Thyroid Cancer Stories from Patients and Survivors. I was blessed to have the best, Dr. Gary Clayman!! ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (tax ID #52-2169434) of thyroid cancer survivors, family members, and health care professionals.  He takes all the time you need to discuss your issues and to clarify anything that he discusses with you he always answers all of my questions and I never feel rushed or that I am just a number. My neck is still a little stiff, but I stopped taking painkillers four days after surgery. I am very nervous. You cannot imagine what a relief it was to hear his words of comfort and confidence!! Whatever I needed, Dr. Clayman came through for me. Thank you, Dr. Clayman for your attention and care. My surgery was late morning and I was out of bed eating a sandwich later in the evening. I had very little pain from the surgery (only over-the-counter pain medications needed) and no issues with my voice. He was so caring, so understanding and listened to every word I said - Understood my concerns. We flew to meet him and he was such a caring and imperturbable doctor. During all stages of development: Oral stage (birth to 5 days after mi onset, administer fibrinolytics whenever transfer delays are expected. Editor's note: Total thyroidectomy right neck dissection and central compartment dissection. I could not have selected a better surgeon than Dr. Clayman. This begins my journey to Dr. Gary Clayman in Tampa, Florida. I just found your site. Complicating the situation making it even more stressful, I was threatened with job loss when I disclosed to my boss the potential cancer and told her at five days off for thyroid surgery.  Dr. Clayman was extremely thorough, confident and a good listener. Since I had a mild anxiety, after having the cancer, I was always worried of my cancer coming back! I had no symptoms and was shocked and terrified with the thought of cancer, thyroid removal surgery, etc. Dr. Clayman reviewed my results, asked to see my actual US Neck and the prior year US Neck, as well as a current Chest CT. I am feeling GREAT. We did our research and met with a few local head and neck surgeons in NYC, but we were told there was no one like Dr. Clayman. He did an amazing job removing my thyroid. I did lose weight as I had no saliva, taste, swallowing problems, and an extremely sore throat. I am grateful to be a patient of Dr. Clayman and wish him that at this point of his career he not only teach his surgical skills to aspiring surgeons but his compassion, empathy and dedication to his patients as well. female, West Palm Beach, FL IT Project Manager D.O.S: 5/15/17. My surgeon, my friend. He performed the bilateral neck dissection and clean-up in the area where the Thyroid was removed. After radiation and chemotherapy, I recovered well. He explained my thyroid issue and the need not to wait. Dr. Clayman's knowledge and experience is unsurpassed. Only 25 of the 74 lymph nodes were malignant. I would trust any decision Dr. Clayman makes. He was kind, compassionate, and exquisitely qualified. I met Dr. Clayman, and, unbeknownst to him, he scheduled my surgery for my late motherâs birthday in January. No one said this would be easy. Sad but true. Los Angeles , CA. The surgery was performed and the results of the thyroidectomy were deemed highly successful, but the cancer was much more extensive than originally anticipated. He truly cares about his patients. or for our office, we would be happy to help. B. Altamonte Springs, Florida. When I went to the Clayman Thyroid Cancer Center in Tampa on August 9, the clinic staff was professional and compassionate.  I woke up in the morning to learn that he had removed all the cancer he could find, but he strongly advised follow-on external beam radiation therapy to preclude any speck of it he had not been able to access from firing up my cancer anew. In September 2015, I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer and my local Endocrinologist recommended several surgeons, but he said that if he had to have similar surgery he would use Dr. Gary Clayman. "I would appreciate your opinion. I had never had a surgery prior to my care with Dr. Clayman, so one might imagine the fearful thoughts running through my mind. His He was and is the savior I needed during the most difficult period of my life.Â. Dr. Clayman got back to me immediately, and because of his Dr. Clayman recommended that I apply a cream to the area every day which I did religiously. Again, I thank you for these years and I don't think I would have had them if I hadn't been lucky enough to have you as my doctor.