My Journey with Thyroid Cancer

UCLA Health article
By
2 min read

Last June, I was diagnosed for papillary thyroid cancer. When I was initially diagnosed, my greatest concern was that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. During my visit the doctor performed an ultrasound and found that the cancer had not spread. I had surgery to remove my entire thyroid gland 2 months later. The surgery was very easy - I came early in the morning, had the surgery, and left by 3pm the same day. Additionally, the healing process was very quick and I felt normal after 2 days. I came back for my 1 year follow up appointment today and am happy to find out that everything is going well. Prior to surgery, I researched various physicians and the condition thoroughly. Through my readings, I found that Dr. Yeh was the best surgeon for this procedure. Knowing that I would be in the best hands helped relieve some of my worries. I actually watched a YouTube video of the surgery I was going to have, because I wanted to see what it entailed. My advice to other patients would be to follow up and take their health seriously. Cancer has the potential to spread to the rest of your body. It's better not to postpone any treatment because it could lead to worse outcomes down the line. Thank you Dr. Yeh for being the best!