Thyroid cancer pos?

[dsnymom2003]

I wasn't sure where to post this. I have had a rather large goiter on my neck for the last couple of years. Well, it has started to grow again and I had a biopsy last week. My DR now thinks that some of the new growth may have cancer cells in it. The only way to find out for sure is to have that part of my thryroid removed. I guess what I would like to know is if someone else has gone through this?? What should I expect? I am just a little worrried. Any advice?

 

[mom2travel]

haven't been through it, but wishing you good luck

 

[alisonh]

My uncle went through this last year. GET IT TAKEN CARE OF NOW. You will have your thyroid removed if it is cancer, prob have some radiation pill to take, no chemo (in his case at least) and the only real draw back I have seen that is lasting is because you no longer have a thyroid you will be on thyroid meds for life to keep your numbers right. Good luck, for healing

 

[pjb0216]

I just had the left side of my thyroid removed on 02/05/2009! I too went through what you are describing. The surgery is not as bad as you would think, and the recovery has been pretty quick. I am glad that it is turtleneck season here as it will take a while for the scar to fade. I am going back in on Thursday for my bloodwork to see if I will need medication. My Dr told me that in a partial removal that sometime the other side "picks up the slack". Feel free to PM me with any questions, I would be glad to give you any information I have.

 

[JackJack08]

Both a friend and my boss have gone through this. Both are fine today, so try not to be too scared. Sounds like the Dr. is on top of things, and you need to just do it. If it does have cancerous cells, thyroid cancer is highly treatable, and like the other poster said you will just need meds for the rest of your life. (I too take thyroid meds.) Actually, my boss had part of hers removed and needed no meds, so it may not be as bad as you think. Good luck to you....I know any diagnosis is scary.

 

[TakeMe2Disney]

My mom is coming up on 1 year cancer free from thyroid cancer. She went in for a biopsy that came back inconclusive, so they decided to remove half and re-biopsy. The results came back cancerous, so they had to remove the other half. Both surgeries were relatively short procedures. Mom was in the hospital for 2 days plus the 1 surgery day. She had a very hoarse voice for a week after the surgery and had to eat less solid foods the first couple days. After the second surgery she lost her voice completely until after her radiation treatment.

She had to have one radiation treatment a few months after the second surgery which required her to follow and iodine free diet for a while. After radiation she had to sleep in a seperate room and collect her trash differently. Her voice was back almost immediately, which was a huge moment since we weren't sure if it was ever going to return! This isn't normal for most people - most voices come back pretty quickly dependent upon how easy it is to remove the thyroid.

Post surgery she has to take synthroid (I do as well) to regulate and have screenings, but she is cancer free. This was extremely scary for our family, however her doctor said something to us that was strangely comforting. He said that if he had to have cancer and could pick a type this would be at the top of his list because it's a non-spreading cancer and easier to remove.

I hope this helps a little and I wish you lots of luck with whatever may come of this. I'm sending lots of prayers and good thoughts your way!!

 

[stace1214]

My mom went through this a few years ago. She had her whole thyroid removed, just to be on the safe side. All of cancer was removed with the surgery and she didn't have to have chemo or radiation. Her surgery wasn't bad...she stayed one night in the hospital and recovered from home for a few days. The only downside is that she gets hoarse very easily now and can't talk loudly or yell (that's an upside, though, right ?!) She'll be on thyroid meds and quite a few vitamins for the rest of her life. Just after the surgery she had a hard time getting the right dose of medication- for a while she was sooo sleepy all the time, but once it was regulated she was back to normal. Good luck!!

