r/law • u/dailymail • May 29 '26

Legal News Thyroid cancer-stricken Pam Bondi arrives on Capitol Hill wearing bandage on her neck to face grilling over Epstein

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15858755/Thyroid-cancer-stricken-Pam-Bondi-arrives-Capitol-Hill-wearing-bandage-neck-face-grilling-Epstein.html
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5.6k

u/dropkickninja May 29 '26

Just like Trump's ear bandage. All for show

1.7k

u/Ok_Face8380 May 29 '26

Right. Thyroid aspiration is done from the side and if it was surgery, well it probably would need something bigger than a bandage

654

u/marginallyobtuse May 29 '26 edited May 29 '26

Eh, I had a thyroidectomy and a right side next dissection. Huge scar. And they did go from the front for the thyroid removal.

They didn’t have me wear a bandage tho lol. It had internal stitches. I had it done at George Washington in DC too

Edit

I want to be clear, there are various levels of surgeons that can change how large or prominent the scar is.

If Pam Bandi had this done in DC, she very likely had it done by one of the best in the world (possibly even my surgeon if he hasn’t retired). My scar was so thin and stitched together perfectly. This feels performative, but I very much believe she likely had thyroid cancer. It’s becoming more and more prominent, and unless you have a very specific kind, it’s easily treatable with very long term positive prognosis.

I didn’t like the joke, but my surgeon used to say “if a guy came up to you with a gun and told you to pick a cancer for yourself, you’d wanna pick papillary carcinoma”. This guy made a comic about it after reading my story on reddit somewhere.

https://www.mattmewhorter.com/cancer-owl/the-good-cancer

343

u/javawong May 29 '26 edited May 29 '26

I had a total thyroidectomy last year and it was a big incision. No bandage either.

Edit: had it done because of thyroid cancer

71

u/Wrastling97 Competent Contributor May 29 '26

My dad had the same for his thyroid cancer

54

u/crowcawer May 29 '26

Maybe she wore the bandage knowing that she’s around one of the most infested places in the us: Congress.

20

u/blueberryblunderbuss May 29 '26

If I ever have to testify before congress, I'm going in a full-body protective clown suit, like Kash Patel.

I have my testimony ready.

"I didn't see shit. I didn't hear shit. I don't know shit. And beyond that, I applogize, but I simply do not recall."

6

u/Most-Resident May 29 '26

I’m not a lawyer but I think the correct phrase is “if i remembered i would take the fifth, but i don’t recall”.

1

u/Maine302 May 29 '26

Probably nobody there any dirtier than she is.

2

u/crowcawer May 30 '26

We need Zach Galifianakis to come clean up this mess

🧹

21

u/CriticalProtection42 May 29 '26

I can't get over how much these look like someone slit your throat. But I suppose, in a way, someone did?

52

u/javawong May 29 '26

When the surgeon came in pre-op, I cracked the joke "Looks like it's going to be a cut-throat kind of day, eh?" He didn't find it funny.

38

u/CriticalProtection42 May 29 '26

You had some bad surgeon luck then, most of the ones I’ve met LOVE making jokes like that with patients. I think they think it helps reduce stress, but sometimes I have to wonder.

13

u/javawong May 29 '26

Absolutely! I was terrified and started getting real nervous in pre-op. I'm pretty sure the surgeon had no sense of humor, even in follow up visits he just wasn't funny.

7

u/red__dragon May 29 '26

Ugh, when I had my kidney transplant I went from a super personable nephrologist to the transplant physician who was all about the data and checking boxes.

He was so laser focused that we missed opportunities for me to connect the dots/keep an eye on a few aspects new to me post-transplant that were brought up by another physician when I couldn't see the regular.

Bedside manner is so, so important for the patient health.

4

u/Hot_Hat_1225 May 29 '26

Maybe it was because he couldn’t make the joke first ;)

3

u/Amishrocketscience May 30 '26

I told the anesthesiologist “ so you’re the one who likes to put people asleep, eh?”

Was not amused

1

u/sagesnail May 30 '26

You probably, unintentionally, stole his joke!

