Thyroid swelling advice please

[Pyjamatimenow]

Last year my gp referred me on the two week pathway for a lump on my thyroid. Had an ultrasound at the hospital and they said I had a multi modular thyroid but one nodule was bigger and needed biopsy. When I rang the GP for the results they said the biopsy was inconclusive. Then the hospital rang and said that following a meeting it was benign but they’d do another scan in 6 months for completeness. Had that scan in January and the ultrasound dr said he could see the larger nodule but would have to compare to previous scans. A week later said all was fine and discharged me. Recently my neck seems a bit more swollen especially on one side. Went back to the GP and he’s referred me back to ENT but they’ve only given me a telephone triage for three months time. Bloods are normal. Should I pushing to be on the two week pathway again? Should I be reassured by the scan in January? There is history of thyroid issues in the family including thyroid cancer.

If you had a biopsy, it is only conclusive that the exact cells that were extracted were not cancerous. having said that it is reasonable to assume that the cells in a nodule are all similar.

However if your nodule has grown and is interfering with your ability to swallow and making you uncomfortable, it is very reasonable to ask/insist on a thyroidectomy. At that point they can assess the nodule in its entirety and if it does have cancerous cells, move forward to treating you Thyroid cancer is almost always completely curable..it is unique in that quality

so push or wait for the appointment both options are reasonable, but I would be wanting it taken out due to its size and interfering with swallowing. it's not going to start shrinking or stop growing

If the swelling isn’t growing alarmingly fast and isn’t causing you difficulty swallowing or breathing I would wait for the telephone appointment and discuss your concerns then.
Do you know how big the biggest nodule is? I don’t think there are guidelines in the UK regarding what size nodule should be removed if it looks benign, but in the USA any nodule bigger than 4cm is usually removed. In the UK it’s usually only if it is causing compressive symptoms.
I had a 3cm cystic nodule that was aspirated, but it has since grown back and seems bigger. I’ve got another appointment next week to get it checked again. I have mild compressive symptoms.

Hey op, I am In the UK It Is awful for this. I have been on the waiting list for MA It shrinks the nodules (It Is quite new here). I had an ultra sound In 2021 that showed clear nodules so they said they did not need to do a biopsy and that was It I would not been seen again. But I can not breathe sitting/laying I have loads of awful symptoms. How are you now?

Why on earth has gp referred you to ENT???!!! Thyroid is Endrochronologist!!! An enlarged goitre on your thyroid because this is what it is happens when you have a condition affecting your thyroid like hashimotos and need to go on thyroxin tablets for life. Is essential you get this dealt with now and not longer as they longer it’s left unmedicated the more damage happens to the body. Can you afford to go private and have even just a consultation with an Endrochronologist? It’s about £300 and they can write to the gp requesting which blood tests are done etc and then from there which medication the gp needs to prescribe.

Just to add I agree with @Nearly50omg - trouble I found was the endo is the same private as NHS where I live and both were 1yr wait!
I was "lucky" in that mine seems to have normalised with medication my GP finally was able to prescribe after 2 months battling (where I lost 3 stone and was bedbound) but even when I saw the endo 12 months on my thyroid was still enlarged, but as bloods were normal he wouldn't take me on or do anything about it.

It's a really under resourced part of the NHS, largely because it's women needing help. Of course.

I am ok. My neck is still a bit enlarged. I had an ultrasound on it again last month and they e said there’s been no change and discharged me. I probably do need to go private but my bloods are all normal so not sure if they’d do anything anyway

i had a call from my local hospital this morning after waiting so long! I finally have an appointment next week, I’m assuming it was a cancellation. You should definitely keep on at them about it, I have constantly complained of symptoms and finally hopefully getting something this time mine is to make sure it’s benign so I can have the new treatment to shrink them. They shouldn’t be leaving us to just live with it.