 

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

When I was pregnant in 2000 a doctor found a growth on my thyroid. They sent me to a specialist & they did a biopsy & the results came back "suspicious". They said if I was a little less pregnant they would have suggested it be removed ASAP. Well, I was around 5-6 months, so the wait was on.. I started feeling like there was something in my throat when I swallowed, so they induced me (not too early only 1-1 1/2 weeks) and my DD was stuck & I ended in a C-section. So, they had to wait 8 weeks before surgery to remove 1/2 of my thyroid.
I had an easier recovery w/the C-section, but IMO it was because every time you swallow, you are "using" what they just cut after tyroid surgery. And I had an 8month old to take care of & nurse, but I can't carry. It was a struggle, but we got through it. I thought the scar would "ruin my life & my looks", but it does fade - not many people even notice it at all after the 1st year!
I am on the lowest dose (.025)of tyroid suppliment - only because they said the other side may just shut down if over worked. I still have some really tiny growths on the other side that haven't grown - but are watched. I had a drain in my throat until released from the hospital. I was throwing up after surgery from the pain meds, trying to pump & dump the breast milk, soaking through my bra & lovely hospital gown all the time since I was under sooo much pain meds for the 1st 2 nights, so I had a much harder struggle w/everything going on. Then I couldn't take the pain meds when I started back nursing - it effected the baby too much. So - I am a bad example, kinda.
Was not cancer, but still scary! I was actually suggested not to eat soft food, just go back to normal food - it is easier to recover. (just there opinions)
Hope the best for you & if you have any worries or questions - just PM me, I would be happy to talk to you
Leslie

 

[4evr@dzny]

I had my thyroid removed 15+ years ago. It was cancerous and like the PP mentioned, my doctor said if you had to 'choose' a cancer this would be the one. It grows fairly slowly.
I lost my voice for awhile, but that came back soon also.
I take synthroid daily. The only problem you might have is getting the levels correct. At first my levels were too low, and I felt cold and tired. Once those were regulated I have been fine.
For a long time I had a yearly xray and blood tests. Now I just do the blood tests.
And the scar is really minimal.

 

[dsnymom2003]

Thank you all so much!! You have put my mind at ease. I have had the goiter for two years and have had biopsys done and nothing ever showed. Then about a month ago I noticed that it had grown so, I had to have another ultrasound ad biopsy-so much fun! This time it showed e some cells that may be Hurthle cells so, now i have to go through the surgery. I go on the 17th to have at least the left side removed and then wait a few days for results . Thanks again for helping me understand this a little better.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

OMG I could have written your posts almost exactly myself!

I'm going through almost the exact same thing right now!

I have had a multinoduler goiter for several years now. I discovered it myself in 2005 when I nubbed my neck on morning at work.

At that point I had the whole schbang done, ultrasound, radioactive scan, biopsy. Nothing showed at that point.

The one nodule, the one that the doctor was most concerned about orginially and the one that was biopsied, has grown quite a bit and is actually causing me some pain and discomfort! The doctor is most concerned that the solid part of that nodule has grown.

He is also concerned because my dad had thyroid cancer over 30 years ago and my sister had to follicular thyroid cancer and had her thyroid removed last year.

I'm going for another biopsy on the 9th and we will go from there!

Like I said, my sister had her thyroid removed last year after being dignosed with thyroid cancer. She recovered very well and quickly. Yes, she has a scar but it really isn't bad at all!

Good luck!!

 

[set1208]

I had my thyroid removed 15+ years ago. It was cancerous and like the PP mentioned, my doctor said if you had to 'choose' a cancer this would be the one.

My dad's doctor said the same thing! He had his removed and is doing great. Take care of it as soon as you can because my dad's had spread to his lymph nodes and he required more treatment after surgery.

Good luck!

