“You Have Cancer” – A Life-Changing Diagnosis and a Journey of Resilience
By: Laurence T. Gayao, MD, FAAFP, BCEM
“The mass I took from your neck is cancer.”
Those were the words my surgeon told me the morning after my three-hour neck surgery.
“Cancer?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yes, you have cancer.”
That moment, 19 years ago, is still etched in my memory as if it happened yesterday. At the time, I was at the peak of my career as an emergency medicine physician, living what I believed was a healthy life. I had never missed a day of work due to illness in 41 years. So how could I have cancer?
Ignoring the Signs
Two years before the surgery, I noticed my right thyroid lobe was larger than the left and was slowly growing. Having lived in the Philippines, where goiters were common, I convinced myself it was nothing more than a benign swelling. Even a casual conversation with a former medical school classmate—an endocrinologist—did not raise any alarms. Looking back, I wonder if I was simply in denial, rationalizing my condition instead of confronting it.
The wake-up call came at an alumni reunion I helped organize. A general surgeon noticed my neck mass and, along with an ENT specialist and a thoracic surgeon, urged me to have it examined. The thoracic surgeon recommended an ultrasound and needle biopsy, but when the biopsy came back negative for malignancy, I felt relieved.
But the doctors weren’t convinced. “You still need surgery,” the surgeon insisted. And so, I took time off work, flew with my wife to California, and prepared for what I thought would be a routine procedure.
The Unexpected Turns of Cancer
The morning before my surgery, I was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar face—the anesthesiologist was a college friend. But his expression changed after he ordered a chest X-ray.
“Your mass has pushed your trachea to the left,” he said. “It’s worse than we thought.”
For months before surgery, I had noticed subtle changes:
- My voice had shifted—once a bass/baritone, I could suddenly sing in a higher register.
- No pain, no breathing issues—only this odd vocal change.
After surgery, I learned the mass had grown into my chest, making the operation more complex than expected. And, of course, there was the devastating confirmation: it was cancer.
Searching for Answers
Like many cancer patients, my mind raced with questions. What caused this? I had lived a relatively healthy lifestyle—I ate well, exercised, and avoided harmful habits. But I also had:
- Decades of irregular sleep patterns due to the intense demands of emergency medicine.
- A high-adrenaline lifestyle, constantly pushing my body to its limits.
- A family history of cancer—my father died from pancreatic cancer.
Could any of these have contributed to my diagnosis?
Cancer is unpredictable. Every year, nearly 10 million people die worldwide from it, with about a million cases in the U.S. alone. Many of these deaths could be prevented or caught early with better awareness, screening, and lifestyle choices.
What I’ve Learned About Cancer
- Early detection is crucial. I had three colleagues diagnosed with different cancers who are all now in remission—because they caught their illness early.
- Know your family history. Genetics play a role, and shared environments can expose families to the same carcinogens.
- Lifestyle matters. A plant-based diet, regular exercise, and cancer screenings can make a difference.
- Be proactive with your health. Don’t wait until symptoms appear—by then, it may be too late.
My Ongoing Battle
Nineteen years later, my fight continues. I have had:
✅ Two neck surgeries for cancer recurrence.
✅ Two rounds of targeted radiation for bone metastasis.
✅ Another session scheduled next week.
Yet, through it all, I feel blessed. The irony? I have not experienced pain or discomfort from the illness. Thanks to the expert care at UT Southwestern Medical Center, my endocrinologist monitors me closely, keeping the disease in check.
Final Words: Take Control of Your Health
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: Don’t wait for the words “You have cancer” to change your life.
Start today. Eat better. Move more. Get screened. Stay informed.
Your health is your greatest asset—take care of it.
🔹 Have you or a loved one faced a cancer battle? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
#CancerAwareness #HealthMatters #EarlyDetectionSavesLives #NeverGiveUp #StayStrong
