Thyroid lump

[laralou28]

Hi all
I went for an ultrasound for a lump that was on my neck. They also found a lump on my thyroid. Has anyone else experienced this? I have been feeling unwell for years wondering if this is why. I have to go and have a needle put in both lumps to check them. Feeling a bit scared about everything

Fine needle aspiration is the next step to see if there are any cancerous cells. They will tell you it doesn't hurt. It does, both during and for a few hours after the procedure. It's very rare to be cancerous and if it is, the recovery rate is very high.

(The last time I had it done the doctor told me not to drink afterwards because my neck would leak and like a twat I believed him for a nano second!!)

Yes I go annually for FNA, been going four years, yes it does hurt, hate going, goitre growing each year, actually due to have number four within next couple of months, waiting for appointment, good luck when the time comes op x

Yes, lump found incidentally - was scanned at the time, and they thought just overgrowth of thyroid tissue so opted to wait and watch. Well, they never watched and I didn't get it checked again until several years later after having two children, when I decided that I wanted to make sure there had been no changes. The results were concerning - it no longer just looked like an overgrowth so I had a fine needle aspiration which gave inconclusive results.

When that happens, they recommend surgery - a partial thyroidectory - so they can analyse the growth properly. It turned out to be a cancerous tumour, which I absolutely didn't see coming. Despite being rather neurotic, I totally thought it would be benign, so was in state of shock after the diagnosis... After further scans/check ups, they felt that it had been a very clean removal, and despite originally being told I'd need radioactive iodine treatment and potentially a total thyroidectomy, 10 years later my only further treatment has been a daily dose of levothyroxine to keep my thyroid levels stable.

Looking back, I had various symptoms of a malfunctioning thyroid gland - weakness in limbs and feeling bit crappy a lot of the time. After removal and treatment, I felt loads better and have been totally discharged.

If it is worse case scenario - AND CHANCES ARE IT'S NOT! - it's the most treatable cancer there is.

My son had this. Odd little thing. He had it removed under GA and never caused any issues. It was quite worrying At the time though

I’ve had three FNA all three inconclusive and I’ve chosen to watch and wait, we’ll I’m waiting over my time as haven’t been contacted to have another one yet, had my thyroid annual blood test at the drs Tuesday got my results yesterday , I’m only on 50 micro grams of levothroxine , my GP doesn’t seem concerned about results ! Would be really scared to have surgery , just wish I could be seen and checked

@Christoncrutches

Yes, lump found incidentally - was scanned at the time, and they thought just overgrowth of thyroid tissue so opted to wait and watch. Well, they never watched and I didn't get it checked again until several years later after having two children, when I decided that I wanted to make sure there had been no changes. The results were concerning - it no longer just looked like an overgrowth so I had a fine needle aspiration which gave inconclusive results.

When that happens, they recommend surgery - a partial thyroidectory - so they can analyse the growth properly. It turned out to be a cancerous tumour, which I absolutely didn't see coming. Despite being rather neurotic, I totally thought it would be benign, so was in state of shock after the diagnosis... After further scans/check ups, they felt that it had been a very clean removal, and despite originally being told I'd need radioactive iodine treatment and potentially a total thyroidectomy, 10 years later my only further treatment has been a daily dose of levothyroxine to keep my thyroid levels stable.

Looking back, I had various symptoms of a malfunctioning thyroid gland - weakness in limbs and feeling bit crappy a lot of the time. After removal and treatment, I felt loads better and have been totally discharged.

If it is worse case scenario - AND CHANCES ARE IT'S NOT! - it's the most treatable cancer there is.

Thankyou for your reply. Good to know that there is some positive if they do find cancer. I'm so glad your ok now. I am worried that the consultant didn't even say what it could be he just said there is a lump on your thyroid you need a fna don't lose sleep about it. Why didn't he say it's probably not cancer or it could be a nodule or something. Can't stop worrying.

@Sarahlou63

Fine needle aspiration is the next step to see if there are any cancerous cells. They will tell you it doesn't hurt. It does, both during and for a few hours after the procedure. It's very rare to be cancerous and if it is, the recovery rate is very high.

(The last time I had it done the doctor told me not to drink afterwards because my neck would leak and like a twat I believed him for a nano second!!)

Thanks for your reply. Haha I would have believed it for a second too lol. Hope everything is ok with you now

@laralou28 possibly because it was found during an ultrasound - that will have given them a chance to examine the lump… if he’s being dismissive its maybe because the tissue looks benign. Thats what happened to me initially - it became cancerous 10 years later. Try not to panic as chances are its nothing serious. If it isn't, just make sure its checked regularly. Thats where I dropped the ball.

OP even if it is cancer, thyroid cancer is generally not going to kill you.
My close friend had thyroid cancer very young (in her twenties, with a small baby) we were all in a panic, but thirty years on she is still completely well. She had a thyroidectomy at the time so is on thyroxine, and gets regular check ups. She had another baby after that.
And it is very unlikely to be cancer , it is rare in younger people (friend’s was connected to Chernobyl) all the other possibles are treatable, so try not to worry too much.

@SirVixofVixHall

OP even if it is cancer, thyroid cancer is generally not going to kill you. My close friend had thyroid cancer very young (in her twenties, with a small baby) we were all in a panic, but thirty years on she is still completely well. She had a thyroidectomy at the time so is on thyroxine, and gets regular check ups. She had another baby after that. And it is very unlikely to be cancer , it is rare in younger people (friend’s was connected to Chernobyl) all the other possibles are treatable, so try not to worry too much.

Thanks for your reply. Not sure if I would still be classed as 'young' lol I'm 36 I'm sure all will be fine and if not good to know it's curable

Yes that is young for thyroid cancer .

I had a FNA and found it ok didn't really hurt, I could have had local anaesthetic first but choose not too. I had a small lump on my thyroid which needed to be investigated, consultant told me chances were is wasn't cancer as it is so rare. Results came back it was a benign thyroid nodule.
Two years later I had my thyroid removed due to graves disease and a nodule on the opposite side of my thyroid turned out to be cancerous.
Thyroid cancer is rare and there is only a small chance that a nodule is cancerous. The treatment is a lot easier than other cancer treatments, it could be surgery then possibly RAI.
A lot of people say its the best cancer to get, which in regards to treatment I guess it is but it is still hard to deal with the anxiety that comes with it and some people are not given the all clear for several years after and relay on TSH suppression.
I hope it goes ok, feel free to pm me if you have any questions.