When I was finding out more about my alleged 'fat neck roll' last year, my mom told me that while I was still living in SF, she had two neck issues - one was a bump on the left side of her neck which was removed, a scar I didn't know she had. The other was a fluid filled cyst close to her thyroid - she was told it was not cancerous, but she was put on Synthroid for about six years (2001-2007). She only remembered this when I told her I was afraid of having my neck cut for the surgery. Seriously, all I could think of was my throat would be slit, from side to side, and in most cases when that happens, like a homicide, the person being cut does not survive. Your vocal cords, carotid artery, throat....all in that area. Much different from my arthroscopic knee surgery 12 years earlier. Much different. My mom's scar is faint and along one of her neck creases. A little reassuring, but still the thought of having my neck cut was still very freaky to me at the time.
As the weeks passed, I learned about more people - friends, family, or friends of friends/family - that had thyroid issues or thyroid surgery; interestingly enough, none that had thyroid cancer. Well, none until I heard from my aunt (one of my dad's sisters) who had ThyCa (papillary) and went through the whole process several years ago. It all helped to decrease my fear of the surgery I could not avoid if I wanted to know if my 'fat neck roll' was malignant or not.
Anyway, for a 76 year old fearless mom, how does her neck look?
And, how does my neck look?
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