Thyroid Cancer - symptoms

[BuzzyBusyBee]

So I am in the two week wait for a cancer scan. Suspected thyroid cancer but I just wanted to hear from others what their early
symptoms were.

So far I have struggled with infertility for the last 18months - MMC at 9 weeks but then no periods for 9 months after that. Slowly returning but incredibly light and last less than 24hrs

An intermittent swelling/tight feeling in my throat - comes and goes every few weeks. No rawness in my actual throat, no accompanying cough or cold. First experienced 13months ago - currently had it for 4 weeks (the longest continuous bout)

Sometimes get the feeling of something being stuck in my throat for days at a time.

Had a few blood tests over the last year due to fertility issues and thyroid has always come out right at the bottom of the healthy range but still just about within so not flagged as an issue before.

Other than that no other standout symptoms. No weight change, general energy levels ok, sleeping fine.

Just interested to hear other people’s experiences and what may have alerted them to go to their doctor.

Hi @BuzzyBusyBee first off try not to worry!

If you do have a lump on your thyroid the chances of it being cancerous are fairly small, and even a malignant thyroid lump is treatable.

Can you see the lump, feel it with your hands or just feel it when you swallow? It's standard for GP to refer any neck lump on the 2 week cancer pathway, but they should have reassured you that's more to rule out cancer than because they suspect you have it.

They will do an ultrasound scan of your neck and might put a scope down your nose to look at your throat/vocal cords. If you have a thyroid lump and it looks in any way suspicious they will do a biopsy. If the biopsy results are inconclusive or suspicious they will either recommend surgery or watch and wait.

I have a visible thyroid lump that I noticed in October. Referred on the 2 week pathway and they say it's a benign cyst (about 3cm) so no further action required even though I can feel it most of the time. My TSH is always right at the bottom of normal range too, so they've refused further thyroid blood tests. I struggled to conceive too.

In general thyroid cancer doesn't cause symptoms as such, other than compressive neck/throat symptoms due to its size or location.

Hope this is reassuring, but do ask if you're wondering about anything else.

@BlackInk thanks for the reply :) not too worried at the moment. I just assumed that symptoms would be more continuous whereas mine have been very intermittent

How have your bowels been?