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Suspicious Thyroid nodule.

Catlady69
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Last year I was having trouble swallowing and i felt as though someone had there hand resting on my throat, after a little feel around I found a lump. So iI wen to the doctor who felt the lump and  who referred me to ENT the appointment took about 10 weeks. ENT put a camera down my nose and decided that it was reflux that was causing my swallowing problems. He loosley felt round my neck and told me I had no lump. Told me to double my omeprozole to 40mg and tried to rush me out that door. Before he could o asked again about the lump, again he told me it wasn't there but to put my mind at rest referred me for a US. My friend who was there at the time took the doctors word and again told me it was in my head as the doctor had said so. 

 

Walking into the US scan 6 weeks later I felt stupid especially as he had written to my doctor to tell him there was no lump. When I went in she explained what she was going to do and I explained that I thought there was a lump but the ent was very sure I wasnt feeling any abnormalities.  The women were great they talked me through everything as I need to know these things. At the end of the scan, she told me that I did indeed have a thyroid lump. 

 

Fastforward another 4 weeks I phoned to ask if I had results yet. She told me it had just been checked and that the lump was suspicious and they couldn't tell from the US what it was. That the ENT doctor had asked me to get a FNA with US guide. I have this appointment tomorrow and I am so nervous. 

Can anyone answer these questions 

1. Do they numb the area

2. Is it painful

3. How long will the results take?

 

Any advice would be great

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    Hi there, I know this post is old but I am currently finding myself in a similar situation with a thyroid nodule that you were in. Two weeks ago I felt a lump in my throat when I swallowed. Had an ultrasound one week ago and found 2 nodules one in my right lobe and one in my isthmus. They are TR 4 lesions suspicious for cancer. I am having a biopsy tomorrow and I am scared. No visual or palpaple lumps on outside of neck though. For last couple of days it feels like someone is sticking a finger or two on my trachea. Fullness and pressure there in the lower left of my neck right next to my sternal notch. Can I ask how big your nodule was and if after your surgery did it improve? Did you feel it when you swallowed too? Thanks for your help. I hope you have gotten yours sorted out well now and are doing well. Sabrina

  • Offline in reply to pghshm

    Hi,

    I'm in a very similar situation. U4 nodule, first FNA inconclusive and waiting on results of second. I'm struggling to cope. Have you had your biopsy results?

  • Offline in reply to ScaredandNeedSupport

    Hi, I'm sorry to hear you are in similar situation. The wait can be maddening. I had two U4 nodules biopsied and they BOTH came back benign. I was nearly convinced I had cancer because of my awful anxiety.. so please have hope while you are waiting. I know it is easier said than done. My mom had same situation as you, first biopsy was inconclusive, that is common. Her second one was inconclusive as well and then she had it sent off for genetic testing and that came back positive on a couple of markers which still wasn't definitive enough to say either way. She ultimately had surgery to remove her entire thyroid which had many many nodules and some too small to biopsy. It was all sent to pathology and all came back completely BENIGN. So please have HOPE and try not to worry. I wish the best results for you! Feel free to reach out again if you have any more questions. I am still in the process of determining if I need surgery because the location of my nodules are causing me uncomfortable swallowing symptoms at times. Not fun :( 

  • Offline in reply to pghshm

    Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. So good to hear a positive outcome. It's so hard to get through these days. I'm scared to hope mine might be benign too 

  • Offline in reply to ScaredandNeedSupport

    I certainly understand your fear. In some ways I think that is the most difficult part.. the unknown. You have every reason to hope though and I will be hoping the best for you too. One thing I tried to keep in mind was that even if it was cancer that there are very very good curative rates with this kind. I tried to find all the positive stories and encouragement I could from people who have unfortunately gotten that diagnosis and there are ALOT of them out there. I know you know this already but the fear and worry of the unknown is not going to help your situation but arming yourself with good information, positive outcome stories, and taking it one day at a time will. Hang in there! Xo

  • Offline in reply to pghshm

    Thank you so much for your support xx did they tell you what your lumps were or just that they were benign? Did you have to wait long for your results?

  • Offline in reply to pghshm

    Please try not to worry too much. Not only is there still a very good chance that your nodule will be benign but even if it is cancerous, as pshshm said, it's...well, to quote my consultant "not the worst situation in the world!"

    As pghshm says there are very good curative rates and that means nearly 100% survival rate for under 50s with the most common forms (I think it is over 99%). And they rarely use chemotherapy or anything like that. It really is just a matter of having your thyroid removed.

    I had thyroid cancer two years ago, spent a week in hospital, went back to work after a month and that was pretty much that. I do have to take thyroid medication every day now to make up for the fact I don't have a thyroid but that is just a matter of taking a couple of tablets every morning.

  • Offline in reply to ScaredandNeedSupport

    The ultrasound showed they were hypoechic, solid, and had increased vascularity. All characteristics of U4 suspicious nodules. The pathology came back that they were blood, fluid, and Bethseda Category 2 tissue which is greater than 97% Benign. I live in the US so things may be classified a bit different here than they are in the UK. 

  • Offline in reply to pghshm

    Also, forgot to add I had the biopsy on a tuesday morning and I got the call on Friday morning... I was told it could be up to a week so was surprised to hear from them that same week. Also the ordering surgeon is who called me personally which I was thankful for and I was able to ask her questions about what the results mean for me as far as next steps, etc. The thing about nodules always is once you know they are there, even if benign you will need to keep an eye on them. She said that they are likely to stay benign even if they grow, more often than not that is the case, but we would need to continue to periodically monitor for changes because the chance of them changing to cancer is not zero but that it remains uncommon. Hope that helps.

  • Offline in reply to pghshm

    Thank you. Mine is hypoechoic, solid and vascular 29mm. Sounds very similar to yours. You are giving me some hope. Thank you so much. My second biopsy was Friday and they said two weeks. Keeping everything crossed x

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