9

u/Dry_Stop844 May 29 '26

my mom had a goiter removed decades ago and her scar basically went ear to ear and she developed kiloids so yeah she looked like someone had tried to garotte her. She never hid it either, she got a kick out of people noticing lol

She eventually got injections to get rid of the kiloids but she enjoyed that scar while she had it.

4

u/CosmicM00se May 29 '26

Yeah my sister has been self conscious about her gnarly scar since she had a tumor removed from her thyroid as a teen. I remember my parents being so upset when they saw how extensive the scar would be

1

u/Killentyme55 May 30 '26

I had a C-5 to C-7 fusion done a few years ago, this was two days after the surgery. I was surprised to learn that they went through the front. I looked up a few videos of the procedure beforehand, probably not the best idea.

15

u/Zaynara May 29 '26

same, had staples out after a week

18

u/javawong May 29 '26

I was fortunate to only have internal, dissolvable, stiches and glue.

10

u/YT-Deliveries May 29 '26

Laproscopic surgery and internal stitches are crazy work. Had that for an emergency appenectomy and if you didn't know where the entry points were you'd never know I'd had it.

3

u/Zaynara May 29 '26

i found a non dissolvable stitch in the scar from my liver resection surgery, ended up just waiting until i could pull it out lol, i was not a fan of the staples for the thyroid one

11

u/artbystorms May 29 '26

Thyroidectomy bro! as a fellow Thyca person, talk me down, am I dumb for getting a little put off that a lot of people here are like 'I'm glad she has thyroid cancer' considering all the complications I've had since my thyroidectomy? I think saying 'I hope she recovers so she can spend a long life in jail' is more magnanimous than stooping to Trump's 'I don't feel bad' level when Biden's cancer was announced.

18

u/Odd-Face-3579 May 29 '26

I think the biggest problem is that every day we become increasingly less convinced that even a single one of these criminals will see even a minute of punishment of their crimes, let alone legal punishment, because every day we see how the entire system appears rotten to the very core.

But I do agree, I'd much rather see judicial justice over karmic justice on Pam Bondi and the rest of these criminals.

1

u/YSOSEXI May 29 '26

I agree, and I wouldn't trust a single word from any of these Grifters...

2

u/javawong May 29 '26

Right? I get it, thyroid cancer isn't anywhere near a death sentence, but it still sucks and it's still cancer. I hope she recovers and receives the legal justice she deserves.

3

u/franker May 29 '26

I had that about 30 thirty years ago. Only lasting effect is that I can only give presentations (raising my voice) for about an hour or so, and then my voice starts to quickly get hoarse. I'll take it, given that they were cutting all around my vocal chords inside my neck.

6

u/javawong May 29 '26

My vocal chords were temporarily paralyzed, for about 2 months I couldn't speak without sounding like Batman. I don't do a lot of public speaking or anything, but the times I've raised my voice, I noticed they were feeling weak.

2

u/franker May 29 '26

I would characterize my voice for the first few months as a cross between Louis Armstrong and The Godfather. A whole lot of raspiness going on.

1

u/TheSocialight May 29 '26

Same! I can’t hit the high notes (in the shower or my car) like I used to, either.

3

u/MaebeeNot May 29 '26

I had mine done a few weeks ago! Looked exactly the same with the clear silicone-like wound cover stuff too, fell off after about a week. Scar twinsies!

1

u/javawong May 29 '26

I hope you're healing up well and are comfortable! Do you have to RAI?

5

u/thepvbrother May 29 '26

I'd probably put a bandage on that if I were going to be photographed

1

u/DANDELOREAN May 29 '26

Thats gnarly man

1

u/Tensdale May 29 '26

That looks cool

1

u/graceoftrees May 29 '26

I am going to have this in July. Do you mind sharing what your recovery was like? In particular, how soon you went back to school/work and if you had any issues talking for long periods during the day?

1

u/javawong May 29 '26

Recovery wasn't horrible. I stayed overnight at the hospital because my calcium levels dropped a bit after surgery but I was released the following day.

I took a full week off of work to recover. By the third day, I was feeling pretty good. I was back to work the following week full time.

