Thyroid nodule

[Cupofteaandbiscuits]

Posting for traffic but also know that getting upset and stressed about this is probably my health anxiety talking!

The space between my periods has got longer and longer and the GP sent me for lots of tests. All came back ok apart from a cyst and nodule on my thyroid. The consultant radiographer who did the scan didn’t say a word to me so had no idea until the GP rang. She said the radiologist said for me to return for another scan in 6 months? Has anyone else had this? I have health anxiety so have of course convinced myself that it’s cancer but why would they just say a scan in 6 months and no other plan? I’m hoping someone else has had a similar situation as I won’t be able to speak to a GP anytime soon!

I’ve had this. Thyroid nodules are very common - I can’t remember the exact stats but I think it’s over half of people have them by the age of 50 and most will never know. It’s only a very small proportion that are cancer, and they can tell from an ultrasound scan whether they need to investigate further since there’s a well established way of knowing what cancerous or possibly cancerous nodules look like compared to benign ones.

They only normally treat benign nodules if they are so big they’re interfering with breathing or swallowing or are massively unsightly, or if they’ve gone “toxic”, ie, are producing too much hormone and causing overactive thyroid symptoms. Treatment is usually surgery and that is quite a simple operation with a quick recovery. If you’re being seen again in 6 months it might well be to check whether/how fast the nodules are growing to see if they need treatment. But I’d ask your medical team.

Even if it’s cancerous (which is very unlikely), almost all thyroid cancer is very treatable indeed, with a complete cure rate (they don’t even say remission) in the high 90%s. There’s currently even a debate about whether to test for or treat thyroid cancer routinely as it’s so unlikely to spread and become nastier.

I am NOT a doctor so please do check with your own doctor, but the above is what I was told when I went through treatment for thyroid nodules.

Thank you @CapaciousHandbag

Ive managed to get a GP appointment for a couple of weeks time but it’s such a long time to wait to discuss this.
however I understand a bit more why they were so casual about this! X

If it were cancer, they'd be seeing you a lot sooner than 6 months.

Can they tell from an ultrasound alone though?

With the caveat that I’m still not a doctor, yes, they have a classification system for nodules based on what they look like on ultrasound to show how likely they are to be cancerous. When my nodule was found I was seen on the 2 week pathway by the consultant and simultaneously sent for ultrasound and biopsy as one or two of my nodules ticked the “very slight possibility of cancer” box. Honestly, if they thought it was at all possible to be cancer they’d be putting you on the 2 week pathway. In my experience.

as @CapaciousHandbag says - they can't tell, but they can assess probabilities, and if cancer is still on the cards, things move quickly.

And I'm not a doctor either.

Apparently I have them as well. It was an incidental finding on an MRI scan for something else. No one has even mentioned them to me. I saw the report.

I've been told I have thyroid cancer from an ultrasound scan. My biopsy was inconclusive but I'm scheduled for surgery soon. I think if they haven't rushed you through for additional tests you can be fairly certain that don't think it is cancer, as they have moved very speedily with me based off the ultrasound result alone. I totally understand your worries though, so if you are unsure give your doctor a ring for reassurance.