It's Ok To Struggle
Jill Gurfinkel
by Jill Gurfinkel
2y ago
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
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More Than Meets the Eye
Jill Gurfinkel
by Jill Gurfinkel
2y ago
Over the years, I have heard my fair share of what I like to call “WTF statements” said with the best of intentions by well-meaning friends. Yet, these statements, no matter how well-intended, instantly make me wish I had stayed home, rather than the hours and fists-full of pills it took just to get me out of the house. While I know I sound dramatic, I know I am not alone! In fact, anyone with a chronic illness has been the recipient of these statements, and like me, they immediately feel their eyes roll to the back of their heads, wondering why they bothered in the first place. Trust me when ..read more
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The Hard Truth
Jill Gurfinkel
by Jill Gurfinkel
2y ago
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, I am going to say what everyone else in the thyroid community is really ..read more
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The Realities of Thyroid Cancer
Jill Gurfinkel
by Jill Gurfinkel
2y ago
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.    ..read more
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Enough is Enough!
Jill Gurfinkel
by Jill Gurfinkel
2y ago
Yesterday was a sad day in our small, online community of thyroid cancer survivors. Two survivors lost their battles to thyroid cancer. While that may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things, it is enormous for those of us branded with the scarlet letter of cancer. As many of my posts have explained, thyroid cancer is often dismissed as the “good cancer,” and as such, many doctors, cancer organizations, and even the public in general do not take this cancer seriously enough. Well, here is a news flash for you: thyroid cancer patients are sick to death of having to justify our diseas ..read more
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An Open Letter to Dr. Drew
Jill Gurfinkel
by Jill Gurfinkel
2y ago
Dear Dr. Drew Congratulations! In a brief statement to a political rag, you managed to reveal one of the biggest misconceptions about thyroid treatment, while at the same time serving as a prime example of just how ignorant the medical profession has become when it comes to treating thyroid disease. I am sure you are now searching for what it is you could have said that pissed off thyroid disease survivors everywhere, especially since this is certainly not your area of expertise. So, let me remind you. You recently claimed that Hillary Clinton’s medical care is somehow substandard; pointing t ..read more
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Is it really that easy?
Jill Gurfinkel
by Jill Gurfinkel
2y ago
It seems that during the holidays, we run as hot and cold as a cup of “hot” cocoa. One moment, we are as happy as a kid on Christmas morning with a mountain of presents with shiny red bows, only to find ourselves depressed the next moment having to clean up after the holiday frenzy of ripping open all of those gifts. Sure, it was fun for a moment, but now look at that mess! It’s amazing how quickly our emotions can swing especially when we spend the last few days of every year with the daunting task of reflecting on our lives. I know I am not alone when I admit that I often find myself yearnin ..read more
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“Divine Intervention- My Journey with Thyroid Cancer” as posted by Thyroid Nation
Jill Gurfinkel
by Jill Gurfinkel
2y ago
I am very honored to join the many amazing thyroid disease survivors who have been featured as one of Thyroid Nation’s Thyroid Thrivers! I cannot stress enough just how important it is for survivors of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer to share their stories! Not only will it better enable us to raise awareness about this often misunderstood disease, but it also spreads hope for those struggling with their own diagnosis. Thank you Thyroid Nation for providing me with the opportunity to do just that! You can read the article by clicking here or on the picture below ..read more
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Mommy Has Thyroid Cancer
Jill Gurfinkel
by Jill Gurfinkel
2y ago
This is from a guest blog post I wrote for HypothyroidMom about what it was like to tell my son that I had cancer. This is one decision that many of us with cancer struggle with, as we are often desperate to shield our children from the truth in order to protect them. I hope it helps anyone struggling with this decision! Thank you Dana for sharing my story! Here is the post as published on HypothyroidMom. Written by Jill Gurfinkel One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was tell my young son that I had cancer. As a mom, my first inclination was to shield him from the ugly truth I stru ..read more
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Thank you ThyroidChange!
Jill Gurfinkel
by Jill Gurfinkel
2y ago
I am so honored that ThyroidChange featured the Thyroid Survivor Network today on their page while sharing the article Jodi Meltzer Darter wrote about my struggle with thyroid cancer. It means a great deal to me that we can work together with other thyroid advocates to make things better for the entire thyroid community. Thank you ThyroidChange for supporting us!!! As posted by Thyroid Change: “ThyroidChange proudly shares this story, originally featured in the Huffington Post on April 5, 2015, “The Six Injustices of Thyroid Cancer.” This article was written in response to Cindy Finch’s “Six ..read more
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