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Original poster

Thyroid cancer?

273 replies

Chocolatebuttonanyone · 18/07/2023 20:10

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.

OP posts:
stresshead38 · 14/11/2023 20:02

Will be thinking of you Thursday @Stomacharmeleon

I just got my TSH results back and they are 1.5, so completely normal I believe. I would have been surprised if they were high, but was kind of hoping they'd be low and indicate overactive thyroid as a possible explanation for this lump. Feel a bit more scared now

NoddyTheNodule · 14/11/2023 20:16

How are you feeling @Stomacharmeleon , have you had one before?

@stresshead38 I'd hoped the same. My TSH is 0.69. The low end of normal, but normal all the same.

Angrymum22 · 14/11/2023 20:19

My ENT surgeon reassured me when I went through similar that aplastic is aggressive and the growth rate is so rapid that you can see the changes from week to week. I actually had a patient with a aplastic CA thyroid and the tumour went from mm to tens of cm in a matter of weeks.
He also reassured me that if my nodule was malignant then I would die of old age before the cancer had the opportunity to kill me. I was late 40s when I was diagnosed.
Mine was a colloid cyst that couldn’t be aspirated. Initially they decided to watch it and just biopsy every 6mnths to look for changes. A month after the second biopsy I had a big bleed into the cyst, which in itself was suspicious so had a hemithyroidectomy. The biopsy came back clear and all has been fine since.

stresshead38 · 14/11/2023 20:25

I keep looking in the mirror, convinced it's grown since last Wednesday when I first noticed it. And now I'm kicking myself for not regularly checking my neck!!

Stomacharmeleon · 14/11/2023 20:57

@NoddyTheNodule yes had one last year before I had my thyroid and nodes removed. My levels have shot back up again and they should be zero(ish) due to thyroxine.

It was uncomfortable but not painful.

poetryandwine · 15/11/2023 16:20

Best wishes for Thursday, @Stomacharmeleon

NoddyTheNodule · 15/11/2023 19:57

Stomacharmeleon · 14/11/2023 20:57

@NoddyTheNodule yes had one last year before I had my thyroid and nodes removed. My levels have shot back up again and they should be zero(ish) due to thyroxine.

It was uncomfortable but not painful.

It's good to hear that it's not too painful. Will be thinking of you tomorrow x

stresshead38 · 16/11/2023 06:32

@Stomacharmeleon thinking of you for today

NoddyTheNodule · 16/11/2023 09:43

stresshead38 · 16/11/2023 06:32

@Stomacharmeleon thinking of you for today

Same here @Stomacharmeleon - wishing you a pain-free experience with the right outcome x

Stomacharmeleon · 16/11/2023 10:38

Just going in.... I really appreciate the support. Thanks all x

stresshead38 · 16/11/2023 12:50

Hope you're okay @Stomacharmeleon

BlackInk · 16/11/2023 13:22

Angrymum22 · 14/11/2023 20:19

My ENT surgeon reassured me when I went through similar that aplastic is aggressive and the growth rate is so rapid that you can see the changes from week to week. I actually had a patient with a aplastic CA thyroid and the tumour went from mm to tens of cm in a matter of weeks.
He also reassured me that if my nodule was malignant then I would die of old age before the cancer had the opportunity to kill me. I was late 40s when I was diagnosed.
Mine was a colloid cyst that couldn’t be aspirated. Initially they decided to watch it and just biopsy every 6mnths to look for changes. A month after the second biopsy I had a big bleed into the cyst, which in itself was suspicious so had a hemithyroidectomy. The biopsy came back clear and all has been fine since.

Hi @Angrymum22 Are you in the UK? I have a 3cm colloid nodule and some smaller ones (normal thyroid blood tests) and was discharged from ENT with no further action or follow up despite the fact that the lumps are causing me problems – hoarse voice, tickly cough, discomfort, etc. My nodules looked benign on ultrasound and no FNA offered. Sorry to hijack OP!

