neveronfriday Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Hi everyone, I didn't know if I should place this in the thread about the Mosaic discographies that has been silent for a while, but I decided to put it here. As some of you know, I have been quite ill for a while (the story of the past 6 years) and have pulled another Houdini for a few weeks ("good riddance", as some members here might say). I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer a while back (I expected the diagnosis), my second (milder) bout with cancer in my life. I spent quite a bit of time searching out the best surgeon for my problem (hooray for private insurance) and had my thyroid gland removed by a certified celebrity in the field (I needed the best as there was a high probability that my vocal chords might take a hit in the process and without those, my job would have been down the drain). The prognosis is 100% recovery although I do have to go for very mild and brief (4 days) radiation therapy at the end of April to make sure that everything is gone (left-over tissue is "burned away" into oblivion by the intake of one single pill). Thyroid cancer (of course, with my luck, I had to have the more dangerous type), is nasty because it often goes undetected. As silly as it might sound, it was mostly myself - with the help of some online friends of mine who are doctors - who pushed diagnostics in the right direction. One check ... "It's a bingo!" (use the Christoph Waltz intonation from "Inglorious Basterds" here, please)! It was caught in the early stages and did not (I'm going to have this double- and triple checked) spread to the lungs, which this nasty form usually does (mine was under 1cm in diameter). Just a heads up for those who perhaps have similar problems (in my case, another illness covered it up and lead doctors into the wrong direction) ... Hoarseness (spelled correctly?), weight gain (or loss), sleep disorder, personality changes, eye problems that won't go away, skin problems, plus more ... there's hardly anything that can't be attributed to thyroid disorders. If you have several symptoms and doctors can't explain things or are misled by two or three symptoms that don't fit ... have your thyroid gland checked via a simple and painless scan. In fact, the cancerous growth was discovered (and expected) because I had "hot" spots (red) slated for removal (hot spots were the cause of my problems). The doctor had the scan to also be able to look at and - if necessary - remove the "cold" spots (dark blue) which then turned out to be cancerous. In the hospital I met many people who hadn't been as lucky as I was. Their thyroid cancer had gone unnoticed for too long and had spread to the lymphatic system and the lungs. Very often, these people were successful businessmen and other professionals who simply ignored the signs that often seemed stress-related. On a sidenote: I had myself checked three times thoroughly in the past six months and the cancer went virtually unnoticed all that time. That kind of growth likes to fly below the radar and is often only discovered once you start looking for it specifically. In about 4 weeks I have the radiation therapy and will then probably have a clean slate. Until then, I have to live with various problems that are brought about intentionally to make the radiation therapy work flawlessly (sleep disorder, weight gain, drowsiness, etc.) as I'm not allowed to take hormones necessary after the removal of the thyroid gland. The "starved" hormone system will "suck up" the radiation and after that, I will be slowly brought back to normal (one pill before breakfast for the rest of my life ... that's it) ... as much as "normal" is a term that can be attributed to me, myself and I. So, my Internet activities and various pages I keep online will or will not be updated according to what I feel like. Health will come first and everything else comes second. Just wanted to let you know. I especially wanted to leave a thank you for many board members who inquired as to my health, to Mike (vajerzy) for swinging the Anita O'Day deal with me while I was in hospital (thanks a million!), and all the others who helped relieve the boredom that is "hospital" for the past week or two via e-mail and many very nice and touching words of encouragement (no idea how some of you found out as I kept quiet about it all, but I was sure glad you did!). @Mike: This year I set one goal for myself and that was to fill some glaring holes in my collection (new ones will open up soon enough, I assume). At the top of my list were the complete Dinah Washington on Mercury reissues (done), every single Siegel-Schwall Blues Band reissues (done ... although some of you might say I should have spent my hard-earned cash elsewhere) and, last, but absolutely not least, the Anita O'Day Mosaic box which I simply couldn't afford when it was available. Mike: It sounds silly, but knowing I have the set at a good price helped me through the past week, as mundane as that might sound. Thank you very much! I'm around (for better or for worse). Volkher (neveronfriday, deus62, ...