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.

@stresshead38 I am sorry. Did they say how long it would be?

She said the report with be with my doctor today. But obvs there's no way they will look at it before the weekend so I have at least 3 days of feeling like this

You've probably read more than me. Do you think there's any chance this isn't going to be cancer? I'm going to drive myself crazy over the weekend

@stresshead38 listen I am a week down the line and no nothing. I don't know. It's horrible waiting but it might be nothing and If it isn't they treat things easily now.
I know it's shit.
Big hug.

Thank you. I'm absolutely spiralling. I think on top of things with my relative this is all just too much.

@stresshead38 I don't know if this is helpful or not but I was booked in straight away for my FNA after being scanned. Mine is also elongated and is graded U4/5. Maybe the fact it's being looked at by a consultant might actually be reassuring as they haven't immediately said you need an FNA? Sorry, I'm probably reaching here but I can hear how worried you are.

Please remember that if it is cancer then you have more chance statistically of dying of old age than dying of thyroid cancer, it's a nuisance rather than a killer for most.

I'm now back to countdown, month 11 of this shitshow and in 6 days I'll finally know if Elaine (name of the nodule) is/was malignant or not. Hope I've not cursed myself again!

@Stillwaitingallyear I agree. The first time they did both of mine at the same time (it had been picked up on pet) and I was in for a fna within days this time.

Fingers crossed if all good news :)

Oh possibly? I was only booked for a scan though, I had assumed that I'd need to be referred and booked for FNA by the GP. I hadn't considered that maybe they'd keep me there if something else was needed.

Was yours graded just by the ultrasound @Stillwaitingallyear ? She definitely said she wasn't able to grade it. I really didn't take much in of what she was saying, only that she said nodules are common, and some can be indeterminate which this could be

I made myself take the children out with some friends this evening to something fun going on in our town. It's helped me feel a bit more normal, and hopefully more able to get through the weekend in one piece.

Glad you got out and had fun!

I wasn't told the grade of mine at the scan but was told I'd need the FNA after she finished scanning. I was taken to the front desk and was booked in for a few days time. My first FNA was unsuccessful because they didn't get a big enough sample. During the second FNA they found the second nodule on the other side but didn't tell me so I wasn't aware until the consultant told me at follow up (& they didn't even have the results when I attended that appointment but didn't cancel because they hadn't even looked to see if my results were in before making the appointment, ridiculous and costly for the NHS). I didn't get my final FNA result until June, so about 6 months after it all started.

I say this because although I hope this doesn't happen to you, there could be some long waits ahead & biopsy results aren't always back within 2 weeks like they'd told me. Thyroid cancer is not prioritised at my hospital at least but it may be different at yours.

I got the impression it had some features that made it concerning and others that suggested not a problem. But maybe I was reading too much in to things

Oh ok. I will prepare myself for lots of waiting. I would rather she had said 'I think it's possibly cancerous, we need another topi ion' than just the nothingness.

I feel a bit ridiculous for being so upset when I don't even have a proper diagnosis yet.

@stresshead38 This is an awful situation to be in and the waiting is just unbearable, I totally get that. You aren't being ridiculous at all, and don't let anyone tell you any differently.

Thanks @NoddyTheNodule

I've done a bit better today, but we had a really busy day so that helped. Tomorrow will be harder as not much planned

How are you doing?

I'm actually okay, I think - been keeping busy, like you. It's almost been a week since the FNA so I feel like I've got over the worst part of waiting, if you know what I mean?

Yes, I completely get that. I definitely
Think part of my panic is not knowing what will happen next or when.

I'm finding the children's bedtimes really hard. Inevitably the time they say 'I love you' and it triggers anxiety about leaving them without me.

@stresshead38 I was told that I would be booked in for a scan and if they saw anything concerning they would also do the FNA. So I had the scan and they asked while I was still there if it was okay to do the FNA which they did. So I think the fact you haven't had a FNA is a positive thing.

Even if it ends up being serious, the prognosis is extremely positive. I was told if you are pregnant when diagnosed they would wait until you had delivered the baby and stopped breastfeeding before having to remove it so try to take comfort from that.

Thank you @WhatHaveIDone21 - my letter doesn't mention FNA at all and I haven't been referred to ENT or anything. Literally just got the scan. Not sure if that makes a difference.

You give me hope, but I am concerned about the fact that she didn't attempt to grade it or anything

@stresshead38 they didn't grade mine or anything like that at my scan. They scanned me and then asked if I was happy for them to do a FNA as presumably they had seen something. Once it was done I was told I would have the results in 2 weeks. I can't remember when you said your scan was? Have you been waiting long?

No not at all, I only had it yesterday morning! Feels like about 10 days though! I think I just need to get my head round the fact that I will have to do some waiting, nothing is instant.

She didn't mention anything about a biopsy at all, just that the report would go to my GP.

@stresshead38 I would try not to worry then. I think it's fairly standard to wait 2 weeks for the results. My dr definitely said if they saw anything suspicious they would biopsy it there and then. If there was nothing on the scan they wouldn't need to do it. So hopefully there fact a biopsy hasn't been mentioned is a good sign.

Thank you. I will try.

I can see on my patient access page that the result is now back with my GP (I work in a different surgery and know that these scan results do come back in a day or 2 from this particular hospital), but the content is hidden so it doesn't tell me anything! The GP who referred me is not in until Tuesday so I'm
not sure I'll hear from anyone tomorrow, but I guess my actual registered GP might call, especially if bad

Hope everyone is doing well.

I have been on this rollercoaster for over 2 years. Initial nodule was part cystic which was biopsied - abnormal cells. Had multiple rescans but now unable to get it Fna again as it's shrunk. I met surgeon months ago but they wanted another Fna, so suck in limbo land. Fed up with it all tbh!

Good luck to those waiting scans and results.

@stresshead38 I can see mine on patient knows best but I can't access it. Says it will be read by oncologist. Will have lost the plot by the 14th dec!