Â. How many people want to hug their surgeons? I as every patient was faced with a conflict. Â, Your request for a testimonial came at a good moment. I was planning to write you to express my gratitude for five and a half years of life that I didn't expect. My diagnosis of anaplastic thyroid cancer was obviously considered more than serious- I could tell by the way doctors said the words of my diagnosis. My husband, my son and I rushed to your office on an already full day of appointments and you operated the next day on an already full day of surgeries. The next morning I had no pain and have not had any since. My scar is nothing to it! Size of my pinky maybe? When I first found out I had thyroid cancer, I had never been so fearful and emotionally brought down when I heard those words from my hometown physician. MTC comprises 3% to 4% of all thyroid cancers. A subsequent ultrasound showed that the thyroid gland was much larger than normal, and naturally I was alarmed. was always extremely caring and personable; he took the time to answer all So it came out positive and I had a whole thyroidectomy, along with several lymphnodes that were infected with the cancer. My scar is tiny and healed beautifully. â¨â¨Thanks! Not only was his surgical care excellent, but he remained actively involved in my post op care and ancillary treatment. After researching him, we found his credentials to be impeccable. ⢠Surgery is the best hope for a cure. I could not believe what just happened and was suddenly optimistic and hopeful during this incredibly scary and disheartened time. I had a hemi-T three days ago for a suspicious nodule. I then underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy immediately after surgery. We decided on a complete thyroidectomy, and Dr. Clayman performed the surgery. I had already lost one vocal cord's function prior to my surgery. Every other âexpertâ physician wanted to do a total laryngectomy while Dr.Clayman said a partial laryngectomy was possible. My endocrinologist recommended surgery to me today and I'm pretty nervous. I was very pleased with the treatment I received from Dr. Clayman, and would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone facing thyroid surgery. He really is the best doctor in the field. He was so reassuring and confident that I left reassured and confident. Doctor Clayman is both a life changer and a life saver. My endocrinologist, gave me the news and proceeded to tell me my surgery options and when he finished I asked "who would you go to for this surgery?' I told him to schedule it and I would be there. I had my thyroid surgery in October of 2014. Dr. Clayman is not only my doctor, he has also become a friend of mine. Melbourne Florida. Even though she was older, she is still my baby and I could not have been more happy with her choice of surgeons. I felt as if I had an army fighting for me. Translation, please minimize scarring. He continues to follow their progress long after the surgery and ensures their complete recovery by closely monitoring them and recommending a physical therapy program if needed. We were referred to Dr. Clayman and he accepted her as a patient very quickly. Dr. Clayman is everything you would want in a surgeon. Having my TT in two days. I am having a TT at the end of this week. I know I need to take it easy, and I do notice that I get a bit overwhelmed easily, but that is to be expected. I have a multinodular goiter too and will be having surgery in the next month. It was at this point in time I came to know and began treatment with Doctor Gary L. Clayman, a brilliant, multitalented, superbly skilled world class physician. Palm City , Florida I've called Gary for medical advice and have never felt like a burden rather a brother being helped by a brother. If I had to have a pre-op test done, he did it or was there while it was done. I requested a referral to Gary Clayman, M.D. Can't believe it's now been 16 years! Dr. Clayman took care of it and after one night in the hotel, I was cleared to start our trip back to Indiana. Dr. Clayman is everything you would want in a thyroid cancer surgeon and more. You seemed to be able to sense how I was. I have heard that its best to get the thyroidectomy, however I was not given that choice. I had a lot of questions before mine, and read a couple of posts by others waiting to have theirs, so I wanted to offer some words of encouragement. Writer Christine Coppa had her thyroid removed because of … On October 8, 2015, Dr. Clayman removed all of my thyroid gland and the lymph nodes of the side and central area of my neck. Dr. Clayman discussed everything in simple terms that we were able to understand. In January of 2017, I was diagnosed with a large mass on my right thyroid Lobe measuring about 8cm X 6cm. I have also read Dr. Claymanâs new book; Live It â A Diet & Exercise Program for Permanent Weight Loss, Disease Prevention, Longevity and Joyous Living.  I just remember Dr. Clayman saying in a very confident and reassuring manner, "we'll take care of you". I tribute the success of my cancer treatment to the experienced, accurate diagnosis of my thyroid cancer and the surgical skills of Dr..Gary Clayman to remove the malignant thyroid with minimum damage or side effects and also accurately determining the extent of invasiveness and condition of lymph nodes involved. I am a senior citizen that has never had many health problems. There had never been any history of cancer in my family. in California and the tumor was in fact malignant. He worked me up and ultimately diagnosed me with stage IV thyroid cancer with metastasis to multiple lymph nodes in my neck. I thank God for having placed you in my path! Please research his bio and related work on your own and I believe you will find he is an expert in thyroid disease and surgery. I chose him as my surgeon and my journey began...! What about my children? a year. E-mail us at info@gdatf.org!NEW! Thyroid lobectomy for large thyroid mass of undetermined malignant potential proven by surgery to be benign. I flew half away across the globe to see Dr. Clayman.  