Update from McKinley 3.22.2026
Hello Hello!
I wanted to share a quick update on what’s ahead for me. After a few recent appointments, I feel like I have a clearer picture of the next step which feels surreal and a little overwhelming.
Medical update:I met with doctors at Denver Health and Anschutz, and I’ll be moving forward with treatment at Anschutz since they have a more specialized nuclear medicine program.
Based on my pathology, I’m considered higher risk for recurrence, so the recommended next step is RAI (radioactive iodine) treatment, which I’ll begin April 20th. RAI works by using radioactive iodine that is selectively absorbed by thyroid cells, allowing targeted radiation from within the body for remaining cancerous cells.
Because of this, for a period of time after treatment, I will be emitting radiation, which means I’ll need to be in isolation, likely for about 5–7 days, to keep others safe. That part feels especially scary, as someone who loves being around people and connection so deeply.
There are also a few preparation steps leading up to it:• A low iodine diet, which helps starve the cells of iodine so that when the radioactive iodine is introduced, it’s absorbed more effectively. This means avoiding anything with salt, dairy, eggs, seafood, and most processed foods/drinks.• Thyroid hormone injections beforehand to prepare my body for treatment
How I’m feeling:This part is so layered in a way that’s hard to fully explain:
In high school and college, studying chemical engineering, I spent a lot of time researching and learning about Marie Curie; she’s always been one of my favorite scientists. I’ve been fascinated by radiation and her work for the development of nuclear science.
So as intimidating as this treatment is, there’s also a part of me that recognizes this as a kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience to undergo a treatment that exists because of discoveries Marie played such a major role in.
I recently watched Radioactive on Amazon Prime. Seeing the origins of her work, the risks she took, and how her discoveries continue to impact medicine today made this all feel much more real. Highly recommend this movie for anyone interested in learning more about her and the incredible things she contributed to science.
It leaves me in this strange in-between space where I feel both fascinated and deeply scared. Like I understand just enough of the science to respect how powerful it is, but not enough to feel at ease with it. I’m doing my best to try and hold both: gratitude for the science, and fear of the experience.
One quote I have been thinking about when a wave of anxiety hits is what Pierre Curie (Maries Husband) said this in his 1905 Nobel Prize lecture “I am one of those who believe with Nobel that mankind will derive more good than harm from the new discoveries.” I also love this one from Marie- “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less”
Rose – Moments of gratitude:Having a clear plan and access to specialized careThe science and research that make this treatment possible
The people in my life who continue to support and walk alongside me
I am brainstorming how I can get through this treatment and knowing I have such a great support system is truly what is helping me face this scary experience
Thorn – Challenges:
The reality of being radioactivePreparing mentally and emotionally for isolationI will be in touch before treatment with some requests to help me get through this! For right now I’m doing my best to get my body to the healthiest it can be to get this treatment and filter it through my body with hopefully as little side effects as possible.
With Love,McKinley