Wendy Yoder

In the fall 2020, I started to lose my hearing.  Around the holidays, my family got tired of me always saying, "What?!?" or " I can't hear you!" so I decided to go ahead and get my ears checked out to be sure nothing was actually wrong.  In January, I went to see an ENT and he found a lump in my neck during his exam. He wanted to do an ultrasound.  The ultrasound showed that the tumor I had in my neck was larger than he was ok with, so the next day I went back in for a needle biopsy as well as hearing tests and examinations.  We had to wait 2 whole weeks for the biopsy results!  I was adamant that this was just an another annoying appointment I had to go to, NOT the appointment I would hear, "You have cancer".  My doctor also saw some things in my lymph nodes that he wasn't too sure about, so I was sent to Parkview to get an extensive ultrasound the next day.  Lance and I met with my Doctor the next week to figure out our game plan. 



I didn't know I would have any options on what to do, but after spending a lot of time discussing pros and cons with Dr. Kaiser, Lance and I, we came up with a plan.  We all felt I would be a great candidate to have half of my thyroid surgically removed... and move on with active monitoring.  I did not want to go on medication for the rest of my life if I could help it, which is a must if you have no thyroid.  It seemed my cancer was contained in the right side of my thyroid.  Surgery occurred March 4th.  


On March 16th, I went in for my follow up appointment, again thinking this was going to be an easy and quick one.  Boy was I wrong!  During the surgery, the doctor had planned to also removed the lymph nodes directly under my thyroid, which he did.  Pathology showed that 1 of those 4, had cancer in it, meaning that it spread to more than where he originally thought.  So we again had a good discussion on what this meant and how to proceed, but he first wanted me to go see a radiation oncologist.   March 29th, Lance and I met with my new oncologist, Dr. Vu.  


Let me just say that Parkview Cancer Institute is impressive!! (I'll share more on this later).  Dr. Vu confirmed what Dr. Kaiser told me, explained the treatment process and answered ALL our questions with so much respect. From here we knew I was going to be having another surgery and then on to radiation.  


It is shocking to hear that you have cancer!  Scary and life changing.  I am SO blessed and thankful that my cancer is treatable.  This is our little bump in the road.  This has changed and will continue to change my family and I's 2021, (and on), but we will overcome this!  We are using this page to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.