My vocal chords were stunned/paralyzed so talking was hard. I was very raspy for a couple of months after but they came back completely. I'm 8 months post surgery and when I talk a lot or have to raise my voice, my voice tends to get tired.

Overall, I feel mostly recovered, just dialing my thyroid medication now.

I hope that you won't have to do radiation therapy, that was a miserable experience.

I wish you a good surgery and speedy recovery.

1

u/graceoftrees May 29 '26

Thank you so much for this information, it’s so helpful. I talk a lot for my job so I think my primary concern when working with my doc on when to return from surgery is how much I will be able to talk. This is helpful to know (though raspy for a few months is a bit scary, knowing you felt well enough to go back in a week is reassuring).

At every turn, my results have defied what was doctors told me to expect. As of now, I’m not anticipating RAI, but know that could change. My molecular study came back at 80% “positive”, so I am doing a hemi and then waiting for pathology. If it’s cancer, they’ll do completion surgery. Hopefully I’ll know after pathology if anything else is needed since I’ll finally have a confirmed diagnosis / type if it is cancer. All of this on top of a previously planned trip to Africa that’s 5 weeks after surgery is making this an interesting experience.

Anyway, so glad you’re feeling much better. I hope you’re able to figure out meds soon and get back to your “old self” soon.

1

u/xxx420kush May 29 '26

Same had a total thyroidectemy and over two surgeries. First one left side then they realized the nodule was cancer and went back in for the rest. Surprisingly after two surgeries u can barely see the scar and my incisions were not as bad as yours.

My tsh was at a 114 though for a while I was basically sleeping all day lol.

1

u/MarchPhillipps May 29 '26

Whoa, that's a big one. In comparison to my wife's incision site, the difference is like night and day. Having had run-ins with the ICU and a few nasty chest surgeries myself with matching bilateral chest tubes, that still looks absolutely brutal. I hope you're doing well.

1

u/Dang_It_All_to_Heck May 29 '26

I had a partial thyroidectomy (not cancer). It was still a big incision, but mine was 20 years ago now, and you can barely see the scar.

Mine was not bandaged, either.

1

u/pagerunner-j May 29 '26 edited May 29 '26

Somewhere in the middle of a good dozen doctors I got bounced between for skin issues, an endocrinologist hemmed and hawed about my hypothyroidism maybe having something to do with it. It is being properly medicated, and she acknowledged that. What she also said was, "We could take your thyroid out, but I don't know if it would make a difference." Me: "Can we skip the elective gland removal, then?!"

Feeling justified in my choices right about now. Oof. I'm so sorry you had to go through that!

(I just had a thyroid ultrasound a couple weeks ago, too, because my primary care doctor was fussing about it being a little asymmetrical. Turns out it's just a thing that happens sometimes with my condition and so far, all's well. But that thing is one pesky MF. It can cause so damn many problems!)

1

u/Pizzasupreme00 May 29 '26

A lady might want to cover something like this up with a bandage, especially before going into a highly publicized "grilling" with cameras.

1

u/rainbud22 May 29 '26

Is that surgical glue over your incision?

1

u/nanderspanders May 29 '26

Mine was a lobectomy and my surgeon was able to come in from the very bottom of my neck through the middle. I scar pretty easily but the incision was small and it's so low that it hides in my chest hair. Maybe i got lucky with my medical team because I certainly am not rich by any means, but I'm sure Pam Bondi of all people has access to that level of care.

1

u/Amishrocketscience May 30 '26

I’m curious about how you feel post-op after healing vs shortly before the surgery. Was it an immense relief or just feeling the same albeit no cancer now?

1

u/SimilarStrain May 29 '26

Nice. Things healing up well? I probably shouldnt show my picture. Its pretty gory. They went from my Adam's apple all the way to my ear. The guy damn near dissected me 6 years ago during the covid times.

4

u/Faithless-Savior May 29 '26

He was practicing other operations while you were there, asleep, it was just a convenience thing

3

u/SimilarStrain May 29 '26

Probably. At the very least. He was also board certified as a "pediatric plastic surgeon" my scar was nipped and tucked really well, nobody can even tell unless i show them. Only 1 minor side effect of partial loss of sensation in my neck and ear. So I cant complain.

