Surviving and Thriving
— Paris Dancy

Barriers are obstacles that get in our way as we pursue a goal. These barriers sometimes are out of our control, but sometimes we allow them to stop our progress. My journey with Cushing’s disease had a few…

After having transsphenoidal pituitary surgery to remove a pituitary tumor in November 2015, followed by a gamma knife procedure a month later to remove the residual part of the tumor, I was closely monitored by my…

In 2018, I decided to stop using testosterone replacement therapy due to the side effects I was experiencing, most notably, increasingly aggressive behavior. One concern I had at the time, though, was that ending the treatment would cause…

In the Cushing’s disease and pituitary tumor community, families, friends, and significant others sometimes provide limited support, if any, to patients. There are many reasons for this, such as a patient’s lack of physical symptoms or…

How do I lose weight? What is the best diet for Cushing’s disease? How long until I start to see weight loss? Why do I lose a little bit of weight, plateau, then put it back on? These…

As a child, I always envisioned myself helping people. This is reflected in some of my earliest memories of getting ready for Halloween: I always wanted to be a doctor or a ninja. As I grew older, my career…

Since battling a pituitary tumor and Cushing’s disease, I have noticed that many other patients share similar concerns about types of support that are limited or unavailable. I believe there should be a program for Cushing’s patients…

One of the most frustrating experiences is going to see a physician about symptoms you’re having and being told there’s nothing wrong. Even worse is when you go to another physician who relies on the previous physician’s notes…

Hospitalizations can be difficult, especially if it’s your first time staying overnight. It’s uncomfortable not to be in your own bed, and the food usually isn’t the greatest, especially if your doctor has recommended a particular diet, such as…

Dealing with a medical condition of any kind is difficult. Often the focus is on the things we’re no longer able to do. I’d like to take a different perspective and look at how strong we are —…

What is postoperative care like when treating Cushing’s disease? In my experience, this question isn’t always fully answered by our physicians, and as patients, sometimes we must navigate the solutions on our own. After I had transsphenoidal…