Nevertheless, she listened to my situation and promised to give Dr. Clayman the message. Dear Dr. Clayman⨠From the crash, I ended up being sent to the emergency room for a CT scan due to hitting my helmet and head on the pavement and being knocked out for several minutes. I have never had a detectable thyroglobulin since surgery or any ultrasound abnormalities. Janna’s Story. As I stood looking at the phone I couldnât believe he was calling. God bless and make sure you check your TSH and calcium levels whenever you get a … What surprised me was his ability to be fully present with me and my husband, his compassion, his kindness, his sense of humor, his ability to connect with us and his caring.  explicitly. I was born with a thyroglossal duct cyst. The timing of my thyroid cancer was terrible â our daughterâs wedding was scheduled three months after it was discovered. If you are in doubt do not hesitate to get a second opinion. Five years later, I was Would you like to share your own experience with Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroid nodules, or other issues? December 2nd was surgery day. Hi, I had the RAI treatment and Im exactly sure what you are looking for when you say "positive stories." Three months ago, Feb 2019, I had a complete thyroidectomy along with the removal of the tumor and one parathyroid gland. This doesn't necessarily mean there's permanent damage to the nerve that controls the vocal cords. I believe in my heart you saved his life. After thyroidectomy, a few people may experience neck pain and a hoarse or weak voice. F. S., 67y.o. Before and after surgery. He made sure my recovery went as planned and my I am well networked in the medical field and did my research. I am in the same boat. I credit the advanced knowledge/skills of Dr. Clayman, the advanced state of cancer research, and the care received by Dr. Clayman and his entire staff for my success. A blog about my troublesome thyroid gland. In 2011, Dr. Clayman surgically removed a large mass from the left portion of my thyroid. ~. Baton Rouge, LA. My comfort level and trust was with Dr. Clayman. I just wanted to say a few things about Dr. Gary Clayman. But if the unthinkable happens and she has a recurrence that needs surgery, Dr. Clayman would be my first choice for a surgeon to treat her. The doctors at Lovelace suggested another surgery be done. I wanted to know that it was possible to have this procedure and not end up with all of the problems I had read about.  Meanwhile, one of the members of my gym told me I had to go see Dr. Clayman. I, my wife, our three kids, and our extended family are forever grateful for Dr. Claymanâs lifework.  What doctor calls a stranger from his home on a Sunday night? It's really difficult to find positive stories. I was so fortunate to receive the good news that my tumor was not cancerous and celebrated by racing a triathlon one month after surgery. Some physicians have an inherent âgiftâ, a âsixth senseâ when it comes to diagnoses and procedures and other physicians have âbook knowledgeâ. I jad a total thyroidectomy in september 2015 and made VERY CLEAR to the doctor that I was a singer. I had never heard of Dr. Clayman, but I did some research on him and found him to be quite an accomplished surgeon with many years of experience in the head and neck area. It's difficult for me to put into words how much I appreciate Dr. Gary Clayman. I have been truly fortunate to have Dr. Clayman leading the team involved with my journey with cancer â fortunate not just because of his knowledge and experience but also because of his understanding of how a patient wants to be treated: namely with accurate information, urgency and compassion. His words to me were, âif you were my wife, daughter, or sister, I would send you to Dr. Gary Clayman.â With that personal recommendation, I made the decision to travel to see Dr. Clayman but not before I followed-up with my Endocrinologist in Miami. I live in North Canton, Ohio. Dr. Clayman performed a modified neck dissection on the left side of my neck, successfully identifying and cleaning out the thyroid cancer. Not only does Dr. Clayman stay current with the developments in his field, Dr. Clayman is giving with his time in speaking to cancer groups about the latest developments in thyroid cancer as well as surgical options for patients. I began researching my condition which led me to contacting Dr. Clayman since all the articles I read indicated that the best outcomes in thyroid surgery correlate directly with the experience and knowledge of the surgeon. He didn't hesitate with his reply, "Tampa General! During my biopsy, my endo was reassuring me that these lumps are usually benign (95%) and that I should be fine. I canât