her shoulders to her chest, swallowing was extremely difficult.  She went on a very specific, fat-heavy diet to help gain back the weight lost during treatment. 

 

Post-treatment, Valronica Scales tired easily, but still returned to work on a part-time basis.  Her mother drove her to work so she could maintain a schedule that included radiation treatment some mornings.  She was eventually able to consume carbs and her beloved seafood, but another complication developed when she learned she lymphedema, when fluid that would normally be pulled away by lymph nodes suddenly has nowhere to go.  This condition was eventually controlled through medication.

 

Valronica Scales is optimistic about her future.  She is back at work on a full time basis, and has very close to a normal social life.  Valronica focuses on controlling the things she can control, namely her diet, her health and stress level.  By way of advice, if diagnosed with thyroid cancer, follow your care plan and take an active interest in your journey.

 

Additional Resources:

 

Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association (ThyCa)

https://www.thyca.org