Thyroid cancer?

[Chocolatebuttonanyone]

I have a nodule on my thyroid. Just been seen under a 2 week wait and there is a 20% chance its cancer.
Shit shit shit.
I know that means 80 percent that its not, but I probably need a hemithyroidectomy anyway.
I cant deal with this right now. I dont know what to do.

Oh @NoddyTheNodule , I'm sorry.
Do you know when the other biopsy will be? I know it's yet more waiting, but at least it's a thorough check. I do worry a little that mine might have been cancerous in another place.

But. If yours has to come out anyway then what is the reason behind doing another biopsy?

I honestly don't know the reasoning behind it, it all seems a bit insane and pointless to me. I'm OK with having another biopsy if they want to be certain, but if it's coming out anyway, just do it sooner rather than later then the entire thing can be sliced up and checked!

The only thing I can think of is that a biopsy is cheaper than surgery and if it's not cancerous, the surgery could potentially be delayed for years until it becomes a real problem.

I guess so. Or actually maybe you could have a hemithyroidectomy if it's benign, but if the new biopsy was to show malignancy then you could have the whole thing out at once rather than 2 operations?
Biopsy and 1 op is cheaper than no biopsy and 2 ops...

You're right @stresshead38 - it's just frustrating that it's yet another wait with no clear answers.

How frustrating, @NoddyTheNodule . Do you have any indication of timings?

@NoddyTheNodule I totally get that. The waiting is horrible. And it's amazing how powerful the mind is. My symptoms have all but disappeared since I got my result and now don't have to think about this again until May.

I really hope you get a date through soon for the new biopsy, and that the wait for results is not as long this time. Was the delay last time due to the consultant being on holiday? Or was that just the usual time it takes in your area?

@NoddyTheNodule that's a pain. Hopefully they won't delay things too long this time.

I have no idea what the delay was in getting the results, but hopefully the secretary won't be such a gatekeeper this time after my GP intervened.

He put the FNA request through whilst I was there. Last time, I had a phone call within 2 days and I was booked in for a few days after that. Certainly less than a week.

I just got an appointment through for an US on the 22nd Jan! The letter form consultant said repeat in 6 months so it should be May! I called the US department but they didn't know so someone will call me back. Hoping it's just an error rather than someone suddenly thinking that there is something more worrisome

Hi just found this thread and thinking of ringing the drs tomorrow. I have an enlarged lymph gland under my left ear been on and off for 6 months. While poking around my neck today I have felt a small lump maybe a marble size on the left hand side as well but just to the side of my middle bit of my neck. I’m not sure if it is too high up and all the images I see the lump is very obvious so unsure if Im being dramatic. I have family history of thyroid cancer mum/nan/nans sister etc you get the idea it’s common. Now im really focusing on my swallowing and I’m not sure if I can feel a lump when i swallow or that’s how I always feel when I swallow. Is it worth me phoning for an appointment or am I just in my head do you think? Is there more obvious symptoms how did you know something was wrong?

Hi @autumn1610 - I would definitely ring for an appointment. Not because I think there's something to worry about, but because it's important to rule out anything worrying, especially with the added family history.

My consultant told me that the majority of people have thyroid nodules found during scans for other problems, I can feel mine quite obviously because I have a slim neck.

After I found it I noticed lots of symptoms (swallowing/croaky voice/pain when laying down) and feared the worst... but after my results my symptoms disappeared- anxiety really is strange.

So, after 5 months, 6 scans, 3 FNAs and at least a dozen samples taken, I'm so relieved to find out that my nodule is definitely benign. Unfortunately, the (not so) little fucker is growing rapidly (2cm between November and January) and is now visibly pushing my windpipe to one side, so he is coming out. Not sure when, I'm fairly low priority now, but I will get another scan over the summer to check the growth and take it from there.

Lots of love and luck to anyone else going through / trying to get a diagnosis.

@NoddyTheNodule that's brilliant news.

Amazing news @NoddyTheNodule. I mean I know surgery is still a little scary, but you know what I mean!

Thanks @stomachameleon and @stresshead38 . I'm not bothered about having surgery if it makes me feel better and means I'm not slowly being strangled internally!

How are you both doing?

I had an op to remove ten lymph nodes (one had a small tumour in it) about three weeks ago.
All were cancerous and I am having radio iodine again at a larger dose in May (there is a queue apparently). Staying in for a few days and then isolating for two weeks.
Then back to scans etc.
Surgery was hard going and I had a rough time after (blood clot in jugular and massive collection that nearly resulted in me having a trac put in) very swollen.
Am much better now. On antibiotics at home.

That sounds really rough @stomachameleon but I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better now. My friend had another bout of RAI at the start of the year and it's looking like the uptake has been amazing, I really hope that it's the same for you.

@stomachamelon you poor thing, that sound awful. I'm glad you're doing better now, everything crossed for you that the RAI is successful.

@NoddyTheNodule I'm okay thanks, I have another appointment with ENT scheduled for May.... I'm assuming I'll have a scan before that, but no date yet. I haven't noticed any change to my nodule, so hopefully it isn't growing.

Hi all. Sorry to resurrect the thread but I just wanted to ask a question. I had my levels checked this week... which consisted of having two injections in the buttocks (stimulation?) and my levels are very high. I wasn't expecting them to come Back so quick.
I just wondered if they are high due to injections? Or they are supposed to be that high.
I have also found another lump in my neck (right side) sort of pea shaped.
Any thoughts would be appreciated as I am not seeing ENT surgeon again until April 2nd.

I would try and call your surgeons medical secretary they might be able to get them to call you or at least give advice, my surgeons medically secretary was pretty good, does your consultant know about the new lump? If not I’d make them aware asap. Are you down for surgery anyway, if so I would ask to be put on the cancellation list. Definitely try to speak to someone as they can explain the results to you.

I posted ages ago about a lump on this thread, and to be fair they have been so good, decided they wanted to operate in Nov and it was out mid Jan. I wasn’t priority but he wanted it out and asked if I would mind being on the cancellation list, so I agreed, got called on a Friday and was operated on the Thursday so 6 days notice, I did get an offer with 2 days notice but was only a few days before Christmas so didn’t fancy it! Mine in the end wasn’t thyroid related (they have found 2 nodules on my thyroid but not concerned at this point) but had a tumour in my salivary gland which as of this week I am 5 weeks post surgery. Still not got my follow up though to confirm if it was benign as my biopsy was inconclusive so still waiting on that!

@autumn1610 thank you for replying.
I have had my thyroid removed and lymph nodes - two operations due to cancer not being totally removed- and had radio iodine treatment.
Am due to see surgeon again beginning of April. Will give him a ring though and ask.

Definitely ring them tomorrow if you have already had your surgery, I wouldn’t wait around alternatively ring your gp if you don’t get anywhere. Hope it all turns out ok for you. Once you have something like this you are more conscious of any lumps and bumps naturally.

@autumn1610 I have left a message for the macmillian nurse. Thanks for your support!