Stomacharmeleon · 16/11/2023 14:56

They did four aspirations and had to leave the big one which is right side and right by my artery. The consultant came in and looked at it and said it would need to be done under a general and would need a plan moving forward.

Thyroid tissue looked good he said but it's lymph nodes that are the issues. I did have some removed but maybe not enough? Maybe it's grown back? It didn't go completely?

Have oncology early December and he said surgeon would call me next week.

I then went to leave and promptly fell over the table/ sort of passed out. Then had to drive nearly three hours home. It's been a day :/

stresshead38 · 16/11/2023 15:00

Oh @Stomacharmeleon that's does sound like a day. What a journey.

The waiting is just exhausting. Can they combine removing some nodes when they put you under?

Stomacharmeleon · 16/11/2023 15:04

@stresshead38 I honestly Don't know but that's a good question to ask thank you!

poetryandwine · 17/11/2023 12:07

@Stomacharmeleon I am so sorry for your day and for the fact that you’ve been left in an inconclusive situation for another couple of weeks. Please come back here if we can help.

stresshead38 · 19/11/2023 17:28

I've got my scan date now. It's on Friday. Annoyingly not at the local hospital as the dr said, but at one a bit further away

Stomacharmeleon · 19/11/2023 18:47

@stresshead38 will be thinking of you. I really hope it goes well. Bit annoying about having to travel.
I am back in London tomorrow and Tuesday for thyroid level bloods.

stresshead38 · 19/11/2023 19:30

It's not horrendous. But they said it would be the one 5 minutes from my house which would obviously have been amazing!

Thank you. I'm really worried about it to be honest. Firstly that it will be cancer. But secondly just the fact that it'll probably mean surgery as it's causing symptoms... I think... tickly throat and fluttery feeling.

How far are you from London again? Can't you have the bloods done locally and the results sent to them?!

Stomacharmeleon · 19/11/2023 19:39

@stresshead38 will dm you.

stresshead38 · 19/11/2023 19:42

Ooh I'm in the app... not sure how I see DMs.... will investigate

NoddyTheNodule · 20/11/2023 15:25

Just on my way back from the hospital after my FNA. 5 samples taken, uncomfortable but not painful as other posters have said. They did note though that there has been growth since my last scan 4 weeks ago - can't say that I'm feeling too positive at the moment.

Stillwaitingallyear · 20/11/2023 16:34

Hope you don't mind if I join, it's been a long journey. I had a hemithyroidectomy last month after finding a nodule in January. I had scans and biopsies where they found a nodule on the other side too. The ultrasounds rated them as U4/5 & biopsies came back as Thy1 followed by Thy3a. I agreed to have half taken out to finally get an answer and I have my appointment on Thursday this week. It's taken forever to get this far & it's been very disruptive with lots of dud appointments, the NHS really has not shown to be functioning very well at all.

The hemi was actually fine and I'm healing well. If anyone has any questions then I'm happy to answer. The positive outcome has been that I don't feel like I have a lump in my throat anymore and my swallow is now great, I was having issues prior. I'm not overly worried about Thursday (but I am horizontal generally!) as the results are what they are. The hardest thing to manage has been the constant appointments and cancellations, it's driven me to distraction with organising and reorganising work/kids etc, I definitely wasn't horizontal with that!

stresshead38 · 20/11/2023 19:11

@NoddyTheNodule I'm glad the procedure wasn't painful. I'm sorry you're feeling worried, how long until you get the results?

I need to channel @Stillwaitingallyear s energy and chill out!
I haven't even had my scan yet so no idea what I'm facing, but if I end up needing it removed I will DEFINITELY have some questions!

Stomacharmeleon · 20/11/2023 19:37

@Stillwaitingallyear did they ask to take the lot out (thyroid) and you declined? Or was that the most sensible way forward? Will you be checked regularly?
Hope you don't mind me asking....