Deputy Fire Chief, Ogden City Fire Department
I often think about what would have happened if I had waited a year. Don’t wait — get screened!
In 2008, I was fortunate to receive a fire department medical physical that included a cancer screening. The physical went well; however, I was found to have nodules on my thyroid. I was told to wait a year and see if the nodules grew or increased in number. I waited a month and was not comfortable waiting any longer. I reached out to a surgeon who was familiar with firefighter cancers, especially thyroid cancer. Within a week I had a biopsy with results that reported an abnormal finding. No cancer, just abnormal cells. The surgeon was concerned and scheduled surgery for the following week. I had my entire thyroid gland removed, and the left side of my gland contained cancer. The cancer did not reach the surface of the gland and therefore did not spread. I did not need chemotherapy or radiation and missed only one week of work.
I am so grateful for this screening. Thyroid cancer is a silent cancer — you do not have symptoms or pain. Typically, one finds out they have thyroid cancer when it spreads to another part of the body.
I had a one year old son at the time this occurred. I often think about what would have happened if I had waited a year. Don’t wait — get screened!