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Volkher, So sorry to learn of this. I'm sure your warning will be helpful to someone in the future. Here's hoping for the speediest of recoveries and increased vigor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neveronfriday Posted March 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Volkher, So sorry to learn of this. I'm sure your warning will be helpful to someone in the future. Here's hoping for the speediest of recoveries and increased vigor! Thank you! I feel good and have a 100% positive outlook. Let me add another small anecdote here to add to the above. I lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, for many years and attended the International School there. I was an active musician then and for many years thereafter. In my class there was the ultimate Ry Cooder nut (and anything that falls into that category), guitarist, musical talent, geek. He went on to become a world-renowned expert on treating cancer in children (I have no idea what the term for this is) and has published and researched extensively in the field. It's a name that pops up top-three on just about any Google search for various intricate illnesses. He read a post on a private web site I keep and called me in the middle of the night (bloody four in the morning!) end-January and announced that he would be sending me an extensive "search list" for my two doctors. He was aware of the intricacies of diagnosing my condition which pointed to everything but ... Item #2 was spot-on. As a result, it took me two days to get a solid scan, two weeks to find a surgeon (also with his help) and a personal mail by him (from thousands of miles away !!!) to get me into the hospital two months ahead of the waiting list. a) Friendship is a good thing. b) We haven't seen each other in person for nearly 30 years. c) We're meeting in June (I invited him) for a jam session (he still plays regularly). d) There's not only porn on the Internet. Volkher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bichos Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 all my best wishes from me to you, volkher!!! may good music work also on your health!! keep boppin´ marcel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 I wish you all the best with your recovery! Not least so that, uh, well you know, you've got a very useful website to run.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffcrom Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Glad the prognosis is positive. Good thoughts sent your way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neveronfriday Posted March 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 all my best wishes from me to you, volkher!!! may good music work also on your health!! keep boppin´ marcel Thank you, Marcel! I took my Cowon S9 music/video player along to the hospital (a fabulous player with crummy/confusing (!) navigation/UI and otherwise spectacular capabilities!!! (lossless + most video formats). I brought along Dinah Washington (complete) and Bill Evans (mostly live material) only. It was the first time I had heard much of Bill Evans' last recordings front to back. Fabulous! The rest of the player was filled with American TV series to pass the time: "Threshold" (cancelled but very good), "Defying Gravity" (cancelled but very enjoyable), "the "John Adams" miniseries (!!) and a few films. I'm a sci-fi/fantasy/historical miniseries nut and got my fill, to boot! Hooray for modern technology! I wish you all the best with your recovery! Not least so that, uh, well you know, you've got a very useful website to run.... Thank you! I will try to keep it my site up to the best of my abilities (=what my current state will allow). Cheers! Volkher Glad the prognosis is positive. Good thoughts sent your way. Thank you very much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man with the Golden Arm Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Best to you in the recovery haul, and on. A good friend / client had thyroid removal a few months back that proved benign. She was w/o a voice for six weeks or so but after very dedicated vocal coaching therapy she is up to her old self and doing great. So good to hear your prognosis is top of the mark. Sounds like time for some of those cakes from the old BNBB days are in order! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 I'm sorry to hear this, best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neveronfriday Posted March 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Sounds like time for some of those cakes from the old BNBB days are in order! Thanks! And ... yes! I'm sorry to hear this, best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. Thanks, John! I'm in good spirits! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Best wishes to you, NOF, and so glad to hear that the prognosis is a good one. You are an institution around this place, my friend! Been listening to a lot of late-period Bill Evans myself (the CONSECRATION box). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERIGAN Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Volkher, so glad they caught this early(I assume?) you have the right attitude for a full recovery. You never know how important friends can be, down the road! