Lump on Thyroid

[paddyclampo]

Has anyone had one of these and lived to tell the tale?

Thankfully it's just a big nodule, no sign of any malignancy so for now they're just going to monitor me. They did an ultrasound guided needle biopsy.

Thanks for asking :)

How was the biopsy? I've got mine in 10 days and I'm quite nervous! Thanks for updating, I was wondering how it had gone.

Glad it was good news.

My biopsy was ok. It was not pleasant but they gave some local anaesthetic so it do not hurt at all just pressing down on your throat as they use the ultrasound to guide it. It bruised a little bit and ached a bit after.

I can honestly say the biopsy was fine. I had to lie very still but it wasn't overly painful and didn't really bother me once it was done!

The worst bit was the 4 hours in between when I had to wait for the results - but better 4 hours than 2 weeks!

Wow I had to wait weeks for my results. 4 hours it a great turn around.

That's a first, to hear the results of a biopsy 4 hours afterwards. Are you in the UK OP?

Yes I am in the UK and it was on the NHS too. It was the Rapid Assessment Clinic for neck lumps. I know that they have a similar clinic for breast lumps at our hospital too :)

That's amazing, I was told it would be at least a week for results from mine. I'm also only just having the biopsy, having found the lump in May. I'm reassured that they obviously don't think it serious enough to put me on the rapid referral pathway, but I'll still be glad when it's all over. Glad you have the all clear OP.

My DD had a rapid referral for a biopsy - actually 5 of them as it was a cluster of calcified cells. We thought it was a quick result 3 days after which was a phone call to say all was benign.

Your hospital/clinic was amazing OP. Those 3 days waiting for DD and I was a nerve wracking time.

Great news paddy
Hurrah for the NHS

My referral to endocrinology is in 3 weeks time. Anyone know whether they do the biopsy at the initial appointment?

I had to go to see the dr who then referred me back to ultrasound for a biopsy. It took ages but she reassured me that thyroid nodules are very slow growing and very rarely nasty hence the non urgency.

With me they did an ultrasound and the biopsy at the initial appointment so I guess it varies. But as notjenkins says even malignant nodules grow slowly

My appointment is at 4pm and I don't know whether I'm going to be able to go (can't take time off work). If there's no urgency can I delay the appointment or is that a bad idea? I might have to pay for private out of my savings as the NHS only do one tuesday afternoon clinic a week, no choice of times or anything.

When I went for mine the first person I saw was a nurse who reassured me that even if the lump was cancerous, cancer of the thyroid is very low growing and there is an excellent chance of recovery. But while you're waiting for it to be looked at the worry is still unresolved. I'd phone the appointments service and ask for another time - the person who phoned me gave me a choice of 3.

Are they 100% sure the lump is on the thyroid as that was the first thing the ENT doc had to confirm. If it goes up and down when you swallow then it's thyroid.