Dp has a lump (nodule) on thyroid, I'm so worried it could be malignant

[Twosugarsplease]

Dp has seen GP said it could be a nodule, ultra sound confirmed this on Monday.
Went back to hospital yesterday, expecting the biopsy to be done, and hoping for a bit of relief from worry, I was sat in waiting room with our little ds, then my dp comes out and said consultant basically asked him to have ultra sound and biopsy and date will follow, dp has had an ultra sound already,so yesterday was so frustrating, only thing positive was he asked if bloods had been done, which they have, and consultant said 'good' when my dp said they were fine.

Nodule is 33 millimetres in size, with a smaller one at the bottom, I'm so terrified that it could be malignant

Dp is fine, not really stressing at all, and telling me not to, we've googled, and he has read there is a 5 % chance nodules can be malignant.
I have constantly got this knot in my stomach and can barely think of anything else, I'm just so worried.

Is anyone a GP or in the know of thyroid nodules ? Thankyou.

Forgot to add that he has had this for a few yrs, causes no pain, isn't affecting his vocal cord at all, and only ever notices it when he is shaving. Just happened to mention it to GP during a visit.

Thyroid nodules can be benign or malignant, and only a biopsy can determine that, I know nothing about the 33mm - but seems large.
Even if it is malignant, I know of many who have had this and the cancer is a long time contained in the Thyroid and does not spread quickly.
The usual treatment is to have the whole of the Thyroid out, and to take the hormone Thyroxine in tablet form every day.

Good luck with the Biopsy.

Thankyou Digerd I was also worrying about if it could spread. He has had it for some time, he's actually beginning to think he has always had it ! Like the dr said benign nodules can be left alone as long as not causing discomfort. Surely if it had been malignant for sometime, his health would be suffering by now, or even here at all ?

I only know that Thyroid cancer does not spread to vital organs readily, like so many do. And is one of the most survivable cancers.

The blood test will have been to see if the Thyroid hormone secretion has been affected - overactive or underactive.- which would make your DH feel unwell
.

I had a nodule on my thyroid 12 years ago. It did turn out to be malignant but was encapsulated so hadn't spread. Only needed 2/3 of thyroid removed. I take thyroxine daily to make up the shortfall. Other than regular blood tests it causes me no further problems. Hopefully your husband is one of the vast majority that are non malignant but even if it is lots can be treated successfully. Good luck to you both.

Thankyou for your post mrsbacchus
Like digerd said, cancer can be contained in the thyroid and does not spread quickly, that is good to know, so if this turns out to be nasty, they could remove some or all of thyroid and be done ?

That's it exactly. Think I remember consultant saying I might need a dose of radiotherapy but apparently mine was so well contained that even that wasn't necessary.

It must have been a terrible time for you though
It's the waiting and wondering, we have had some good news financially, to get us out of a little hole, but it just doesn't matter, I will never winge or moan about anything again, this is by far the scariest thing I've been through, my dp has said to stop worrying, it's him with the lump, I know, but we're one, I just want this horrible knot in my stomach to bugger off

I had 2 cancers diagnosed but all IN Situ, which means caught early and not got to the spreading stage. One aged 37 and the other at 41, which was very dangerous and caught just in time.
My attitude was actually " a miss is as good as a mile". No radium or chemo needed.
However, my DH died of a very nasty, aggressive form of cancer, despite chemo and radium treatment. I am now 10 years older than he was and he was 6 years older than me. So, I try to count my blessings, as the saying goes.
I do understand how you feel with your DH, but his chances are good.
Before his biopsy, DH was told that tumours in his particular place were 90% malignant, and only 10% were benign, and he hadn't felt well for some years.

I have one of a similar size. I had an ultrasound which found it was very vascular so I was sent for a biopsy which is done under ultrasound (might be why his appointment is for an untrasound & biopsy as they are done together). The biopsy was fine, a little uncomfortable as it's done with no anaesthetic and was very quick. Wasn't warned they my thyroid would do into spasm though which lasted until the next day and it felt a little bruised for a couple of days. My results took a long while to come through, a muck up at the hospital so waited 7 weeks. Turned out to be a colloid nodule which is harmless. I have it scanned now and then to make sure it's not grown etc.

I researched alot before my biopsy and was bricking it until I found out that thyroid cancer is extremely treatable and easily treatable compared to most cancers. A friend of mines husband had it and was given the all clear within 12 months after treatment, he had his thyroid removed.

