Sorry if this comes up as a reply I wasn't sure how to post new comment .

Hi everyone and thank you so much for this thread 

so last year I went to the gp about a small bump I'd felt for a few years under my chin ( I had mentioned it to the gp a few years before and she had a quick feel and wasn't concerned ) I'm not sure if it got bigger last year or I just started focusing on it - anyway I went to gp who referred me for ultra sound - my health anxiety spiked and I booked a private scan while waiting for nhs- it was a horrible experience as he sighed the whole time and had no bed side manner despite me telling him I was very nervous - the funny thing was he wasn't  concerned by the one I was but he was two nodes beside each other on the left deep cervical chain measuring 5mm by 10mm he wrote on report possibly reactive but consider fna.

anyway then my nhs on came up and they did ultra quick scan and weren't concerned - I rang gp and explained my concerns that they did go over right area as they only focused on chin which the initial referral was based on- I was sent back and had another quick scan ( again not sure right area) and again no concerns - gp said the side of nodes the private guy had commented on didn't meet their criteria for fna/ that was last September (2020)

now since Sunday I noticed another small lump under jAw and booked a gp appointment - that was yesterday . She felt it and said it wasn't concerning and then did an overall neck check and noticed the same two left nodes that had been commented on the scan and seemed concerned ( in my possible paranoid head) 

she said they would get repeat bloods- ( June 2020 they were last done ) I asked what they would tell her and she said whether that might be indication of lymphoma - I asked her was she concerned and she said no as the nodes she felt were only .5mm and soft, moveable but it was best to check - I'm not sure if they're concerned as they're beside each other ( hope not stuck together ) I'm getting bloods on Wednesday then see her on 27th for result and she'll decide ultra sound .

I have Health anxiety and think the worst - I'm like is it lymphoma , tongue /throat cancer/lung cancer or coming from somewhere else. And thinking the worst outcome / spending hours online as for some reason it makes Me feel more in control. I feel calmer than last year when I almost had a break down but still getting the darkest thoughts .

im also frustrated as I was never asked to keep checking them or to come back for a review yet now almost a year later I happen to go to gp and have the exact same thing as last year and now it's an issue ? When if it was something they wanted to monitor they should have said that?

extra info is that I don't get nightsweat ( only v rarely and in a very hot room ) no cough , no weight loss ( I lost weight over the past two years without overly trying but def put on weight these past few months )

I clench my jaw a lot and sometimes bite my tongue in my sleep which makes it sore. I also get inflamed gums around wisdom tooth occasionally -last dental check 1 month ago she said my wisdom tooth is up but not fully out and to brush it like a tooth ( gross I know )

anyway I've really blethered and I prob sound totally crazy but I swear I'm normal 

im 38 , Mum of 3

thanks for reading

Hi Jolamine.

I thought I would follow up to let you know my outcome.  I had my appointment on Wednesday and they have confirmed the biopsy results have revealed papillary thyroid cancer with metastasis to the lymph nodes. I have my surgery next Friday 30th so not too long to wait. 

Hello,

I hope the surgery will go well and if any treatment is needed I'm sure they will give you a treat meant plan which is going to be the best for you. 
 

Have you discussed further treatment after the surgery?

mellisa xx

Hi Greece_E,

Thank you for your update. I am so sorry to hear that your consultant was correct and that it is cancer. Are there any plans to remove further lymph nodes. i am glad to hear that your surgery is next Friday and that you don't have long to wait for it. 

I know that you half expected this diagnosis, but how are you feeling now that it is confirmed? No matter how well prepared you think you are, it always comes as quite a shock. At least you know what you are dealing with now and you can no start to fight this with all that you've got. 

I sincerely hope that your operation goes well. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on. Remember that we are always here for you.

Kind regards,

olaine xx

Hi Jolamine & Melissa. 

Thank you for the kind words. 

"Relief" was my overwhelming feeling at the appointment this week. I have found the not knowing and ifs/maybes really difficult. No crying so far this week, or emotional lows (I'm not sure that will last forever but I'm OK at the moment). 

