Pregnant and on 2ww pathway as I’ve found a lump

[hereismydog]

I posted recently having noticed a large lump in my neck, assumed my thyroid had just gone a bit wonky with pregnancy hormones so saw my GP yesterday who has put me on the 2ww for head and neck to rule out cancer. I’ve had some other symptoms (tiredness, croaky voice) but it’s so difficult to know what is just plain hayfever or a pregnancy symptom and what isn’t. I’ve lost a bit of weight but I had horrible morning sickness through my entire first trimester so could be down to that.

I’m trying to keep it together and think rationally that it’s probably nothing sinister and my GP is just being cautious but I can’t help panicking. Would just like a handhold please while I wait

So so so sorry OP. I really hope you get good news. Nothing can really make you feel better or leas worried can it.

Your doctor is being cautious and referring you is the right thing. Hopefully it will be something simple which is easily resolved. Stay positive and good luck.

Thank you 🩷 I just feel stuck in limbo as I have to not only think about myself but my baby too, if it does turn out to be the worst-case scenario and baby is still too small to come out. I’m 16 weeks.

I’ll hold your hand. All I can say is take a day at a time. Try not to focus too much further ahead. I think uncertainty is very difficult to live with. I do 20 mins meditation every day and it’s massively helped me with my busy mind and tendency to catastrophise things .

I’m so sorry this is happening at what should be a lovely and happy time.

That should say 10 minutes!

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I had a not too dissimilar situation as I was diagnosed with a brain tumour when seven months pregnant. Not to say your lump is cancer - I truly hope it isn't - but just that I know that feeling of your world being turned upside down, at a time when you should be full of joy and looking forward to the future with your new baby. It's shit and terrifying and awful to go through. Sending you best wishes and a hand hold.

I think so too, she is also pregnant so perhaps just treating me with the caution she would like to be treated with. She is an excellent GP tbf.

Oh god I can’t imagine how that must have been. How are you and your little one doing now?

Thank you 🩷 it helps that I have a very practical and pragmatic partner who doesn’t let me spiral too much. He let me have a good bawl yesterday and then reminded me that I’ve already been through hell before and come out the other side. I have a tendency to catastrophise and he knows it, and always levels me out a bit. I’m very lucky to have him! He left me a tube of Lovehearts hidden under my car keys this morning. 🥹

He sounds lovely and just what you need. I do a daily meditation on Calm - I pay for it but I’m told there’s one called Breathe which is free. Meditating has made a tremendous difference to me even though sometimes I feel like I’ve done nothing and my mind has remained busy.

With any luck you’ll have an appointment before you know it. A few years back I had a lump in my jaw just under my ear - at first no pain or anything and was referred on 2ww. About 7 days in, I started to have really extreme pain and it turned out to be a v deep abscess in my neck - absolutely nothing to see on the surface, just swollen and v painful. I wouldn’t have guessed in a million years that it was something like that. I guess I’m trying to explain that not all neck lumps are a sign of something sinister.

Is this your first baby?

I had similar symptoms but was not pregnant. Obviously being pregnant raises the stakes.
However, I was cheerfully told by my consultant that "thyroid cancer is the best cancer you can have" ... and that is if you should indeed have thyroid cancer.
Apparently it's the cancer that has the highest chance of survival.
It didn't help me much when I heard the word cancer, I just closed down. But in hindsight... of course not all cancers are the same.
It all worked out fine with me. I had a few biopsies and when they were inconclusive I had surgery, which was minor. They found a so called micro cancer and I didn't need chemo or radio therapy.
All the best

I had a thyroidectomy when my daughter was 12 weeks old it was pre cancerous. My son has had thyroid cancer. Guess the family history is strong but we are both absolutely fine. Thyroid cancer is very very treatable.

I’ve got my appointment with the head and neck specialist on Sunday, DP has taken the day off to come with me. It’s first thing in the morning so we’re going to go for a nice breakfast after and a mooch around our favourite garden centre 😊 just trying to relax and try not to worry. My bloods came back and everything looks within range. 17 weeks today too 👶🏼

My Mum had a parathyroidectomy in her early 20s, so
possible family history of parathyroid issues. My calcium was 2.5 so on the higher end of the normal range, could be that.

Just back to update if anyone is still here holding my hand!

I’m having a biopsy on Thursday, but have my 20 week scan to look forward to on Friday 😊 trying to stay positive!

I’m still here. Hope all goes well on Thursday. Your scan on Friday will be exciting. 😊 Are you going to find out the gender?

We’ve decided to keep it a surprise! I think we’re having a boy, DP thinks girl and I’ve had an even split of guesses in between so it’ll be a true surprise!

I hope everything goes well for you OP. Try to relax as much as you can. I had a paryngeal cancer scare a few years ago but I was too ill at the time to really take it in. It was my family that had all of the worry. Thankfully everything was fine in the end. My sister was even thinking about how she could support DH with raising our children! The extra worry of your pregnancy must make it harder.

I hope you get answers soon OP. My husband was put on the 2 week pathway after he had a lump grow in his neck. It is worrying, but thankfully his turned out to be stones in his salivary gland. I'll keep my fingers crossed that yours are just as innocuous.

I had a very similar scenario when pregnant with my first baby. I was diagnosed with lymphoma in my second trimester. I am now in remission, pregnant again and my baby was born fine with no issues.

I just wanted to give you a positive outcome if you don't get the news you are hoping for.

Biopsy done today, they saw a well-defined mass on my thyroid so took 3 samples (fucking ouch!!), will be around a week for results. Radiologist was very open and honest with me and said he is 50/50 as to whether it’s malignant, but he checked all the local lymph nodes and they all appear clear, so if it is malignant, it hasn’t gone anywhere.

praying for you OP. I hope you get the news you desperately want.

I’m so glad that you have had the necessary tests and will keep everything crossed for you. 💐

Fingers crossed that the results are as good as they can be.

Good luck with your appt. And congratulations on your baby, focus on the good things to come for now 💕