We are proud to share this open letter authored by TSN Director and Co-Founder, Jill Gurfinkel, in July 2015 which expresses what many of us with thyroid cancer often feel when told we have the easy cancer! There is no such thing! An open letter to Cindy Finch Dear Cindy: We want to thank you for admitting how insensitive and offensive you were when you published the article “,The 6 Injustices of Cancer,” recently published in the Huffington Post. While we also appreciate your invitation for us to send you two paragraphs that sums up what it is like to have thyroid cancer, your very offer und ..read more

This needs to be said: it’s ok to struggle. Losing a thyroid or having one that no longer functions is a significant trauma on your body. When it is gone or stops functioning, the rest of your body must try to compensate for this precious organ that regulated so much of our bodies. Often our adrenals, sex hormones, and mineral/vitamin levels are totally thrown off and it can take quite a bit of time to get everything balanced again. For some of us, losing our thyroids also brought many other issues to the surface, which can also derail our recovery, such as autoimmune issues. When you take all ..read more

There is some chatter going around, in other Facebook groups, to the effect reverse T3 testing is unnecessary and does not tell us anything. Nothing could be further from the real truth! When we read internet articles, as with anything, it is a good idea to have a few sources you really really trust and judge everything else by your trusted sources. For me, Kent Holtorf is one of those sources. The link below is an excellent synopsis of a study arguing that rT3 is the best indicator of tissue hormone levels. It is not very easy reading. Here is the conclusion, really all you must read: ,Revers ..read more

"But you don't look sick!" "You should workout more!" We've all been on the receiving end of well-intended, unsolicited, albeit misguided, advice & statements by loved ones that drive us absolutely nuts! In her latest blog post, Jill Gurfinkel, says what we've all been thinking every time we are faced with statements such as these! Click ,here to read Jill's latest post ,"More Than Meets The Eye ..read more

One of the most FRUSTRATING components of having thyroid disease is the unknown: You’re doing everything right, you’ve tweaked your meds 100 times, yet you still feel off. It could be your liver. This organ has over 500 important functions, and helping regulate the thyroid is one of them. It’s often overlooked by medical professionals, especially if their basic labs come back fine, but it is VITALLY important is relation to how our thyroid meds work. The liver is where most of the magic of T4 to T3 conversion happens….where the inactive hormone converts to the ACTIVE hormone that every cell ..read more

Originally published on http://jillgurfinkel.com/2018/01/the-hard-truth/ It’s been a while since I have written. Much of the last year has been devoted to dealing with one autoimmune issue after another, with my life being completely sidelined as a result. The last five years since my diagnosis with thyroid cancer have been nothing short of a roller coaster- and compared to many, I have had it easy. But there is that word again… “easy.” I know, I know. You have heard me say over and over again how thyroid cancer is not the “good cancer” and how we need to dispel that myth. This time, however ..read more

Nothing infuriates thyroid cancer patients more than when they hear thyroid cancer being touted as the "good cancer." After witnessing how drastically this alleged "easy cancer" has impacted the life of her best friend from college (and who also happens to be TSN Director & Co-Founder, Jill Gurfinkel), Jodi Meltzer Darter of The Mighty, has been determined to help dispel the myths often associated with thyroid cancer. Jodi recently shared Jill's journey in ,,"The 8 Realities of Thyroid Cancer" in order to shed light on the realities of this devastating disease. Please follow Jodi Meltzer ..read more

We can learn so much from other survivor's journeys. Angela's story is no different and underscores how important it is to take control over your health! The condensed version. RAI due to benign nodules. I wish I knew then what I know now because I would've done everything in my power to keep my thyroid by dietary and supplemental measures. But no...Little did I know that I would be tossed into a group of thyroid patients who are literally the endocrinologist's "red headed step child" - the forgotten ones. Endocrinologists specialize in blood sugar, thankfully, they are saving lives of many w ..read more

Guest Blog post by Kimberlee Jarvis Venting: No one told me thyroid cancer would be like this. I expected the fight, the need to survive and become cancer free. I did not expect the daily ups and downs I experience, even 2 years out. I did not expect to struggle to balance my medications. I did not expect to deal with severe anxiety. I did not expect to deal with emotions that don’t feel like my own. I did not expect to have pain like I do. I could go on and on. It’s unfortunate, but it’s now my life. I was told 2 years ago I had thyroid cancer. Then I was told it is no big deal. We just do s ..read more

After decades of being among the walking dead, I feel great. I had lost 75 pounds, then I settled around 165 pounds at 5'4", where I was pretty happy. This year in January, I started semi following KETO and went gluten, sugar, and lactose FREE. I found myself with my britches too big! I have been so afraid to buy clothes that fit me for sooooo long, I was wearing size 12-14. I went to the military base to buy some clothes, I put on a size 8 and it fit. I began my journey back to life in 2011 so I am in year 6 of recovery. Each year, I get better. I started from the pits of despair and severe c ..read more