Follicular variant Papillary carcinoma- thyroid cancer

Hey people.

For the past year been going through few health issues and after being diagnosed with graves disease on 29th November last year to having a sore throat on 23rd December and in January feeling a lump on my left side neck which was a 1.8 thyroid nodule and after 2 urgent biopsies which first said Thy3a and 2nd said a Thy3f, surgeon on 10th August decided to remove whole thyroid which wasn't too bad tbh, never stopped me eating anything throat was sore for few days and just needed to take care not to stretch my neck. Anyway after waiting over 6 weeks for them to biopsy the thyroid, rang last Thursday to be told they were back, my thyroid nurse rang on Friday but wouldn't tell me anything, again Monday but wanted me to meet with surgeon, I met with him on Thursday on the hospital ward he was working that day to be told it was follicular variant of Papillary carcinoma.

Got to wait on MDT meeting this Friday so oncologist and pathologist can discuss if to give me Radio iodine ablation as Pathology reported it was close to a vessel which mean chance cells could have escaped.

Took blood test while there as when I had surgery I felt really good, tiredness reduced, palpitations gone however I've started feeling tired again and last week palpitations started again not as frequent but here.

Since last September it started with a pain in my side that prompted blood tests that caught the graves disease which I still have, in this time I've been told I have PCOS and investigating a bowel issue. Everything is soooo slow these days but thankfully my thyroid was removed and hopefully all cancer is too.

This has been a very frustrating process especially with all waiting lists and investigations taking so long but fingers crossed it doesn't return or cause anymore issue.

Thanks :) 

  • Hello Trinitytrace

    I'm sorry to hear about all that you've been dealing with over the past year. It's understandable that you may have questions and concerns about things, particularly whilst you're now waiting for news from the MDT about possible further treatment. 

    We have lots of information available on our website about thyroid cancer that you might find of help but I also wonder if you might find it beneficial to chat things through with one of our team of nurses. I know they will be happy to offer any advice, information, and support they can. They're available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 0808 800 4040. 

    I hope that you don't have to wait too long for some news and that the team is able to give you some reassurance. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator 

  • MDT results were that I'm definitely going to have the Radioiodine treatment as they said "it would be beneficial" just purely based on the fact it was near to a blood vessel.

    My thyroid nurse has been keeping me updated and says from now it has to be done before 6 months passes from my surgery and that oncologist will contact me shortly to see me and to organise scans and something to assess whether I'm high or low risk of recurrence, they will suppress my levels and a special low iodine diet. Will know more in a few weeks.

  • Sorry Trinitytrace to read about your pathology report and path forward with Radio Atomic Iodine treatment. I can see I am a bit behind yourself as I had my Thyroidectomy on 26 Sept 24. The Pathology report listed two nodule one small in front of Thyroid at 1cm. The other was greater than 5cm and had two cancers present the mentioned Papillary and Follicular architecture with high Mitotic count and was listed as very aggressive. I also had penetrated the Nodule sack in four places affecting blood vessels and Lymph node. I will be getting Iodine treatment on the 6th Nov 24 and be staying for three days due to the bigger dose of Radio Atomic to fight the aggressive cancer. Other than headaches, sore joints especially in my knee and numb lower legs along with tingles and numbness in my hands, this finished after stopping calcium meds. My Levothyroxine is presently on 125 gram dose which my Prof thought was low but my bloods seemed to show it was coping and I did not need increased meds. My journey has been medium paced from finding lumps and airway moved to my left in late June 24. to operation in Sept and now Nov Radio Atomic Iodine treatment. Waiting for results was the worst part along with aches and pain in my neck and shoulder post op. The feeling of not being in control was also hard for me. Presently I feel better than I have done for a while and talking over with the Prof he felt it was likely I had the Thyroid issues and growth of Nodule from 2019 to investigation in June 24. How did you get on with isolation, treatment and did it fix your cancer and spread.