FAST N’ LOUD Christie Brimberry cancer battle update

We’ve been quite vocal (in written form at least) about our admiration for Fast N’ Loud star Christie Brimberry, and we were shocked when she announced on Facebook in October that she had a complete thyroidectomy in an attempt to remove cancer in her thyroid, trachea, and lymph nodes. To make matters worse, the nerve to Christie’s voice box was severed during the initial surgical procedure, meaning she would be without her voice for up to six months as she recovered.

After initially being motivated to share the announcement in hopes that it might motivate others that think something might be wrong with them to “GO TO THE DOCTOR,” Christie has since continued to update her fans on her recovery, which included another surgical procedure on her vocal chords as well as radioactive treatment just last week.

Here are all of Christie’s health updates, including her initial announcement, arranged chronologically and ending with her most recent update on Christmas Day. Of course we wish her all the best and couldn’t be more thankful that she has such loving friends and family to help her through this — not to mention the outpouring of support from her fans, which she repeatedly expresses her gratitude for.

OCTOBER 24

There’s something I feel like I need to share with you all because a lot of you have become like family to me, and I love how supportive the majority of you have been all these years. In saying that, I also want to say that I’m not posting this for ANY kind of pity. I’m posting this to say, if you think something might be wrong with you, GO TO THE DOCTOR. So, here goes…

At the end of August, I felt a small knot in my throat. I didn’t really think too much about it because I have Hashimoto’s (an auto-immune disease that attacks your thyroid) and it’s common to get nodules. I went to the doctor because it was annoying, like a finger in my throat. He sent me for an ultrasound and because of the size and calcification in the nodule, he sent me for a biopsy. We waited 12 days super scared for the doctor to call and confirm what I had been dreading: I have thyroid cancer and it had spread to at least one lymph node. And it is aggressive. But my doctor assured me that he would be able to remove my thyroid and a lymph node in an easy one-day surgery.

So 4 days ago I had surgery to get my thyroid and a lymph node removed. When I came out of surgery the doctor had not only removed my thyroid and a cluster of lymph nodes, but he also had to remove part of my trachea because the cancer had spread. In the process, the nerve to my voice box was cut and I will have no voice for a while, maybe up to 6 months.

I am home, and I am OK. I have a tube in my throat, but I will get that removed today and hopefully it will start to heal QUICKLY! I will have to take radiation soon and hopefully that will be the end. Despite everything, I feel lucky and I feel blessed to have so many supportive people around me helping me and my family get through this. The reason I’m putting this out there is because I want you guys to realize how important it is to see the doctor if you have something that doesn’t feel right. This journey only started 7 weeks ago and it had already progressed this far! PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! I love you guys. #f*ckcancer

NOVEMBER 4

Happy Friday! Thank you guys so much for the support and all the well wishes. It really helped keep me moving on the tough days.

I am doing pretty well. Tube is out, stitches are out and the scar hopefully will fade over the next year. I am a little emotional due to my thyroid hormone being out of whack, I’m fighting tears most of the time. I still have no voice, the nerve was severed during the surgery. They scoped my throat last week and the doctor said it would probably be 8-12 months before I have my voice back. The left side of my voice box is paralyzed for now which makes it hard to swallow completely and talk.

I am looking into having my vocal chords injected so I can at least talk until the nerve heals. I will take my Radioactive Iodine Treatment sometime after thanksgiving. Hopefully that will kill off anything that’s left. I will have a full body scan 8 days after RAI to see if anything comes up. Hopefully that will be the end of treatment but I will have to wait and see.

I love you guys and again thank you for supporting me through this journey. It’s been a little rough but you guys make it a little easier to deal with!

NOVEMBER 17

Made it out to the Leake Auction Company auction VIP party. Don’t worry, I may be hoarse but I can still yell at Richard Rawlings! (That’s Christie and Richard at the event together in the photo above.)

[In late November, Christie took a “much needed girls trip with my mother in law and my 2 senior girls” to Cancun, Mexico.]

DECEMBER 15

UPDATE: I’m sorry it’s been so long since the last update but it’s been a lot of doctor visits and waiting and trying to see what to do next.

I had surgery last Friday to inject my vocal chords, so I “temporarily” have my voice back for the next 2-3 months while we are waiting to see if the nerve that was severed in the original surgery is going to mend itself. The paralyzed side of my voice box has made no improvement at all so far but I am still optimistic. The doctor said it could take 8-12 months for the nerve to heal. I don’t have a lot of volume but I do have MY voice tone back, so yay for small wins.

I had to stop ALL of my thyroid medication 2 Saturdays ago in prep for my Radioactive iodine treatment that is scheduled for 12/19. Not having any thyroid hormone in your system (12 days now) is no joke. I’m super tired and very high anxiety/agitation. I am super emotional and seem to have little control of the tears. I also have been on a low iodine diet for the same 12 days and it REALLY sucks. No dairy, no eggs, no bread, nothing commercially processed and no eating out!! I think this may be part of my agitation!! Lol.

I am scheduled to take radioactive iodine on Monday and must be quarantined until my full body scan on 12/23. For me this is going to be the worst part of this journey so far. I will not be able to be with my husband or kids or anyone for that matter for 5 days!!!

I WILL GET TO BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS!! (Big win for me) As long as the scan on 12/23 comes back clear I believe this will be the end of the treatment part of my cancer. If it shows the cancer has spread then the treatment will then broaden to other things but I am going to remain positive and hopeful that it will come back clear!

I appreciate ALL of the well wishes and positive energy you guys have sent my way. It has helped me get through the craziest couple of months of my life. I love you guys and will keep you posted as I go through next week!

DECEMBER 25

I am truly blessed and have so much to be thankful for. The last week has been one of the hardest so far, having to take radioactive treatment for my cancer and being isolated from my family for the week. However, it gave me a lot of time to reflect, which is something I don’t have time to do most of the time between kids, husband, work and life.

I am so fortunate to have such a tremendous support system. I have a loving husband, super sweet kids and amazing friends. Thank you guys for the encouragement and all the support. There were a couple of days that I wasn’t sure if I could get through and I would read through the comments that you guys post about YOUR story or telling me not to give up and to keep fighting and it helped to put it back into perspective. I am truly blessed by you!! I am grateful!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I love you!

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You can keep up with Christie and share your words of support on her Facebook page. We certainly wish her all the best and hope for as speedy a recovery as possible!