Milica
Architect, Milica, 30, has had a long and difficult journey to find the best care and treatment for her thyroid cancer.
After returning from her honeymoon in Europe in 2007, Milica found she had no energy and felt her exhaustion was far from normal.
Her GP conducted several tests for six months but found nothing to explain her lack of energy. Prior to these concerns, Milica had had ongoing auto immune deficiency problems, which had been initially diagnosed when she was 21 at university, in 2000.
“For seven years, I lived with a sluggish, under active thyroid which often made me feel tired and sad. I had no energy, dry skin, a slow metabolism and weight gain, far from what a normal 21 year old should feel. I now know that my under active thyroid and constant battle with general well being could have been alleviated had I been diagnosed earlier and I do wonder what effects this has had on my body,” Milica said.
“I suggested to my GP to test the obvious symptom I was experiencing which was a radiating sore throat. I was then referred back to my endocrinologist who I had been seeing for seven years. He organised an ultrasound which showed enough symptoms for a biopsy to be taken. This confirmed papillary carcinoma, a thyroid cancer. A few weeks later, in December 2007, I had a total thyroidectomy (removal of the thyroid) at Westmead Hospital.
“I was then admitted to a hospital near my home for radiotherapy which involved me swallowing a radioactive pill, an I131 treatment, and being isolated in a hospital room for a week. It was extremely hard as I couldn’t be with or near anyone. It was an indescribable experience. Despite this I was told it would be the best treatment to mop up any remaining cancer and give me a 98 per cent success rate.” Milica said.
“After this treatment I was at last prescribed thyroid medication and thought that everything was looking up. The Nuclear Medical Department at RPA hospital told me to go on and live a normal life. However in May 2009 I went back for a yearly check-up involving blood tests and a subsequent CT scan which showed that everything was not right and my hormone levels were elevated.”
“I then had a PET scan with my endocrinologist who confirmed the bad news that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes in my neck.
“Before all this I had worked as an architect for the Lifehouse at RPA’s Assoc Professor Michael Boyer (Director, Sydney Cancer Centre) and I decided to ask his advice and seek another endocrinologist’s opinion.”
“Assoc Professor Boyer recommended his RPA colleague, Dr Jonathon Clark who undertook further tests and biopsies. Because the first and a subsequent second radioactive treatment had not been successful in mopping up the thyroid cancer, surgery was recommended.”
“I was just about to turn 30 and my husband, Peter, who has been so supportive throughout, had pre-planned a surprise trip to New York for what he had hoped would be an all-clear celebration for me.”
“Dr Clark worked around this and although I had the operation hanging over my head, we went to New York and returned for my operation of a radical neck dissection in September 2009 at RPA.”
“The operation seems to have been a success and despite having had such a difficult time, recent blood tests have given me the all clear. Because I went direct to RPA Hospital through Dr Clark, I didn’t have the advantage of RPA’s support and care services that would have been a great comfort had I begun my treatment in a more routine way at RPA. However, I have found Dr Clark’s professionalism and thorough approach to be so much better than my earlier experience. I have been working together with other cancer patients and carers on the Lifehouse at RPA project, ensuring that support services will be available to all patients in the future.”
“Ironically, the company I work for Rice Daubney, are the architects for the new Lifehouse building which is a project I am contributing to particularly in design ideas from the patient users perspective.”
“From my experiences I believe I have learnt a great deal about staying positive and fighting for what you believe in. I have gained an enormous amount of strength. I am looking after myself a lot better in terms of being more aware of diet, nutrition and health and I have certainly learnt to appreciate the important things of life so much more. I could not have done it without the support from my husband, family and friends. I have found a new zest for life and look forward to living a healthy life and also look forward to seeing the difference that Lifehouse will make to future cancer patients, carers and survivors,” Milica said.
June 2010