Myrna Oken

 On July 12, 2017, our mom, Myrna, was sitting at her desk working when she put her hand up to her neck and felt a lump.  Unbeknownst to her on that date and time, her life would be altered forever.  After numerous doctors’ appointments and tests, she was diagnosed with a rare thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid cancer.  Unfortunately, the scans showed that the cancer had also metastasized to a few spots on her spine.  On August 31, she will have surgery at City of Hope (Duarte) to remove the thyroid (where the originating tumor is located) as well as multiple lymph nodes on the right side of the thyroid.  Four weeks ago she started a monthly treatment (Xgeva injections)which will (hopefully!) shrink tumors/kill cancer cells.  For almost three weeks after the injection, she felt fatigued, nauseous, and had a lack of appetite.  These injections will be given monthly and we are hopeful that the side effects will wain as the months go by.  Thank you for your calls, cards, flowers, texts, emails, meals and love during these past two and a half months.  We will keep you informed of her journey through this Caring Bridge site.  Many of you have offered to bring her meals and visit; we will definitely take you up on your offers when she comes home from the hospital.  Life is precious; we never know what tomorrow will bring as evidenced by our Mom’s experience. Family and friends are what continues to keep her positive and hopeful.  Please feel free to post messages on this site; while Mom is recovering we will read her your posts!