 

[minimandymouse]

My mum had her whole thyroid out 32 years ago
she had a massive throat (like she had a spare tyre round her neck)
the op was alright she had a sore throat for a couple of days (obviously) had to eat sloppy foods for a few days also had to drink iodine and milk for a couple of days
and has had no problems at all
a small nodule has grown back and she has had the radiation tablet twice and tried to get her meds right which has been unsuccessful
she now has to have the tablet again if that doesn't work she has to have it surgically removed again
she has a very overactice gland which makes her very skinny but she eats like a horse
she has blood tests every three months or so to get her meds right and to keep an eye on her levels (when you have this condition you see the whole world differently, you see it as a bad place and everyone is bad in it ) my mums doctor told me that
she is now 70 years old and still very active

 

[Birdleigh]

I went through a similar situation last year. I had a total thyroidectomy July 2008. I was very aprehensive of taking meds for the rest of my life, not to mention having a scar on my neck! I kept thinking I am too young for this.
(35). The whole procedure and recovery were much easier than anticipated. I am now on 100mcg Synthroid after changing the dose several times and the scar is barely noticeable. The thought of having waited and always wondering if my mulitnodular goiter was going to turn cancerous; well I am just so glad I had the surgery and am getting on with my life.

 

[Aunt Flancy]

I had my thyroid removed three years ago for a rare type of thyroid cancer, medullary. I had to have a second surgery five weeks later to remove lymph nodes from the left side of my neck. Luckily they didn't find any cancer there. I do struggle with regulating my Synthroid dosage, but other than that, no problems at all. I thought recovery from the actual surgery was pretty smooth.

 

[dsnymom2003]

Thank you so much!! I knew this was the place to come for advice. You guys ROCK!!! I had my pre op Thursday and I am all set for the 17th. I will come back here at the first chance and let you know what they find! Thanks again for the encouraging words! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

 

[cop502]

My wife had this done in 2000. She went to get her tonsils looked at and the dr asked her if there were thyroid problems in her family. She went nuts doing research on the different types of cancer for thyroid. She had the ultrasound, fine needle biopsy (which was inconclusive) so when they took out the tonsils they did a real biopsy. They took out only the right side where the tumor was b/c it was "pre-cancerous". Her scar is not bad.

However, while at a grocery store shortly after her surgery - a little boy (not more than 5) called her Frankenstein. After this she was very self conscious about it. So she did this - got a thick herring bone chain and to buy a little sun block stick to put over the scar as much as possible in the sun light and it definitely works. You can't even tell.

Hang in there!

 

[Aunt Flancy]

However, while at a grocery store shortly after her surgery - a little boy (not more than 5) called her Frankenstein.

I had over 20 staples in my neck from my surgery to remove my lymph nodes. I looked and felt like Frankenstein, but now people don't even notice the scar.


dsnymom2003 I hope your surgery went well and all is good!

 

[clc053103]

Happened to me 3 years ago. Biopsy came back suspicious (follicular cells present- which can be healthy cells or follicular cancer). Opted to have right side of thyroid removed. Frozen specimen taken during surgery to rule out cancer- if there was cancer they would have removed the entire thyroid. I stayed overnight.

I am not going to lie- it was worse than a c section. However, I felt much better in two days. I had a complication in which my vocal cords were stretched and I didn't get my voice back for well over a month. It was DH's happiest month of marriage!!! LOL!! The scar has faded over time (I used Mederma) and I take a small dose of synthroid.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

My mom had a HUGE goiter removed about 10 years ago. Her thyroid got so big and mutated, that it started to grow a new one... Long story short, they biopsied what they removed and found cancer.

Good thing is, she didn't have to go through radiation therapy, but I believe they put her on chemo meds for a time in addition to her taking her thyroid hormone. She did notice some changes until they got her numbers locked in, but since then, she's been fine.

I'm going through the same thing (thyroid has been enlarging for 10 years now). My neck keeps expanding and they keep finding "nodules" but luckily it's all coming back okay. I just now started thyroiod meds.

Yes, it is awful to have the diagnosis of cancer, but the positive side is that it sounds like they have caught it early. Thyroid cancer has one of the highest survival rates amongst all cancers. Have your surgery with that in mind. You will most likely be tired until the get your hormone numbers adjusted properly, but I promise that beats the alternative.

If you want to PM me with your information, I can pass your name on to my mom and she'll more than likely share her story with you. She is a breast cancer and thyroid cancer survivor and is always willing to talk to people about what she experienced.

Hope this gives you some comfort and best of luck.