Please don't panic, odds are it's a nodule and he's fine, if it's malignant the odds are he'll be ok after treatment

My SILs BILs, all 4 had Thyroid cancer, had the Thyroid removed and are fine , years on.
A biopsy under Ultra Sound is the best method to get an accurate diagnosis of a Thyroid lump.
And if DH does have the whole Thyroid removed, the op is painless afterwards.
I had a sub-total Thyroidectomy for Hyperthyroidism < overactive>in 1974.
Couldn't move the neck much while skin was healing, but otherwise no pain at all.

The vast majority of thyroid nodules are benign. Ultrasound is usual with biopsy, it is to ensure needle goes in right place. Honestky, I really wouldn't worry at this stage and thyroid cancer, as others have said, is v treatable

I have one 40 mm nodule and one smaller nodule (which is harmless apparently) on my thyroid. I get the results of the biopsy on the larger nodule this week. I know the chances are that the nodule is benign, but I was wondering if anyone here has had a 'harmless' nodule removed as I'm told this is a possibility if it's uncomfortable or you feel self-conscious about it?

Mine presses against my throat and I've choked 4 times now while eating and drinking, told the GP and they said nothing about removal. I'm going to be going back though because I'm also constantly clearing my throat and mucus builds up in my tube because of it.

mrsvandertramp thankyou for posting, haven't got date yet for biopsy, I'm hoping is thread stays active, I would really appreciate to know how it went for you. I think my dp is decided if all well to leave his alone.
rikakaily that must be so uncomfortable for you, I would imagine they will ask if you want it removed.

Will be watching this thread.

I have a lump on the front of my neck. Moves when swallowing and looks golf ball sized. Have had it a month now.

Had blood tests for thyroid, full blood count and liver. All normal.

Got an ultrasound on Wednesday. Am terrified, have convinced myself it's cancer.

Am a single mum with 2 teenagers, so no one really at home to talk o.

I was only 25 when my Thyroid gland swelled to a big bulge, due to Hyperthyroidism and it was called a Goitre. It never occurred to me at that age it might be cancer, even though my DMs sister had died 4 years before of kidney/bowel cancer.
Even after treatment with tablets and was told I was in remission - knew that word was used in cancer- I knew it wasn,t as they never mentioned that word.
OP - not got your date for the biopsy yet? They can't think it is dangerous.
Smiled at DH wanting to leave it there and not have any op if benign.

RIKA
Choking 4 times - you must be treated. Can't believe your GP didn't do bother about it.

I'm due to have it scanned again soon, I have it done when they scan my liver (have an enlarged blood vessel in my liver that they are keeping an eye on) so will speak to the GP about it again. It's mainly drinks I'm choking on, I swallow normally but then it just goes down the wrong way all of a sudden, food is getting stuck nearly every meal too, so I have to have small bites and drinks to get it down. Last time it was scanned they said it had shrunk slightly, doesn't feel like it has, in fact the nodule feels bigger and is more visible on the outside too.

ilovefluffysheep hi, sorry your going through this too.
My dh's moves when swallowing, and according to GP at first check, that's a good thing, it's also about the same size, although he has had it for some time.
Please come back to tell how it went for you. I found the knowledge of the MN'rs and support enormously comforting.
digerd letter from hospital arrived just after dh left for work, so will find out the date when he gets home, then my tummy will start somersaults all over again. Thankyou so much for staying with the thread folks !

Oh, Twosugars, the sooner you know the better, I would have opened it myself as soon as it arrived.

Please let us know what the date of the biopsy is and if he was told anything then
My DH had to wait, but had been warned the chances were 90% malignant, only due to where it was,and we both went to see the specialist for the results when they were through.
Keep busy until DH comes home. The sooner the biopsy the better.

Ilove
Cancer doesn't usually grow that big in a month.
Good luck on Wednesday.

Thank you. Will definitely update after my scan on Wednesday.

Its the not knowing is the worst, its completely stressing me out. Even if it is the worst, I think I will be a lot better when I know, as whatever it is I can then tackle and deal with it.

Not knowing is making me not sleep, and its just going round and round my head.

Good luck for your DH Twosugars.

Dh came home for coffee, he's in and out a lot (driving instructor) and the letter is only to tell him biopsy and ultra sound is being arranged !
The last appointment was to tell us just that, now we have it in a letter.
I just want things moving like ilove said, it's the not knowing.
digerd I should have mentioned before now, that I am so sorry you lost your husband. You have certainly had more than your share of illness/cancer in your family. That is just awful.
I'd just like to say thanks for your contributions to this thread, they are all so much appreciated
Keep with us though...
Can we now call you DRdigerd !!!

Thanks ilove
Yes keep in touch with us, will be looking out for you, stay positive, so much digerd said, is easing my mind for dh.