July 31, 2008

FIRST LADY MARSHA BARBOUR DOING WELL AFTER SURGERY

First Lady Marsha Barbour underwent surgery to remove an enlarged thyroid gland on Monday, July 28, 2008. The surgery was performed by Dr. Vinod Anand at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, where the First Lady remained overnight.

The First Lady had developed a progressively enlarging “multinodular goiter” (multiple lumps within an enlarged thyroid gland) over the past few years. Ultrasound studies of her thyroid gland demonstrated a tripling in the size of at least one nodule in her thyroid gland. Because of a previous history of exposure to radiation and an enlarged lymph gland in her neck, there was a fair amount of concern for a possible cancerous process in her thyroid gland. After consulting with an endocrinologist and a surgeon, a decision to remove the gland was considered the best strategy from a long-term perspective.

She is recovering from surgery quite well. Fortunately, all the biopsies indicate her thyroid enlargement resulted from “benign nodules,” and there is no evidence of cancer. Her recovery is proceeding on schedule, and her prognosis is excellent.