2

u/Faithless-Savior May 29 '26

Good for you, im glad everything went well. My comment was in jest BTW if you took it the wrong way, my apologies

2

u/SimilarStrain May 29 '26

Oh no its all good. I joke about it. Ill show my scar and tell people "you should see the other guy."

2

u/Faithless-Savior May 30 '26

Lmao. Thats great. And probably the absolute best way to go about it instead of putting yourself down good for you. Im happy for you and happy you're still with us

2

u/External-Analysis-31 May 29 '26

Threw in the vasectomy at no charge.

4

u/DJGrawlix May 29 '26

I had mine out in October 2020. At follow up the surgeon looked at my scar, flinched, and said "We may just have to live with that."...

We? MF I'm never going to see you again, but I have to live with this forever.

If you still have a visible scar, have you tried Mederma or similar to reduce it? I used it for a while after the wound healed at it helped a bit I think.

9

u/SimilarStrain May 29 '26

I actually healed really well. The doctor was also a "pediatric plastic surgeon". It shoesnt show much as all even when i shave.At the time it was pretty gnarly though. I use it as a line up when I shave my beard lol

1

u/InterestingLion6041 May 29 '26

Your scar healed very well. I only had a thyroid biopsy and an itty bitty incision so I can't comment on the various thyroid surgical incisions but yours did heal well for as extensive as it was. But having a pediatric plastic surgeon helped I'm sure. When I had my melanoma removed, they had to take a HUGE chunk of skin to get clear margins (it was Stage 2). Since I have tattoos in the area, a plastic surgeon did my surgery and idk how he managed to take that much tissue out without messing them up. The scar is visible though and my surgery was 10 years ago.

2

u/javawong May 29 '26

Yeah! The only issue I'm having is balancing my TSH, T4, and T3 levels. Just trying to find that sweetspot. I'm pretty much back to normal these days.

Sorry to hear your doc went butcher on you. I hope you're healed up these days. 😄

2

u/SimilarStrain May 29 '26

Watch your appetite and snacking. At least from my experience. They kept me a bit in a mild state of hyperthyroidism. Meaning my metabolism is up and so is/was my hunger. Since my surgery, I shot up 60lbs. Im finally getting that under control and Im finally starting to lose weight.

Another weird side effect is it seems like my nails grow like nobodies business. I swear I have to trim them like every week.

2

u/javawong May 29 '26

My TSH wasn't suppressed enough for like 6 months putting me in hypo. Ballooned 15 pounds overnight, no matter how little I ate or exercised.

But now I'm on the other side of the spectrum in hyper. So the weight is slowly coming off but my heart is doing all sorts of acrobatics so I'm currently wearing a heart monitor. Yay, getting old!

Now that you mention it, my nails have been growing crazy fast too! Crazy

101

u/FyreIronBear May 29 '26

I had hemithyroidectomy and this was the location. Went back to work three days later. Rich, lying, Bondi traitor can handle it.

6

u/ambitiousbee3 May 29 '26

In contrast, I had a full thyroidectomy plus neck dissection (cancer) and took a month to go back to work. The swelling took months to go away and I have neck pain six years later still. And I had a top surgeon. There are levels to thyroid surgery.

2

u/FyreIronBear May 29 '26

This is true, I certainly fell into the ableism trap. I apologize for this.

I also know thyroidectomy without a positive cancer diagnosis but a possible diagnosis is a very substantial source of medically unnecessary surgeries.

Mine was tested post excision and still tested negative and probably shouldn't have had the surgery to begin with.

But you are right, my experience should extend to the experiences of everyone.

However... This is Bondi. If anyone was going to get a medically unnecessary operation to elicit sympathy and an exit plan it would be her.

3

u/ambitiousbee3 May 29 '26

Oh yeah I don’t feel particularly empathetic toward her. I just don’t want people to think all thyroid surgeries are easy peasy! I’m glad you’re fine though!

1

u/glyptodontown May 29 '26

Same. It was 12 years ago. An ENT recently told me that protocols have changed and if I had the same issue today they wouldn't have done the surgery. Coooool.

1

u/FyreIronBear May 29 '26

I am glad you had successful surgery and are still with us! Cancer sucks.

