Needle biopsy advice thyroid

Hi, I have a swollen gland on the left side of the neck for approximately 8 weeks which I was worried about. I had an ultrasound and they also found 2 nodules on the left side of my thyroid and I have a biopsy next Wednesday. Has anyone had a needle biopsy and would like to explain what it's like? How long were you waiting for results etc? 
 

thank you 

  • Bless you.  Easier said than done but try not to worry to much.   I asked for my documentation too and this was mine:

    A well defined isto to hypoechoic nodule with slightly lobulated margins measuring 1.5 x 1.2 cm in size is seen in left lobe of thyroid. Intense peripheral and internal vascularity noted within the nodule.  No calcific foci noted. This nodule can be characterised as U3    
     

    im actually feeling calm about it.   Which is a bit surreal.  It will be what it will be x

     

    the barium swallow test is a test with xray to see if the goitres (nodules) in my neck are effecting my swallowing etc as I sometimes have trouble with swallowing x

  • Hi, how are you feeling? Have you got a date for biopsy yet?
     

    I went to my appointment on Wednesday but they messed it up and he said this needed to be done under ultrasound so basically it is rebooked for 10th November at ultrasound department rather than in ENT. Frustrating having to wait 2 weeks again x 

  • I'm so sorry to hear this and I feel your frustration.    However you've actually Helped me by telling me this.  I've just received my referral letter literally today, and I rang them up.   I TOO have been referred to ENT and NOT the ultrasound department for an FNA.   Very very frustrating but assuming it must be the order the GP does things.  
     

    ill have a date sent to me in the post but it could be 4-6 weeks away .  
     

    i get that the nhs is backed up and understaffed but it doesn't help us waiting and worrying that we have cancer.     
     

    I do hope your ok.    Are we allowed to exchange numbers on here to talk privately? Or is there a private message function.   Xx

  • I have sent you a friend request, I think once you have accepted we can private message then! Yeah it is so frustrating, I was told by my gp it was an appointment for biopsy so I'd been counting down the days to hopefully get closer to an answer and now feel like it's been set back again as it needs to be done under ultrasound, I know it's only 2 weeks so not too far away really in the grand scheme of things. A younger family member of mine had thyroid cancer during lockdown and she had her biopsy before the ENT appointment so I also assumed I'd be going through same course of action as it's same hospital etc. xx

  • hi lovely, how are you feeling?

     

    i was referred to an endocrinologist in september and yesterday had a call to say a cancellation had come through for 9.30am this morning.  so i went to see him and he was brilliant.  he did say as ive been referred to ent i technically didnt need to see him, but he did book in my FNA ultrasound as urgent, so ill hopefully have that before i see the ENT to discuss it all.   

    he went through all my results with me which ive not had done yet as the endo i saw previously id paid privately and hadnt had the nhs ultrasound yet which showed the nodules. i only know things so far, bevause ive asked my gp for copies of all results and paperwork etc.

    He showed me my ultrasound pictures and talked me through them.  my smaller nodule is smooth, has a halo and isnt suspicious.  my larger nodule is lobulated, irregular, no halo and lots of vascular activity in it.  he "upgraded" my U3 to U4.    however he was so lovely and talked me through all my options from it being benign to malignant and the worst case scenario.   he basically said... listen if i had a knife to my neck and told choose a cancer, thyroid would be it, as its almost always treatable and generally no one dies from it, unless it metatsicsed etc.   which apparantly it very very very rarely does. so i feel quite reassured that even if it is cancer, i feel quite safe.   

     

    feeling lighter after seeing him.  hope it helps you somehow too knowing what he said to me. 

    xxx

  • I hope you don't mind me jumping on here. I had my FNA in May and was told in June that it was Thy3a which basically means indeterminate. Apparently 1 in 2 results can get this result. They did though find atypical follicular cells and so I need an operation so a core biopsy can be done to see if I have cancer. That was 5 months ago and I still haven't had a date. I get that thyroid cancer is a 'good' one most of the time but I think it's a shame it's treated so flippantly. It's still cancer after all. 
    The wait is the worst part. I try to remain positive but my 4cm nodule was found in April and having might have cancer still hanging over me after all this time is hard. I sincerely hope your wait isn't as long xx

     

  • I'm sorry your having to wait so long, have you had any updates? 
     

    m and I agree, be it a "better" one it's still cancer x

     

    hooe your ok 

  • I've been given a last minute cancellation today for my biopsy.    It's at 4pm. Im slightly freaking out.    
     

    how are you holding up? X

  • Just having my pre op now! I'm having the long awaited op on Monday! I got PALS and my GP involved. It my be a coincidence but suddenly it's all systems go. I'll still have to wait for biopsy results after the op but at least it's moving in the right direction now. 
     

    What's happening with you? 
     

    thanks for checking in x

  • That's great that the wheels are finally starting to roll again.   How are you feeling about the op? X

     

    im ok. Just getting ready for my biopsy.  Nervous x