Hi, hope you're doing well.

I've just read through the thread and thought I would add my experience.

I'm a 21-year-old male and have just been diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer.

I noticed a lump on the right side of my neck around the start of June and made an appointment with my GP. The GP said it was probably nothing but said he would refer me to an ENT specialist at the local hospital as it wouldn't let him book an ultrasound because of the COVID situation. After seeing the ENT doctor he again didn't find anything concerning but sent me for an ultrasound and FNA to rule out cancer.

1 week later I had my ultrasound and the doctor said the lump I went for was nothing of concern and was just the natural structure of my neck. But during the ultrasound, he said he found some very small nodes and one 11mm in size on the left side of my thyroid which looked highly suspicious.

On the 29th June, I had my results with a consultant who informed me that the results of the biopsy came back as inconclusive and to find out for sure what the nodule was I would have to have a left thyroid lobectomy. I was given the date 23rd July for my surgery however it was delayed by a week due to an emergency the consultant had with another patient on the morning of my surgery. I had the surgery on the 30th July and must say it went so much better than I anticipated. I had neck stiffness and slight pain but it was totally manageable. My voice was hoarse for around 2 days but now seems almost exactly what it was before.

I had the results for the side of the thyroid they took out on the 11th August and was told I had lots of little nodes which were all little cancers and I would need to have further surgery in September to remove the rest of my thyroid pending a meeting with the MDT next week.

If you have any questions about the surgery or anything you'd like to ask me feel free!!

Hi Paul,

I am very sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

It was very quick of them to deal with you, which is a big plus.

I had the op on 13th of July and still waiting on results. Your case gives me more hope, that it is all ok, or I would have heard from them by now. Though I understand they all work differently and I cannot find logic where there may be none.

Wishing you all the best for the future and complete recovery

Maryna:)

Good evening, 

Thanks all for sharing your experiences. Please can you offer me some help as I'm being well and truly fobbed off at the moment. I found a lump in Feb, March I had ultrasound and biopsy and was given Thy3f result. Then covid hit and originally they said surgery might take a little longer. I tried to be understanding and agreed to wait for the letter - they said usually it takes a couple of months. I've chased and they offered me a repeat ultrasound in May (no change) but otherwise said to wait for a surgery date due to covid. 
 

Ive since requested my hospital notes and found that my surgery has been put through as routine. All routine surgeries are apparently on hold due to Covid. 
so I contacted PALS and they've said as it's been categorised as routine then it must be benign or it would have been put through as urgent. Surely they can't change the biopsy result or assume it's benign without further tests and/or informing me? The earliest they can organise for me to speak to a consultant is 4th September apparently. 
 

It's really bothering me how this has been dealt with and I just want this sorted now. 
 

S x
 

Hi,

Yes, I've been very lucky with the speed at which everything is happening. I had my results only 12 days after my operation which was good as its less time for my mind to think up all the worst-case scenarios.

I would have thought if it was anything serious they would have got you to attend a follow-up appointment sooner than now as they did in my case. Hopefully, that's a good sign though its hard to tell especially when different trusts do things differently. I had a feeling my results weren't good when I got a phone call for my follow up appointment as they phoned me 3 times as well as sending a letter to remind me it was face to face and not a telephone appointment. 

Wishing you the best for your results!

Paul :)

Hi,

Yes, I've been very lucky with the speed at which everything is happening. I had my results only 12 days after my operation which was good as its less time for my mind to think up all the worst-case scenarios.

I would have thought if it was anything serious they would have got you to attend a follow-up appointment sooner than now as they did in my case. Hopefully, that's a good sign though its hard to tell especially when different trusts do things differently. I had a feeling my results weren't good when I got a phone call for my follow up appointment as they phoned me 3 times as well as sending a letter to remind me it was face to face and not a telephone appointment. 

Wishing you the best for your results!

Paul :)

Hi Paul,

You are a young lad, and thyroid nodules in young males is an immediate red flag. Probably that's why they acted so quickly with you with undetermined biopsy results.

We woman folk are more prone to thyroid issues in general, so get dragged out with diagnosis and treatments etc. unless it's thy4 or 5.

Did they tell you what type of cancer you have? My biopsy was thy3a (abnormal) which could be innitially like yours I think?

Our ENT department always calls patients (from what they say). If it's a good news, they tell over the phone and not make you wait for appointment. I tried to ask, what they do if it's bad news which all nurses avoided answering. So I am guessing they just send letter with appointment and then tell face-to-face.

It makes me go mad! Lol sitting and guessing.

I wish they put me out of misery!

Best wishes, Maryna:)

Hi Maryna,

yes, the type of cancer I have is papillary thyroid cancer which sounds scary but is actually the most treatable along with follicular with the treatment rate being very close to 100% for my age bracket.

I think our biopsy results may have been similar but my consultant didn't give me a classification and I was unaware that's how the results come through otherwise I would have asked to know for sure exactly what my results indicated.

All the best

Paul