Hello Sophie88 and thanks for posting, 

I can understand your questions, but I'm afraid I don't have the answers.

Since the pandemic started a lot of information has been relayed to patients over the phone and practices have changed, so I think it is possible that a patient could be told they have a cancer this way. But sometimes results aren't straightforward and this is what needs to be conveyed and explained along with the next step that needs to be taken. 

I think laboratories can run into unforeseen capacity issues so sometimes results may take long than expected. I don't think you can infer anything from a three week wait that is partly due to a couple of Bank Holidays.

In general the idea is to keep waiting times to a minimum if cancer is suspected and there are target treatment waiting times which you can read about on our website at this link , but unfortutaely in some instances the NHS is struggling at the moment to meet these. 

Waiting for results is usually a horrible time, do your best to keep an open mind and manage the inevitable stress. I hope you find out more on Monday. 

If you want to talk anything over please do give us a call on Freephone 0808 800 4040 , we are here weekdays (but not Bank Holidays) from 9-5.

Best wishes,

Julia

Hello there and thanks for getting back in touch

I'm hoping you will have the chance to go through these results further with your doctor as they are in the best position to explain what this means for you and what needs to happen next.

When thyroid nodules are assessed by ultrasound they use the British Thyroid Association Ultrasound grading system that grades between U1 ( being normal) and U5 ( being malignant which is cancer). U4 refers to a suspicious nodule that needs further tests. These results are worked out from the features and appearance of the nodules from the ultrasound images.

Alongside this the biopsy sample is looked at under the microscope and another scoring system called Bethesda is used to work out the risk of malignancy and this is where the THY results come from. THY1 is inconclusive where further tests are needed whereas THY2 is non neoplastic meaning benign ( not cancer). THY3,4 and 5 are when there are suspicions or confirmation of malignant disease.

I hope you know more soon but do get back if you have further questions.

Wishing you all the best

Take care

Naomi