I've been quite smiley and genuinely positive when talking to my friends and family, which then transfers and removes some of their worry. I think we worry more about other people than ourselves because they haven't heard the conviction and information from the medical specialists. My family are at the "this isn't fair it's happening to you" stage. It isn't fair, but that's outside of my control. the best way to deal with it is exactly as I am, following the doctors. 

The official reports from MRI and CT haven't been completed but my consultant was of the view there's nothing on my lungs.

The surgery will be to remove the thyroid and around 40-50 lymph nodes. Apparently we have 100-150 in our neck so the consultant said no common side effects from this. Once recovered from surgery, around 6wks later there's the radioactive iodine treatment which requires a short stay in a clinic. I am very fortunate that this treatment plan for this specific cancer has a 98% cure rate. 

Without down playing the severity of major surgery, I feel that this treatment plan is manageable, I know what's happening and prognosis afterwards is good. This removed so much anxiety for me. 

I'll be on thyroxine supplements and possibly calcium supplements for life and will have the inevitable ongoing blood /scans but should be able to "return to normal".

The area I have struggled the most with is what to do about work. I work from home on my laptop but it is quite high stress sometimes. 

I have the option of a 3mnth sick certificate but speaking with the doctor I can definitely choose to work through the treatment, it's up to me. I've managed to work through the diagnosis stage which had been the hardest mentally. I have no physical symptoms atm and feel well. 

I'm going to work until Wednesday, with the surgery then on Friday. I will have a minimum of 2wks off for recovery and then see how I'm feeling. 

That was a far longer post than intended! Sorry for the long read... 

E. 

Hi Greece_E,

It is always a relief to know what you are dealing with, even when the news is not what you wanted to hear. You will still have the occasional low and 'why me?' moments, but there will be better days too. 

It sounds as if you have the right attitude to get through this. It is great news that the consultant doesn't think that there is anything on your lungs. This is a very treatable form of cancer. I have friends who have had thyroid cancer and are leading a normal and fulfilled life many years after their initial diagnosis.

You are doing the right thing when you are telling friends and family. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer myself in the past 12 years and find that how I tell people has a huge impact on how they cope with my diagnoses and how fee they feel to talk to me about it. In general, you will find the more positive you can be the better you'll get through this.

It is really impossible to predict how you'll be for work. Some people feel very tired throughout, while others manage fine. I hope that your surgery goes well. Please keep in touch and remember that we are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi, so recently my health anxiety has been so severe I've not be able to do much than read up every symptom I have. I went to the GP regarding a lump around my jaw below my ear lobes. He gave me antibiotics and said to come back a week later if not gone. The lump still didn't go so referred me for a ultrasound, the ultrasound showed that they were only 6mm which they said was normal and nothing to worry about. It also showed some vascularity in one of the lymph nodes which got me worried. I started experiencing sore throat which only lasted couple of days. I convinced myself it was cancer, when back down to the doctors who referred me for a ENT. Ent looked down my throat with a camera and said completely normal and nothing at all sinsiter going on. I came out feeling relieved and happy but then I've also been expiercing slight ear burning pain and when I press down on theses lymph nodes it's slightly tender. I've seen so many doctors that have said definitely not cancer but it's hard to believe them when they don't have a explaination as to why my lymph node is up. Sorry for such a long paragraph just need to get it off my chest.

Hi Kim,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

Have any of the doctors you've seen told you that lymph nodes can swell up as the result of a slight inflammation, such as a sore throat or toothache? These mostly settle down with time, but some remain swollen. When you have seen so many doctors, it is most unlikely that you have anything untoward.

Try to accept what you've been told and realise how fortunate you are. Obviously, if you notice any further changes , always get them checked out.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine

well when I had the ultrasound done one of the lymph nodes were showing more vascularity which means more blood flowing through. Which I think means inflammation but when the doctor was doing the ultrasound said nothing to worry about. Can lymph nodes remain swollen for a long time? I've also had temperature 37.0 but I think that's normal. Xx