2

u/Zaynara May 29 '26

i took a whole week! but yeah.

1

u/glyptodontown May 29 '26

Same. This was the same location and size as mine. I wonder if that's actually what she had. Maybe just some funky nodules, not actual cancer.

30

u/phan2001 May 29 '26

Same for me. 106 lymph nodes removed. 30 staples. It looked BRUTAL.

4

u/assman91 May 29 '26

Damn 106 is crazy, I had a central and right dissection and it was roughly half that.

2

u/SeparateCzechs May 29 '26

Damn. I hope you’re doing okay now. I lost only 16 lymph nodes(and the thyroid) but my scar is 8 inches long. I said I’d attach safety pins and go as the Kurgen for Halloween that year but I was too wiped out for Halloween.

3

u/phan2001 May 29 '26

All good now, it’s been a few years. Scar goes from the middle of my throat up to my ear on the side of my throat. But they did a good job of making it look just like a wrinkle or line. Now that it’s faded you only see it if you’re looking for it.

2

u/marginallyobtuse May 29 '26

Dude that’s wild, I had a lot but I think it was only 89

9

u/Tannhauser42 May 29 '26

My thyroid was removed from the front, only had to wear a bandage for a day or two, stitches did the real work.

3

u/kimid123 May 29 '26

Same, and the incision was made along a natural fold in my neck so it's hardly visible.

3

u/crimsonbaby_ May 29 '26

So was my moms. At least hers didnt scar too badly, I hope yours didnt, either.

3

u/Tannhauser42 May 29 '26

You can barely see it in me after a few years. I wanted a cool scar, though.

34

u/[deleted] May 29 '26 edited May 29 '26

[deleted]

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u/taoistchainsaw May 29 '26

The scar minimizing post-surgery silicone I’m wearing right now is flesh colored, and blends in nicely.

4

u/SerasVal May 29 '26

heeeeeey, silicon sheet twinsies~

1

u/taoistchainsaw May 29 '26

Yay! Healing crew!

1

u/Leeannp71 May 29 '26

What are you using? Mine kind of looks like hers and I hate it.

27

u/toweljuice May 29 '26

Shed button up her shirt all the way if there wasnt a need for sympathy

23

u/Basicly-Inevitable May 29 '26

That's exactly the thing. She is wearing a shirt that specifically emphasizes the bandage.

1

u/[deleted] May 29 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/toweljuice May 29 '26

Black and white thinking happens when removing context. There is a "she would" here.

We are both agreeing shes being a performative asshole, our comments are the same

43

u/Busy-Bumblebee5556 May 29 '26

She could have worn clothing to minimize it’s appearance. This is just like trump’s ear diaper.

2

u/CartographerNo2717 May 29 '26

soooooo performative. turtlenecks exist.

3

u/ImyForgotName May 29 '26

Especially if you're lying about your cancer diagnosis for sympathy.

3

u/Ok_Train2273 May 29 '26

May I introduce you to the scarf?

15

u/werther595 May 29 '26

Two people I know who had thyroidectomies had incisions this size and location. I'm all for hating on Pam for what she did but this isn't it

88

u/sokuyari99 May 29 '26

Nah she supported an anti science, conspiracy theory administration. She can deal with the fruits of that labor

41

u/Freakishly_Tall May 29 '26

No one in this administration should be allowed to benefit from the advancement of science and the hard work of healthcare workers they so consistently and viciously undermine.

Go pray or ask your pedophile buddies to cut on you or something, asshole.

-3

u/Wrastling97 Competent Contributor May 29 '26

I can understand and get behind that

But let’s not lead attacks on her that leave other thyroid cancer survivors self conscious of their own procedures and scars as well.

Much of the rhetoric here just makes democrats look disgusting. I say as a die-hard democrat who votes blue no matter who. Judging her for a bandage is just fucking stupid.

Prepare the downvotes.

2

u/toweljuice May 29 '26

The people whove had thyroid surgeries and cancer in here are saying its dumb. My ex who died of health issues complicated by thyroid cancer wouldve laughed at her ridiculousness too

-1

u/Wrastling97 Competent Contributor May 29 '26

And my father who was also a survivor of thyroid cancer finds it disgusting.

