How Ultrasound Saved My Life, and How It Can Save Yours

The next time you hear an ultrasound health screening is coming to your area, you might want to participate. It could save your life. It may have saved mine.

Several times a year our local Realtor association sponsors an ultrasound event for its members. That is basically a health screening, where participants take a series of medical test, such as blood, urine, and ultrasound, for a reasonable fee. The fee depends on what battery of test you want to take, and might range from $60 to $300.

The company that provides our health screening sets up shop for the afternoon at the offices of our Realtor association, and does the examines there. Many other organizations provide similar events throughout the country.

My husband and I decided to take advantage of the event, and signed up. My mother was skeptical. She had read about such screenings, and the general consensus was that they were a waste of money, one reason given was the high number of false positives, which could lead to unnecessary tests.

We decided to go through with the tests, in spite of my mother's warnings. When the tests were completed, I was told the ultrasound noted an irregularity with my thyroid.

Both my mother and my sister have had their thyroid's removed. My mother's thyroid had cancer, my sister's did not. Because of this, I always have my regular doctor check my thyroid during my annual exams. Blood tests and the physical exam never indicated a problem.

After I was given the results of the tests, I made an appointment with my mother's doctor, an ear, nose and throat specialist. At his office he gave me a second ultrasound exam, and also found something. He then did a test which is one I hope to never do again. He took a biopsy of my thyroid, by injecting a long needle into the front of my neck, while I was totally awake. It was one of the most uncomfortable procedures I've ever experienced. At that moment, I regretted participating in the health screening.

A week or so later the results of the doctor's tests came back. I had cancer. Fortunately, it was thyroid cancer, one of the more treatable cancers. Of course, in order to be treated it has to be detected. Luckily for me, I had participated in the health screening, and the cancer had been detected.

It has been over a year since my thyroid was removed, and I underwent treatment for the cancer. I am very grateful for the health screening, and even my mother has changed her opinion.