Expert: Howard Lorenz - 5/24/2008

Question
Mr. Lorenz,

My question is this:
Earlier this year I had tried to enlist in the Navy. I had qualified for the Navy's nuclear problem and everything was looking clear until I took my physical examinations at the MEPS. The MEPS doctors discovered that my thyroid gland had been enlarged and I was temporarily disqualified and was instructed to have it checked out and dealt with. I haven't talked much with my recruiters since then, but the enlarged thyroid turned out to be more than I had expected.
I was diagnosed with a form of thyroid cancer. I went through two surgeries to remove my thyroid gland. Thyroid cancer is supposedly the most treatable form of cancer next to skin cancer. My doctors have told me that after treatment (which I am in the process of) is complete, I will be 100% normal. I will have to take a small pill every morning to make up for the lack of thyroid hormone, but other than that I will be 100% cancer free and healthy as can be. My doctors are telling me that I will most definitely be fit for duty, BUT I am not sure how the Navy will look at it. Do you think or know whether or not my conditions will be permanently disqualifying?

Thanks for your time,
Michael

Answer
I know that in most cases that surgeries to remove anything is disqualifying. Women who have had historectomies are DQ. The only way that I can tell you for sure is to go to the Navy and see what the current regs are. They adjust all the time for new advances in medicine...you already know what the worst answer will be...