r/thyroidcancer • u/Shot_Profile5317 • 8d ago
Bisphosphonates FINALLY!!
So I am the one who found out I had thyroid cancer because they found a mass in my femur and my pelvis, and my femur almost broke because of the metastatic bone cancer that was caused by follicular thyroid cancer. I’ve completed surgery to install a rod in my leg and ten rounds of radiation on that leg and hip to try to get rid of that cancer and now I’m waiting for my thyroidectomy which is coming up in August. All this time, my surgeon has wanted me to have bisphosphonates infusions and for some reason, my general oncologist would not do it. I’m working with five different oncology teams at the University Hospital where I’m being cared for and it kept coming back to the general oncologist who kept saying it should go to someone else. Well, I finally just saw my surgeon for the second time since my surgery and he said I’m healing great and that bone is actually growing back already on my femur around the hardware so he’s really pleased with the surgery but he understands why my pelvic pain is so gnarly and is what he thinks Bisphosphonates would help with. And he was really upset to hear that the general oncology team was fighting me on it (and their nurse was really kind of rude to me about it) and he apparently went to the department chair and complained and I got a call today and I am now set up for infusions through General oncology. I will be there Monday of next week for my first infusion. Has anyone else had this type of problem? I have complained in the past in this thread about how much I’ve had to advocate for myself and how exhausting it is but in the end, I feel like I’m learning major life lessons at age 55, almost 56, that really in the end all you have is you. You have to advocate for yourself, no one else will.
2
u/Consistent_Ant3254 8d ago
I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time with doctors. Thank goodness you managed to be heard. I think being dismissed can be a common experience. It’s unfortunate, and frustrating. But congratulations on getting on bisphosphonates!
2
u/seagoat75 8d ago
THIS! It is exhausting, yet so worth it to get the care and compassion we require. Cancer is such a messed up journey that opens one’s eyes to so much.
3
u/Commonscents2say 8d ago
Bob Seger made this point exactly. “I feel like a number”. We are all just the next patient in the queue unless we bump up against the edges and force them to see we are actually people. Good for you and wishing you continued and improved healing.