I'm sorry to hear about this, Brianna.
Have no fear, you will beat this.

Bri, I don't know if this is too soon, in which case I apologise, but I heard a woman on the radio talking about breast cancer (she had it a few years ago I think) and she mentioned a forum/website that she found really helpful. It's basically just a place to talk with other women who've been through it, or are going through it.

http://www.bcpals.org.uk/content/links.html

Again, Dana, thank-you. It's a great link---I've spent the good part of this early morning reading it!

Today, I hope hope hope I get in to see the surgeon. This waiting around is killing me and I imagine the beast growing and stretching and eating my cells for every minute that is wasted.

Bri - I know you have what it takes to get well, and I know you'll do what it takes to get well. Don't worry about leaving a lymph node or boob behind. You are not a body part, you're Claudette. The first thread I can remember reading at the Cellar was when you offered oral sex to the first person to solve a math problem for you. That wasn't a lymph node posting. Add my love and positive energy to all that you've gotten so far.

Geez, the stuff I miss over the weekends. I'm so sorry for what you’re going thru and can't possibly begin to know. I do second everything, everyone has said - you can beat this - so many have. Maybe you can find local support groups of people; you can actually speak with face to face and gather the much needed strength from those who've gone thru it as well. Kids can be a big help as well, I'm sure your son has a strong shoulder for you to lean on. Don’t be afraid of that; let him help you thru this. Good Luck.

Oh Brianna. That's terrible! Sorry.
I have to make a call today about the slowly growing (enormous)lump on the side of my husbands neck. We were just about in an insurance program and didn't make it.....
I fear the worst. I just don't know yet and I'm scared. Do I quickly buy the insurance before?

Oh, Cicero, how awful for you both. you need insurance and have the chance to get some now or were you turned down before? I'm sorry, I'm a little confused. How much would the quick insurance cost/month and more importantly, is there a pre-exsisting condition clause that they might try to pull on you two? I'm so sorry, but, call the doc asap. GEtting the treatment ball going is half the battle.

Just saw this thread, and want to let you know that I am thinking about you too. My mother in law has been breast cancer free now for over 2 years. She found a lot of help in fellow cancer survivors via face-to-face groups (she's not internet savvy). Good luck.

We are here. We will be here. Just let us know what we can do.

:::huge hug:::

Bri, a big hug from me to you.

Even if it's in your lymph nodes, you'll still be able to get rid of it. A healthy diet, your strong will and the chemo/radiation will make sure of that.

I know it's much easier said than done, but try not to overly-stress out. I don't think stress is very helpful to the healing process.

God Cicero, how scary for you both. I don't really understand how the American healthcare system works, so I have no advice to offer regarding insurance or the order in which things need to happen. All I can offer is a hug *hugs* and an assurance that the Dwellars are here and sympathetic.

Oh, and a quick hug for Bri whilst I am here *hugs* :P

Cicero, I don't know what your financial situation is like, but...if the lump turns out to be serious and requires long-term care, your husband ought to try applying for Medicaid. Depending on your circumstances, it may be possible to qualify even if your income is decent.

My mother's work insurance hadn't kicked in by the time she was diagnosed with cancer, so she was able to get Medicaid to pay for her treatment.

Blue do you have any advice on how to go about applying (maximising chances of acceptance etc) ?

I'll have to ask my mother what application process she had to go through. I do know that the cancer treatment facility in Albuquerque is very good, if Cicero's husband has to go that route...but hopefully not, of course. Let's hope it's just a big cyst, or at the very worst, a benign growth.

Goiter?

link 1

link 2

What everybody's said -- and they've said it all. Be well.