Don's Latest Article (and thyroid cancer update)

Hi there folks -

Just a quick update to to let you all know that I'm alive and well.  They removed my thyroid about 2 weeks ago, during which time the added thyroid hormones they're dosing me with are making me a little crazy.  Ah, well, such is life.

The cancer seems to have spread a little farther than they expected, and was found in some of the surrounding lymph nodes.  I'm told this is nothing to worry too much about, totally normal and usually expected, but they had caught my cancer early enough that they'd hoped to avoid radiation treatments.  Looks like that won't happen, though, and I'll probably be going in for a single radiation treatment in 4 weeks.  Again, I'm told the process for thyroid cancer is the least awful of the bunch, and will likely only take 2 days to complete (not including recovery time).

On a happier note, my latest article has come out in "Mom, Guess What" magazine, where I write about my experiences being fat in gay society, in losing the past 236 pounds, and how its changed my life so far. 

Sadly, my Christmas article got cancelled when a publishing problem cancelled their end of year issue, so it's been a little while.  The latest article deals with how fat people are treated by doctors and how my gastric bypass surgery effected my feelings about finding out I had cancer.

You can find the article here:

http://www.momguesswhat.com/

The website can be a little hard to sift through.

1> When you get to the first page, click on the images of past issues.
2> On the next page, click on "Download MGW Online" in the upper left hand corner.
3> On the next page, right click on the top leftmost cover ("DJ Brett Henrichson"). 

If you enjoy my articles, this is the about the 19th in the series.  Prior articles can be read in prior issues.

Hope all of you are well and continuing to lose!

Don

PS - upside of thyroid hormones - if the dose is too big, weight loss is the side effect.  Lost 13 pounds in the past two weeks!  Woot!

LMAO Keep looking for that upside! It will do wonders for your recovery.

great to hear from you again Don.So glad you came through well and have radiation plan all set. Love that positive attitude about the weight loss. You rock dude!!

Missed you!  Glad to hear the thyroid cancer treatment course is going ok.  Off to read your next installment!  I still think you could pull the series together into a book.

Meg

Don, always good to hear from you. I so look forward to these articles. What a great positive attitude you have. It has helped you through your weight loss and now this surgery. I am sending positive thoughts your way and look forward to reading many more articles from you. -- Tom

Thanks for the update and the link. I always look forward to reading your articles and greatly anticipate them! I'm glad to hear that you're focusing on the positives- hang in there, we're all behind you (and we can see past you shrinking butt! -236 lbs is amazing BTW!!!!!)!

Thanks for the update! Can't wait to read the article!

Don, so glad you are alive and doing well and the surgery part is over. Always enjoy your articles and look forward to this one too.

Keep on keeping on....glad there are some positive side effects to the medication!

deb366

It's great to hear from you, Don. Glad you're doing better and staying positive.  You're an amazingly strong man who will make it through this perfectly.  We're always here for you, Don.  Keep up the positive attitude and I look forward to hearing that you're now cancer free!