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Original poster

I need some serious handholding. It seems I may have cancer

35 replies

PenisColada · 14/12/2012 16:10

I had a biopsy on a thyroid nodule a week ago. Just had a call from hospital and consultant wants to see me next week.

Shit. It is not going to be good news.

OP posts:
ohmeohmy · 14/12/2012 16:13

Take my hand... Really hard to have to wait. Hope it is not what you fear

SweetestThing · 14/12/2012 16:13

Couldn't read this and not post. At this point, you don't know what the consultant is going to tell you and, tempting as it is to think the worst, it might not be cancer. Don't anticipate the worst at this point. I know it's easy for me to say that, but it could be something far less serious than cancer. When is your appointment? Can someone go with you?

SwimmingLikeADuck · 14/12/2012 16:14

Mine too. Try to distract yourself this weekend and keep busy x

lisad123 · 14/12/2012 16:15

Have they given any signs that its cancer?
Just because they want to see you, it doesn't mean it's cancer. They like to deal with things quickly as they know people worry.
Have some Brew and Thanks

SledsImOn · 14/12/2012 16:16

If it is, then it's one of the better ones to have. I hope it's sorted very quickly x

chickydoo · 14/12/2012 16:17

Try & do something nice this weekend. Try not to worry
Take one day at a time

frequentwee · 14/12/2012 16:23

Thinking of you.x

Original poster
PenisColada · 14/12/2012 16:50

I am terrified. Why else would she call me back in unless it is cancer ?

When I had initial appt she said if it was nothing to worry about she would write and discharge me.

OP posts:
rednosedreindeerinthegarden · 14/12/2012 16:55

handholding, penis

You don't know why you are being called back.
Whatever the reason, you are being seen quickly. Even, Even if it IS cancer (and you don't know if that's the case), there are effective treatments.
it is really easy for me to say, but, please, try not to pre-empt anything. Stay positive, focus on Christmassy things and plan some lovely you time.x

DeafLeopard · 14/12/2012 16:57

Here's my hand.

Original poster
PenisColada · 14/12/2012 17:11

Thank you ladies. I am supposed to be going out tonight. I feel sick.

OP posts:
MaryAnnSingleton · 14/12/2012 17:51

take my hand too penis (snigger) Why not skip to the tamoxifen thread for hand holding too and some reassurance- it's not just for breast cancer folk- we are there for all kinds of stuff,people waiting for results etc -you'd be made very welcome xxx

MaryAnnSingleton · 14/12/2012 17:52

over here

WeAreSix · 14/12/2012 17:54

Another hand to hold.

I wish I had something useful to say!

hellymelly · 14/12/2012 17:54

My good friend had thyroid cancer at 31, had her thyroid removed, and has been fine ever since (she is 49 now). Hers was a more aggressive type, linked to Chernobyl, but thyroid cancer generally is very treatable and easy to track. So even in the worst case scenario it is highly likely that although you would need an op, you would survive the cancer.

Ummofumbridge · 14/12/2012 17:58

My DH had tests done on his bowels and got called back for the following week. I got a bit scared but they just wanted to discuss the fact they thought he had an infection and he needed anti biotics!
It could be you have a thyroid problem (non cancerous) that needs treating. It could be a lot of things.
Good luck

mumof3teens · 14/12/2012 19:32

Just to second what others have said re Thyroid cancer (if it is that, of course). V treatable and one of the 'best' kinds to have. All the very best for next week.

MrsJingleBells74 · 14/12/2012 19:34

Nothing to add I'm afraid but here's my hand to hold too.

Siobhan487 · 14/12/2012 20:04

Hi - right, calm down - I have literally just been through this last month - I had the first biopsy just over a year ago was then called back in to be told it looked fine, but that NHS policy is to do a second one a year later and ONLY if that one is also clear can you be discharged. Well the second one came through a year later (October) I went along and had it. I then got a letter telling me I'd been moved to the specialist clinic and the main Consultant - I spent the next two weeks in pieces, totally convinced that it was going to be the worst possible news, couldn't concentrate, couldn't think of anything else, kept on thinking of missing DC growing up and sobbing etc. Finally got to the appointment - to be told that the second biopsy was clear and that I had to see the main consultant as he was the only one who could discharge me! I burst into tears on him and had to be taken for a cup of tea to calm down, I had got myself into such a state.

It may be that you can't be discharged by letter and have to see them to officially be discharged or that they need to do a second one in a years time or monitor it. One thing I did find out in my time of panicking was that if they find something dodgy in a thyroid biopsy they have you back ASAP, so not a couple of weeks but within days.

So, hopefully it is just something like that. On the off chance it is not, I did a lot of research in those two weeks and it did come across as one of the more treatable ones to have. There is a thyroid UK website I found that was useful.

So, I totally understand how you feel - I panicked and did exactly the same thing - and it was all ok - hopefully yours will be too!

Siobhan487 · 14/12/2012 21:42

Also, please excuse the "right - calm down" - was thinking/typing with my practical head on but reading it back it sounds a bit bossy - I really didn't mean to come across that way - it was meant to be a sympathetic and gentle "calm down" but I realise it reads rather more of a "CALM DOWN!" ...... hope you know what I meant was a gentle-soothing music-here's a tissue type "calm down"..........

QODRestYeMerryGentlemen · 14/12/2012 21:44

Hand holding away

NanTheWiser · 14/12/2012 22:16

Thyroid cancer rates for the UK run at about 2000 per year, so it's one of the rarer types, and as has already been said - it's one of the easiest to treat. Clare Balding had it a couple of years ago, and look at her now!

Original poster
PenisColada · 14/12/2012 23:30

I have just read about Clare Balding. Thanks for the kind words and the hand holding. I may not let go for awhile.

OP posts:
InVeryveryBadTaste · 14/12/2012 23:37

Oh Penis you can hold on to us for as long and as hard as you need Xmas Wink

You might need to name change actually as your thread is going to end up full of innuendo instead of handholding Xmas Grin
On a serious note, Siobhan has a point you know about the protocols etc the hosp and lab will have to follow. This may be nothing, it may be something minor, it may be more than that. BUT you can and you will get through this.
(((hugs))) although i know they are not allowed

InVeryveryBadTaste · 20/12/2012 22:10

Hi Penis, just wondered how you got on this week?
Hoping everything went well Xmas Smile