even count the times that he would answer his phone when we needed pain medicine or we were concerned about our daughter. I was not placed on chemotherapy due to the fact that my thyroid cancer was a slow growing cancer - but ultimately it metastasized to my lungs. I quickly understood I was in the presence of someone who had a lot of knowledge about thyroid issues and thyroid cancer, and he patiently answered questions that I am sure he has heard a million times. Dr. Gary Clayman is AWESOME! WRITTEN BY: Mary Lucas. Next he proceeded to dissect sections of the outer covering of the laryngeal nerve carefully removing the cancer thus sparing the ultra-sensitive nerve. I got severe hypo and gained massive weight while hardly eating anything. Upon getting this news, I contacted my ENT and discussed the findings with him. His staff is just as AWESOME. That need came in 2012. Dr. Clayman told me he would take care of it and he did!!!. Dr. Clayman was very professional and confident in my diagnosis. Every doctor I saw in When you walked in the room during my first meeting with you, you were up beat, positive and straight at me with your approach. Neck Pain and Stiffness . I respect the man and his work. Soon after, I myself became a patient of Dr. Clayman. It goes without saying, but years have passed since my revision, and Iâm doing better than everâvoice intact...and never a hint of cancer again! I had my TT in sept 2010, rai in nov, got an all clear and thought good. I m very nervous about side effects and going hypo, as my thyriod is working normally and my surgeeon thinks its most likely benign. If the cancer does come back, radioiodine treatment can still be given. Of course at first I was scared of surgery, and needles but what about the outcome? When I was moved from recovery to my room, I remember a couple of nurses commenting that Dr. Clayman had done my surgery. Prior to surgery, Doctor Clayman briefed my family, my wife, daughter, son and his wife, two granddaughters, on the procedure and what to expect. He will not take short cuts or do things that are not necessary.   Finally, my appt. My wife and I have a friend that took our advice and sought out Dr. Clayman first and after one surgery she is completely clear of her cancer (also MTC). The staging for thyroid cancer patients younger than 55 and those 55 and older are different, … Soon thereafter it was determined that the problems in the liver, kidney, and adrenal gland were benign. First, some background. In intermediate-risk patients, the initial TSH goal is 0.1 to 0.5 mU/L. If he called today, and stated that I needed more surgery, or whatever I would not hesitate to do what he said. I had that surgery in Sep 05. Dr. Clayman calmed my nerves about the surgery and the outcome. Once the bandage was removed I was surprised to see that there was very little visible signs of the surgery. Doctor Clayman encountered cancer that had spread into the soft tissue, lymph nodes, and one of the parathyroid glands within the central compartment. He operated on me the next day. In May of 2005, I underwent surgery to have my thyroid removed. My subsequent care could wait until after the wedding, even though his treatment plan included surgery and radioactive iodine. My diagnosis was complicated. Doctor Clayman routinely deals with the most extreme, difficult and most challenging thyroid cancer cases. The worry of the unknown, the cancer history of Wâs family, etc., did not have us in the best thoughts â When Dr. Clayman entered the room, it was a breath of fresh air. Before our trip, I had checked on Dr. Claymanâs reputation as one of the nationâs most experienced and respected surgeons in his field. I made it! Dr.Clayman's surgical staff from all over the country, kept my husband informed  during my procedure as well as raved to the surgical skills of Dr.Clayman. Everyone who sees my scar is impressed with how minimal it is even though my thyroid was very large. I thank God for Dr. Clayman everyday. â I have just completed five years cancer free and am now a survivor. He is my angel, he is my strength, and I will never ever forget his reassuring and soothing voice telling me to go enjoy your life!  The best part is that my cancer is now 100% cured. I have more energy, I am sleeping better, I am finding it easier to control my weight and I am much more stable. Unfortunately they cannot save any of my thyroid. We went to Tampa and couldn't have been treated better. I just wanted everyone to know that I am still very glad that I made the decision to have my large goiter removed. He seeks their direct input and collaborates with them on every aspect of their care. I later found out that Dr Clayman was a leading expert who is a nationally known expert who has conducted extensive research into thyroid cancer treatments â both surgical and non-surgical. Knowing that I was in the absolute best of hands (and heart) I experienced no fear going into my surgery. He is an icon in the thyroid cancer surgery field. For 20 years, our positive news from around the world has uplifted and inspired millions to become more optimistic. My MTC Story By Kathryn B. W., 2007. First, the community in Tampa will surely benefit from your presence, as the community at MD Anderson and in Houston will surely miss you. For that, I remain eternally grateful.