Lump on thyroid - help I am panicking!

[sakuramiyagi]

I've been experiencing neck/throat pain, a blocked ear and odd sensation when swallowing since December. The frequency of these symptoms has been increasing.

To avoid drip feeding, I flagged the symptoms at a routine asthma check in Dec. The GP advised that these were probably due to me having a cold and I accepted that.

I tried to get an appointment to discuss again but I had to wait 3 weeks. Prior to the appointment in Feb my symptoms subsided, so I cancelled it. Unsurprisingly the symptoms returned again.

With the current climate, I had been trying to avoid taking up valuable GP time and had planned to persevere with the pain until lockdown was over. DH forced me to call our surgery yesterday as I've been struggling to sleep with the pressure and pain in my throat.

Fortunately I was seen via video conference and then asked to attend the surgery for a physical examination where they found a lump on my thyroid. I've had blood samples taken and been referred to ENT for an ultrasound. I'm now absolutely terrified that this could be something awful. We were TTC and have now put that on hold, which is a blow and I feel I'm slipping into a worry spiral.

I guess what I am asking is if anyone else has experienced this issue and what did it turn out to be? Have you made a full recovery?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Hi
Please try not to panic, most lumps turn out to be non cancerous on a thyroid. In my case it was cancerous but I had no symptoms and it was only discovered when a lump on my neck was pointed out.
ENT will probably ask for an ultrasound and also a FNA which is where they get a sample of the cells by using a needle, this is slightly uncomfortable but not really sore.

In my case it turned out to be positive for papillary cancer. I had my thyroid removed. Recovery was fairly quick and I am on medication for life, to replace the function of my thyroid. I then had a treatment called RAI, which is very uneventful when you shallow a radioactive iodine pill and stay in isolation for a short while.
Cancer is the worst case, but thyroid cancer is very slow growing, so if you aren’t seen immediately it won’t effect the outcome.
Try not to worry, x

A young relative of mine went through a similar experience last year, they'd noticed a lump at the front of their neck and when swallowing. Had an ultrasound and was told it was a thyroid growth which was inconclusive but he was told it may or may not be cancerous (sorry I don't mean to scare you). He ended up having to have it out and it turned out to be a harmless benign lump so please try not to worry.

Thank you very much @Tanfastic and @Doublethecuddles for taking the time to respond to my post.

I got my blood test results back yesterday and they all came back as normal. So my GP has now asked for the ENT referral to be marked as urgent.

If you don't mind me asking @Doublethecuddles how old are you? How long did it take for your FNA biopsy results to come back?

I'm trying really hard to be hopeful that it is a benign lump like your relative @Tanfastic. But I am finding it so hard not to go straight to the worst case scenario.

I think nodules on your thyroid are reasonably common so it could be that. If it does turn out to be cancer, the thyroid is a ‘good’ place to get it, as it is the only organ to absorb iodine so can be treated (the RAI mentioned above) without interfering with the rest of the body. Fingers crossed you’re fine anyway

I would be the same, it's understandable that you are worried and easy for me to say don't worry. I'm a worrier by nature too.

Like last poster said though, if and that is only If! It is cancerous it is a highly treatable cancer. My relative was told this that it was one of the most treatable cancers. Treatment sounded quick and efficient,we were all prepared for it to be a malignancy as they has pretty much prepared us for that...and it turned out not to be.

Good luck op, post back and let us know how you get on.

Thank you again for your support guys. I will be back to give you an update as soon as I've been seen.

It took about 3 weeks for my results to come back and with me it was a definite cancer as they tested a lymph node which came back positive. I got that diagnosis at the beginning of March and operated on the 12th April 2019 and then RAI in August 2019.
I was back running by the end of May, and was training for a half marathon before shut down. I am completely back to normal apart from a few slight problem with my medication.
It is a very treatable cancer, but the whole process is emotionally tough.
Fingers crossed it’s just a nodule .

About 6 years ago I had a huge lump that I noticed, it was like a golf ball when I swallowed (I try not to look at myself too much so don't know how long it had been there!). I completely panicked.

Was given an ultrasound, and it turned out to be a thyroglossal duct cyst. I had it removed because it looked horrible, and all was fine.

I do now have a thyroid problem (diagnosed with Hashimoto's last year) and am aware that nodules can be a problem, so it could be something like that?

Just wanted to try and reassure you though, I totally know the panic you are feeling as I had it too, I was convinced it was something awful.

Thank you again to everyone who took the time to respond to this thread.

After some back and forward with a slightly unhelpful consultant who wouldn't give me test results. It has been confirmed that I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis which is an autoimmune condition. My thyroid function is still in the normal ranges but I have been informed it will fail at some stage due to the damage my immune system is causing to it.

The swelling in my throat is thankfully not cancer, but a very enlarged right lobe of my Thyroid. I was prescribed a short course of steroids with a hope that may reduce the swelling but sadly that hasn't worked. I'm now waiting to hear back from the consultant again to see how we should proceed as I am still having issues swallowing and constant pain.

I'm remaining hopeful that round two with the consultant will yield better results than, "you will just have to live with it and continue taking painkillers".

Has anyone had experience with Hashimoto's?