Thyroid cancer

[Qwerty93]

Hi,

So a few months ago I noticed that my lymph nodes, particularly the left was well fatter and enlarged (I had also had issues with dry throat/feeling like something was stuck in my throat). I went the doctors who had arranged an ultrasound.

However last night I noticed under my Adam’s apple there is a lump in the middle at the lower end of my throat.
I’m going to go the doctors today…. But are all these linked and thyroid cancer….

Also, is there any instances where all three of these could just be coincidence and nothing? That’s what I’m hoping for, but not sure if that’s optimistic.

I’ve got a two year old little girl and at the minute I’m too anxious to even log on for work.
I’m a 30 year old woman, which seems to fall into the category.

I’m hoping my bad diet over the past two years of chocolate isn’t the main contributor!

Just to state I have had some other symptoms, like weight gain… I lost weight post pregnancy, but then the past 18 months have put 14 lbs on, my metabolism used to be so good 😂

Op I have this, and was sure it was cancer. I had it checked out, and no sign of cancer. I still don’t know what it is. It may be linked to anxiety… I’m 50 by way of context.

Thanks. It’s mainly enlarged the lymph node and lump in the lower bit of the throat that concerns me.

I have read the swallowing can be linked to anxiety (which I probably am anyways 😂).

Got my appointment at 11.

Pl tell me how you get on… my lump is really noticeable still. It’s not thyroid or etc either. Hope it’s all really straight forward for you. Funny (or not) how we both worry!

Could well be a goitre. Try not to worry too much and wait to see what GP says.

I was hoping that, but the lymph node is like in between neck and shoulder.

I’ll remain optimistic and see!

Completely curable if it is.
My DH was diagnosed and that is the 1st think that they said. There is a small death rate in the figures as many people are over 80 when diagnosed and so don't make the 5 year marker for the reasons

He went to the doctors at 10 and was diagnosed in hospital by 5 (well they had done ultrasound and biopsy and told him it was pretty likely) . It is pretty obvious its seems

gosh! I hope I have that speed of service 😂😂. Although I’m still waiting from ultrasound when I only noticed the lymph nodes and they thought it was a cyst.

This is true, but there are a couple of other types of thyroid cancer that aren't as curable.

I don't want to worry op, but I think it's always worth mentioning that this sentiment relates to papillary or follicular thyroid cancer.

DH had the same symptoms. Biopsy and scan done. Biopsy was inconclusive so he had half his thyroid removed. Histology showed no cancer. He healed really fast and his husky voice etc. had all gone.

hopefully with me being 30 it’s papillary, if any!🤞

Hi OP, just wanted to tell you I had the same thing, scan and biopsy both were done within the two week wait. Biopsy was not painful, but came back inconclusive so I could wait and undergo it again or take the Drs advice which was to remove the lump and half my thyroid- I opted for the latter as was very stressed about it all and didn’t want to wait. Operation was again within a month (this was during the height of covid too) and I recovered well - only have a small scar which I barely notice.

Results showed an anomaly at the centre of the mass but that most was benign so all good!

I remember how anxious I was etc so hope these stories make you feel a little calmer, I too was early 30s with a 1 year old, it’s pretty common from what I’m reading and appears to be due to hormonal changes maybe…but of course not enough research has been done!

Hi OP
Are you still waiting for the original scan for your swollen lymph nodes?
I would go back to your GP and tell them you have a new neck lump in the thyroid area. They should refer you on the 2 week pathway for a scan.
During the scan (whichever lump it has been referred for) they will have a very thorough look at your whole neck area including lymph nodes and thyroid.
Thyroid lumps (nodules) and swellings are very common and are usually benign. And even non-benign lumps are usually very treatable.
You should ask your GP to do some blood tests including TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), which should pick up whether you might have an over or under active thyroid – which could be linked to weight changes.
Your thyroid may be swollen or you may have nodules, or there may be nothing there.
Try not to worry, but do insist on an urgent referral for a scan – it's in NHS guidelines for all new neck lumps.

In 2019 a health professional pointed out a lump on my neck. I started getting it checked out and had scans which suggested that I needed a fine needle biopsy, which was painless. It came back positive for papillary cancer and I was booked in for a bilateral neck dissection. I had tumours on both lobes and it had spread to my lymph nodes. I then had radioactive iodine treatment 3 months later.
Since then my life has returned to normal, I have a busy life with plenty exercise. It was a tricky 12 months but that was all.
I hope that it’s just a lump.

I had very sub-optimal treatment for papillary thyroid cancer 40 years ago under a general surgeon at a regional hospital. I was 13 and it presented with an enlarged and mobile lymph node. Despite antediluvian treatment I recovered and have never had a recurrence after the initial flurry (it spread to the lymph glands in my neck so had a few minor surgeries after the initial partial thyroidectomy)

Hopefully you haven’t got cancer but if it were to be papillary thyroid, it’s a real lightweight compared to the other cancers friends and family have had.

@Qwerty93 how did you get on at the doctors?

Not sure if I over reacted and panicked, but he said he could see what I was saying…. But the lymph node lump, I think I got confused where it is. My lump (what I’ve been calling a lymph node) is like in between me neck and shoulder and it’s like a fatty fullness rather than a lump. But he had no idea what it was. Also the lump in my neck where the thyroid is, he wasn’t sure if it was part of my throat, like just below my Adam’s apple. He could see both lumps, said it was would be very surprised it if was cancer as he doesn’t think it is but referred me on the pathway as he wasn’t sure what it was. And bloods.

so I left feeling very positive. Thanks for the support on her. By all means I will keep you updated if any one was to ask.

Good that they're checking but sounds quite reassuring

Most thyroid cancers are easily cured. These days they don’t even make you go hypothyroid naturally for the radiation, they can induce it artificially.

i’m not going to say that having thyroid cancer was fun. It absolutely was not. If was scary and difficult. In comparison to many other cancers a person could have, my experience was also infinitely easier.

there are also many thyroid diseases that aren’t cancer. I had one of those. In some ways the cancer was a relief because it meant I could finally get my diseased thyroid removed. Having no thyroid is easier to treat than what I had been dealing with prior to the surgery.

@Qwerty93 what was the outcome for you? I find myself in a similar situation

Mine was abit weird…. They thought a fatty lump, but then on the ultrasound it’s just a bit of fullness, so like I dunno, just been carrying my 2 year old very left sided heavy!

How strange! I'm glad that it didn't turn out to be anything nasty though :)

I swing between thinking mine will be something harmless and thinking it will certainly be cancer :(