Â. Now at eighty three my knees are not good. Thirteen years after the surgery, my scar is barely noticeable to me or others. My 6 hour surgery (performed off- schedule to accommodate my sudden appearance on his horizon) was a success in every sense of the word, and the scar is almost invisible. I knew Dr. Clayman through a friend and relative. My Thyroid Story.  I have been cancer free in for over two years. I was looking for their point of view. Thank you! I hope that others who require a thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease will read this blog to find a more positive outcome. I met with Dr. Clayman about my upcoming thyroid surgery and he made me feel like I was his only patient. Dr. Clayman did a neck dissection in August 2017 and I still had/have a voice! I didn't think too much about it but I did make an appointment with the PA (not the doctor). She ordered several test which the results were all negative. You never treated me like I was sick and you felt sorry for me. University of Florida College of Medicine 4 percentile, and in the hypothalamus. Kristin feels like her health has improved. As he only did 4-5 of these surgeries a year, he felt that I needed to be in the hands of a surgeon that did this type of surgery a couple times a week and that the only person he would recommend was Dr. Gary Clayman at MD Anderson. I'm a little nervous about surgery and how I will feel after. After the surgery he was confident and assured me all cancer was gone, but recommended 7 weeks of radiation which was brutal but necessary. He continued his care with me while I went through radiation and has never left my side. Dr. Gary Clayman was quickly pointed out to me as a national expert in treating thyroid disease. He went over my surgical report and adjusted my medication. I was diagnosed with metastatic thyroid cancer, specifically papillary carcinoma on April 29, 2014 at the age of 37. Gary is a master of his field packaged in an empathy and kindness not found among most people let alone thought leaders and elite medical professionals. He makes you feel like you are the most important patient!  Dr. Gary Clayman headed up my medical team that evaluated and treated me. A series of tests was ordered and the first test I was to have was another sonogram. The sonogram tech told me after a few minutes that he thought I had cancer in my lymph nodes also. I related to him all of my previous tests in Tyler but he asked if he could do a fine needle aspiration. I agreed and after maybe 15 minutes he came back with the results that I did have cancer in my lymph nodes. After numerous other tests, a time was set up for surgery with Dr. Clayman. I was terrified that a trachea resection may be in order, but after five and one-half hours on the operating table, Dr. Clayman was able to separate the tissue between the trachea and the thyroid and remove my thyroid. Five Years Later: Reflections and Celebrations of a Former Graves Girl, contributed via email by Christina Aragon Dr Clayman is one of the leading experts who has promoted less invasive and limited thyroid cancer surgery so you have the best chance of preserving your voice, your nerves, your parathyroid (calcium control) glands, and all of the other vital structures within your neck.Â, In summary, Dr Clayman is the best and most knowledgeable thyroid cancer surgeon in the country. What a blessing and a gift to humanity he is.  I went first to the surgeon he recommended, who scared me to death about the possibilities of the cancer spreading to my lymph nodes. In 2006, one year after the first surgery, I returned to Lovelace for my annual check up. I don’t remember if it was one side or both, but it resolved on its own a few days later. I became really nervous with that response. A few weeks later I had my surgery at Tampa General Hospital with Dr. Clayman. I instantly was reassured and I knew I was in the hands of the best! If you have had difficult experiences coping with your thyroid condition but have come through it and can offer hope to others then please let us know your story. Patient cured of rarely cured thyroid cancer. in to see how I was feeling. I was thinking about having a hysterectomy, but after reading your stories I have opted out. The surgery was successful and the recovery period was short. From there I had an RAI treatment and was told I would be fine - that this was the âmost curable cancer on the planetâ. What changed my mind was a phone call at 9:30 pm from Dr. Clayman. After my initial online inquiry, data submission, and phone calls with Dr. Clayman, I felt confident in placing my thyroid cancer surgery in his hands. I don't discount those stories and I am glad that I have read them. I underwent 30 days of programmed radiation. She said she knew I thought I would be on my feet fast but I was âolderâ and she did not think so. Monday morning several tests were performed.
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