Not Why Me? - But How Me?

Through all of this, I have never asked "why me?". But since I am not exactly the prototypical victim (gender and age) of this disease, I have thought about some things in my past that may have contributed to this condition. I know most times cancer just happens. But in the back of your mind, you can't help to think about growing up next to a paper mill, faulty microwaves, working in an office under high-voltage transmission lines or the dozens of dental x-rays that you have received through your years.

In doing some quick research from a couple web sites, here are some recognized factors contributing to thyroid cancer:

1. Childhood Radiation - back in the late 50s and early 60s, they actually used focused radiation to try to treat tonsils, enlarged lymph nodes, acne and the like. These folks are probably at the highest risk of all. I did have my tonsils taken out in the late 60s, but I didn't receive radiation treatments. But I do remember the old x-ray machine they used on me back then that seemed to hum and dim the lights every time they took a picture.
2. Trauma - as soon as I read this word, I had an immediate flashback. When I was a teenager, I was running through the garden in the backyard one night. The next thing I know is that I am staring up in the sky at the stars. Then the pain in my neck hit. Turns out that I ran into the wire strung-up for the bean poles in the garden. I was lucky I didn't cut my head off. Funny thing, I had a whelping scar and a voice like I have today for about a week after that.
3. Other Things - the Lord says to treat your body as a temple - well, I have treated mine like the Temple of Doom over the years. Any while I am sure this is not a reason, I can't help to notice that the microwave in the kitchen is actually just inches from my head in the bed through the wall. I did grow-up less than a mile from a major paper mill and actually went to kindergarten and elementary school in the shadows of it's smoke stacks.

Well, there doesn't seem to be enough evidence to call Erin Brockovich on this one. And the reason that I don't ask "why me?" is because I know there is a reason "why me?" Only the Lord knows what the plan is at this time. It may be all about me and/or my family - or even YOU. You never know!