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Papillary thyroid cancer reoccurrence

RobboS
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Hi

just hoping for some advice please. About 3 and half years ago I had my issmus out as I had a cancerous tumour and was told I had papillary carcinoma. I was lucky I didn't need any further treatment and nothing had spread. Then in October I received a letter saying that my latest scan showed a u2 nodule on my right lobe. And they will keep an eye on it. My question is can the cancer come back? And if so can it be this quick? Has anyone had theirs come back and if so what time frame?  Thanks 

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    Yeah, papillary thyroid cancer can come back and it can do so very quickly. I think a large percentage of recurrences are in the first two years. However, in your case, it sounds like the nodule is likely benign. As far as I know, U2 means it's benign and not cancer.

  • Offline in reply to MargaretMary

    Hi [@MargaretMary]‍ 

    thanks for your reply. My consultant said back in November that he want to do another scan in a few months to see if the nodule has grown and if so then do a fna. He said albeit it's graded as u2 it could change. Is this true? 
    just to give some background info I've had some bad experiences with the NHS recently with seeing different junior consultants and even at one appointment the consultant thought I was there because I had an ear ache. He knew nothing about my history and looked confused when I said I'm here for my regular cancer check. My original diagnoses and surgery was with a brilliant consultant who unfortunately left. And since then the way I've been treated has been like I'm more of a hindrance. I only found out about the nodule by a letter 2 months after the scan after being told all was ok and nothing had been found. I didn't even know they graded the nodule until I decided to go to a private consultant and he told me. 
    My night sweats have returned. I'm losing weight and these were all signs before. But I don't know if I'm putting 2 and 2 together to get 5. 

  • Offline in reply to RobboS

    I'm no expert and your consultant would definitely know more than me, but for what it's worth, I think it is possible for benign nodules to become cancerous but the vast majority do not. From what I've read, thyroid nodules are extremely common and only have about a 5% chance of being cancerous. U2 nodules have an even smaller chance and I just checked online (though I know that is not always to be relied on) and it said U2 nodules have a less than 1% chance of being cancerous and do not need an FNA unless there are other reasons to suspect cancer. I guess they are being extra-careful in your case, because you have a history of thyroid cancer and because of additional symptoms.

    I would guess that when they said nothing was found, they meant nothing concerning and weren't counting that nodule as it was judged to be benign? 

  • Offline in reply to MargaretMary

    Hi

    Thanks for the reply. 
    is there anyone else who has had a reoccurrence of thyroid cancer return? 
    Any experience would be gratefully please. 

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