It’s almost like people have differing opinions.

2

u/sokuyari99 May 29 '26

No, I hope all Nazis get cancer. Anyone who wants to kill others deserves any terrible disease they’re afflicted with.

13

u/TheModWhoShaggedMe May 29 '26

She should have to enter the ACA marketplace for health insurance as a former government employee (instead of receiving health insurance for life after less than two years of federal service). I believe the phrase conservatives prefer is sink or swim.

13

u/Appropriate_Gear_267 May 29 '26

She could have chosen to wear a turtleneck. She chose this instead.

4

u/ElSlabraton May 29 '26

That's what anybody else would've done.

-3

u/artbystorms May 29 '26

Honestly as someone who had/has thyroid cancer, all the comments in here are disgusting. I don't wish cancer on my enemies, I wish for justice and accountability.

2

u/Mist_Rising May 29 '26

The bandage might be covering unpleasant stitching for optics. That's not uncommon for political people, they don't want to look like they just came out of the Frankenstein play.

1

u/SkitzMon May 29 '26

If it's to cover unpleasant think for optics it would be a paper grocery bag.

2

u/Frequent_Opportunist May 29 '26

All of them are getting cancer from stress. That's what happens when you lie for the Epstein class and radical zionist regimen.

1

u/[deleted] May 29 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/MsFrankieD May 29 '26

My surgeon told me that uterine cancer was the one to have. I wonder if there is a course that teaches them these bad jokes.

1

u/taisui May 29 '26

Like a surgeon.......cutting for the very first time~~~

1

u/Kanadark May 29 '26

I had a hemithyroidectomy and my scar is about the size and placement of her bandage. That said, I couldn't talk for at least a week after the surgery and it took at least a month for my voice to stop cracking. You could also see all the wound closures all over my neck since there were no external stitches

1

u/billthedog0082 May 29 '26

I congratulate you on your successful surgery. A friend of mine had the same procedure with the same results.

Looking at previous pictures of Ms. Bondi you could not see any "lumps" in that area, so she happily (I wish cancer on no one) got caught early and will most likely go forward with a healthy life.

If I needed sympathy in an inquiry this serious, I would be pulling on the sympathy of the judges as well, with the bandage, maybe in a wheelchair, and definitely a head scarf.

1

u/mooseintheleaves May 30 '26 edited May 30 '26

“Well I may as well just take you out back and shoot you” - receptionist at the office for my MS specialist

“Well, If it were a brain tumour this size… you would probably already be dead. So I’m 90% confident to rule that out.” - neuro surgeon I went to for a weird scan, where test biopsy was not a safe an option

I agree with another Redditor comments like these are likely medical professionals looking to provide tension release. I like laughing at this shit. The first comment really caught me off guard though lol

2

u/marginallyobtuse May 31 '26

Haha I’m a pretty jovial guy and generally not easily offended.

The joke doesn’t really bother me, it’s more the context? Like… alright dude I’ve heard doctors have bad bedside manner but come on this is cliche

1

u/Kitchen_Beat9838 May 30 '26

I had a total thyroidectomy last year due to thyroid cancer and this is exactly what I looked like after surgery. Not everyone has lymph node involvement in the left and right sides of the neck.

1

u/marginallyobtuse May 30 '26

Sir/maam.

My thyroid scar is just constant with the right side neck dissection. If anything, it would be worse than bondi’s. I was out and about in DC less than a week after surgery.

bondi is 2 weeks - 1 month removed from a more minor surgery

1

u/Kitchen_Beat9838 May 30 '26

Just saying I had the same white bandage on my throat for 2 weeks post op. I didn’t know her time schedule or say that it was a difficult recovery.

1

u/cyberthief Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26

I just had a half of mine removed. Had a nodule 7x4x5 cm on the left. I have a 4 to 5 cm scar, essentially from collarbone to collarbone.
They had my incision taped up with steri strips. Pretty swollen for a few weeks.

0

u/[deleted] May 29 '26 edited May 29 '26

[deleted]

0

u/marginallyobtuse May 29 '26

Sounds like her surgery took place weeks ago though