AIBU to think the consultant must be about to give bad news?

[1haudyerwheesht]

Four weeks ago I had part of my thyroid removed. Prior to this I'd had an ultrasound and a fine needle biopsy. They diagnosed a follicular neoplasm and scheduled to get that half of my thyroid removed.

After the surgery the consultant said I'd get a telephone appointment in three weeks. This was arranged and a letter sent. Now I've had a letter and two calls to tell me it's now in person between Christmas and new year.

It's got to be bad news doesn't it?

I hope not. Could it perhaps be something that is not ideal but not bad if got on top of quickly?

Sending you best wishes.

Maybe not 'bad' news. Maybe just something that needs treating that shouldnt be left??

Not necessarily. You may simply have been given the wrong information initially.

But how stressful

I suppose it could be. It had concerning cells. I was originally told they were malignant then told it's possibly not and they won't know till it's taken out and sent to pathology. It was a 6cm growth on my thyroid. Just keep thinking I must need the rest out and more treatment. I Can't switch off.

Possibly.

I've just had a hemi for a thy3f. The results were back but he wouldn't tell me what they were until he had seen me face 2 face. The results were benign.

Not necessarily. Consultants in some disciplines are not getting referrals through due to Covid so have capacity to see people they wouldn’t normally. Best wishes.

It could be that they’ve scheduled an extra clinic short notice, and so booking appointments with f2f rather than telephone if there are the slots. I’m secretary at a hospital and this happens quite often at the minute due to clinician availability/unavailability.

Thank you. To be honest I was unreasonable to ask. It's not like anyone is going to say 'yes, you are about to die!'

thyroid cancer is very slow growing amd doesn't tend to spread quickly. Follicular cancer is the second most common and does slightly more than the most common type, but it's still a very treatable cancer.

But it could be as simple as he's decided he needs to see your scar and listen to your voice.

I am undergoing extensive surgery and medical therapy at three hospitals, located in various parts of the UK. I do not have cancer. I have complex care needs arising from a rare set of medical conditions. I elected for a telephone appointment as did not wish to travel to London last week. The consultant rang and said he preferred to see me in person as he could do a physical exam and explain therapy options in more detail. It could be that the consultant wants to take blood from you or arrange radiology on the day, and doesn't wish to ask your GP at a busy Xmas time. I wish you the best. Both my parents had cancer. Neither were brought to hospital in person to have the news delivered. One had a letter and the other had telephone calls reporting findings.

It's human nature to jump to the worst conclusion and you won't be able to stop thinking about the worst conclusion until you actually have your appointment.

Accept this horrible pressure and don't let anything else-however minor-add to it. Be gentle with yourself.

However, as other posters have pointed out there could be many reasons for the changed appointment so try to keep that somewhere at the back of your mind too.

I've booked people into last minute clinics like that, both for difficult news and for good news - because the consultant was aware that people would have had it hanging over them all over Christmas and wanted as many to know as quickly as possible.

Until you know, surround yourself with positivity and cosiness. Treat yourself as you deserve. Sending a handhold.

I run a specialty service. We put on extra clinics all the time and people end up F2F when they were told it would be telephone. It doesn’t necessarily mean bad news.

I also have consultants who insist on seeing all their patients face 2 face even for good news (that’s another issue!)

@1haudyerwheesht

Thank you. To be honest I was unreasonable to ask. It's not like anyone is going to say 'yes, you are about to die!'

No. You would be exteremly unlucky to die of thyroid cancer. If youve had a us then your lymph nodes are fine. Its vv common to find very tiny micro cancers in the thyroid once a lump is out. You may not see these on us (less than 2mm) and would have to biopsy exactly the right place by chance to pick these up on fna. If the lump is out then its out whole. You would be offered to have the rest out plus minus radio iodine or surveillance scanning depending on the pathological features. Please be reassured that even if this is thyroid cancer it is dealt with already and the rest is making sure.

I don't know if it is the same everywhere but when DH was given bad news after a biopsy he was told he could bring a friend for support (this was at the height of lockdown)