Hemithyroidectomy and two cancerous lumps diagnosed

Hi

I had a hemi thyroidectomy that proved to be papillary cancer, I had a total thyroidectomy 3 months later. There was no cancer in the second half but I’m personally glad that all my thyroid was removed. In the months between surgeries my remaining thyroid was apparently failing so I would have needed thyroxine anyway. It’s your decision - and having the second surgery was an anxious time as I knew what was going to happen. Good luck with your decision. 

Hi thanks for responding. Was it your choice to have the second surgery? And did you have RAI treatment after?

I can’t really remember! I know that sounds silly as it was only a few months ago. I was in shock I’d genuinely not thought it could be cancer so turned up to the appointment on my own. The appointment was over 2 months after my surgery so I’d naively reasoned that no news was good news - the reality was that my thyroid had gone on a road trip to a specialist hospital for a second opinion. The second surgery must have been strongly recommended though. Yes I’ve had RAI in July which was ok just a bit lonely. I’ve had no issues with thyroxine either really I just don’t sleep very well!

I had the same thing happen I turned up alone to my first appointment not thinking it was cancer. I think the most difficult part right now is the fact it has been left to me on whether I want the second surgery. But I can't have any RAI treatment unless the whole thyroid is removed. Thats good glad you've been fine since 

Have they told you how often they’ll monitor you if you decide against surgery? My concern would be them picking up any changes before it became problematic. 

If I decide not to have the surgery they will scan me again 12 months from my first surgery. Its a hard decision to make when its left in your own hands and there isn't a right or wrong answer medically whether to have it done.

I do remember them telling me that they were sure that the remaining half had no cancer in it and they were right. I have the tall cell variant that is more aggressive so perhaps that’s why they wanted it all out. Do you know which cancer it was? That might help your decision. 

• Hi Marg06

i have the tall variant too. I’ve not had any contact with anyone else who has it. 
Mine had spread to the lymph nodes in  the right side of my neck .   I had a full thyroidectomy and neck dissection in February then the radioactive iodine in May. The scan just after the treatment showed possible nodal mediastinal metastasis ( in the area between the lungs) so I am currently on the low iodine diet again in advance of scans at the end of the month.  I had no symptoms before the cancer was found (a cyst which was not related) and have been fine. 
I would be really interested in hearing how it has been for you? 

Hi Gold Finch

Mine was a fairly protracted process unfortunately. I first noticed a lump in April 2020and gp referred me on the 2 week cancer pathway. I had a scan at the local hospital and was told it wasn’t cancer but a goitre and they’d scan me again in 12 months. At that scan one of the lumps in my thyroid had doubled in size but I was told it wasn’t cancer. I was alarmed at the rate of growth so asked them to biopsy it which they did. I didn’t hear anything back from the biopsy so presumed everything was ok but decided after 3 months I’d just check that was indeed the case. Unfortunately my biopsy results had been mislaid and when they were found showed abnormal cells. I was booked in for a hemi thyroidectomy fairly quickly and 2 months later was told it was papillary thyroid cancer almost 2 years since I first had symptoms. Nobody really explained to me about the tall cell variant but I’d seen it on the reports so I googled it myself - probably not a good thing to do. I was really scared by the aggressive label it seems to have and I don’t know what all the delays will mean in regards to my long term prognosis. I’m very lucky in that the cancer was wholly within the thyroid but apparently very close to other vessels. The consultant at the specialist hospital wasn’t too concerned by the tall cell label and said they’d successfully treated it so I’m trying not to worry unduly and keeping my fingers crossed. You mentioned symptoms and I don’t know whether I had any about from the obvious lump as I was peri menopausal at the time so had many bizarre symptoms. What do you know about the tall cell variant Gold Finch?

Yes they have also told me that they are confident there is no cancer in the other side. It was papillary carcinoma.  I also have vocal.cord damage from my first surgery. Which adds more pressure to my decision.