Thyroid nodule...inconclusive biopsy and possible surgery

Hi Everyone, 

I went to the doctors with a pulled neck muscle around 3 months ago and whilst she was examining me she found 2 swollen lymph nodes which she wanted checking out so I was referred for an ultra sound scan. Whilst having my scan they found a small nodule on my thyroid but was reassured that it looked fine but he would be mentioning it on my report. I was then referred to ent by my gp and the consultant there had a good look at my throat etc and seemed unconcerned but wanted the thyroid consultant to look at it. When I got to the thyroid consultant he seemed very concerned  and told me the nodule looked “abnormal” and was sent straight for a biopsy! After a a scary 2 weeks my results have come back as inconclusive and I have been given the option of another biopsy or to have it removed. Forgot to mention that my thyroid is also slightly over active and I have an appt with endricology in Nov. 

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? My anxiety is through the roof 

 

Emma

  • Hi Anna. How did your son get on? 

  • Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me. You have no idea how much it means to speak to someone that understands. Thank God you are ok and doing well. It is reassuring to know there are success stories (especially when it has spread to the lymph nodes). I just have to wait and see I guess and deal with whatever life throws at me. It's the waiting that's the worse thing. 

  • Hi, 

    I am having my left thyroid removed as my biopsy come back inconclusive she has said it is U4 and they will operate soon as possible 

    I am also having to have an MRI to check there are no other concerns before operating 

    it's all a blur as I requested my results over the phone as they left a voicemail for face to face within 2 weeks but I was too worried waiting the nurse said there was no signs of cancer no concern 

    so I attended my appointment and the doctor I spoke with couldn't have been any more concerned and told me it wasn't the case and there's a 10-30% chance it's cancer and being ranked U1-U5 I am u4, very stressed and seems like I am waiting forever for next appointment from endocrinologist and surgery date 

     

  • The odds are still that you don't have cancer. It's 70% - 90% that you don't. 

    And even if you do, that just means they'd have to remove the other side of your thyroid. Of course, nobody wants any operation and not having a thyroid means having to take medication for life and I believe some people have difficulty getting the balance right (but those are a minority), but it is highly unlikely to be life-threatening or require ongoing treatment like chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

    Honestly, only a small number of people (my mum, brother and sister, brother-in-law, my uncles and their families and about three colleagues) know that I had cancer. As far as everybody else is concerned I had my thyroid removed. This includes my closest friends. I just felt that mentioning cancer made it sound more worrying than it was and "having my thryoid removed" explained what I was actually getting done.

    My endocrinologist mentioned "oh, we found malignancies" in a tone that was anything but concerned. He sounded almost bored and went on to say "ah, it's not the worst situation in the world."

  • Just read your post. Yes I know it was over four years ago. Wondering how you are? Only reply if you wish.