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Volkher, sorry to read this! And happy about the prognosticated outcome at the same time! I thought about you several times, probably should have written... sorry I didn't, but as I said, very glad to hear you're on the road up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papsrus Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Glad to hear you have taken care of this and that the outcome/prognosis is excellent. The "C" word seems to be something that only affects other people, until it happens to you. Fortunately, there are effective treatments today for all sorts of cancers, and so we don't need to be terrified of the disease anymore. Watchful, yes. Terrified, no. Good luck, best wishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neveronfriday Posted March 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Volkher, sorry to read this! And happy about the prognosticated outcome at the same time! I thought about you several times, probably should have written... sorry I didn't, but as I said, very glad to hear you're on the road up! Thanks, Flurin, and (absolutely) ... no problem! Let's keep it rollin' here and elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Volkher, sorry to read this! And happy about the prognosticated outcome at the same time! I thought about you several times, probably should have written... sorry I didn't, but as I said, very glad to hear you're on the road up! Thanks, Flurin, and (absolutely) ... no problem! Let's keep it rollin' here and elsewhere. Yup... somewhen next year I might get the Basie thing started again (with major help from you...?) - hopefully... my blog hasn't been updated in many months. Time is just too rare!We can still target the 110th b-day and 30th year of death in 2014, in any case... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neveronfriday Posted March 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Volkher, sorry to read this! And happy about the prognosticated outcome at the same time! I thought about you several times, probably should have written... sorry I didn't, but as I said, very glad to hear you're on the road up! Thanks, Flurin, and (absolutely) ... no problem! Let's keep it rollin' here and elsewhere. Yup... somewhen next year I might get the Basie thing started again (with major help from you...?) - hopefully... my blog hasn't been updated in many months. Time is just too rare! I check on a weekly basis. PM me re a possible involvement. Volkher P.S.: Before end-May, beginning June I'll be dead to the universe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Volkher (neveronfriday, deus62, ...) I'll be damned; I never got the memo... Glad you're on the recovery side now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connoisseur series500 Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Glad to hear about the positive prognosis and likely full recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 (edited) 'The prognosis is 100% recovery' that's what is really important! Thought about you pretty often these days but kept my thoughts private. I was stupid enough to think you did not want to be disturbed during those troubled days! Keep on getting better, Volkher Edited March 30, 2010 by brownie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Glad to hear the prognosis is so encouraging. Add in the healing effects of good jazz and you should be good to go before you know it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 (edited) Just a heads up for those who perhaps have similar problems (in my case, another illness covered it up and lead doctors into the wrong direction) ... Hoarseness (spelled correctly?), weight gain (or loss), sleep disorder, personality changes, eye problems that won't go away, skin problems, plus more ... there's hardly anything that can't be attributed to thyroid disorders. If you have several symptoms and doctors can't explain things or are misled by two or three symptoms that don't fit ... have your thyroid gland checked via a simple and painless scan. can only second that - i know several people who were diagnosed only after they had spent some time in mental institutions (and who are now happily outside again without any problems...) i wish you all the best for your recovery! Edited March 30, 2010 by Niko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave James Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Hoping that the worst is now behind you. Sounds like you've had way more than your share of setbacks. I'm thinking you're overdue for a very lengthly bout of good health. Hang in there and keep a positive attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalupa Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Thyroid cancer is very, very curable. I think the survival rate is above 95%, IIRC. An ex-girlfriend of mine had it. She had to have two operations. They took out 1/2 of her thyroid thinking that it had not spread to the other side. Unfortunately, it had so they went back in and took out the other 1/2. She did the radiation pill too. Anyway long story short she's fine now (9 years later) and she had twins a few years back, too. Good luck and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son-of-a-Weizen Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Geez, that's terrible. I feel bad for you and know what you're going through as far as riding the emotional rollercoaster and all. Honest! Best of luck, Volkher! -Rolf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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