hemithyroidectomy

Hi NMc 

It's good to read that you're doing well after your recent diagnostic hemithyroidectomy but it's natural to be worried about the outcome and possible consequences.

I'm not a member of this group but noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet. Responding to you will 'bump' it back to the top of the discussion list.

While you're waiting for replies, it would be great if you could pop something about your diagnosis and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

That bloody C-word is a nasty one. It covers such a wide range of outcomes from minor discomfort and tiny risk right through to stuff so bad that you wouldn't buy a year's subscription to anything for fear of not making it,

I don't want in any way to suggest that thyroid cancer is 'easy' but I suspect you'll find that EVEN if your lumps come back as cancer, your experience is likely to be much more gentle than your wife's.

For people who have friends or relatives or spouses who've been through one of the more nasty cancers, the type that mean extensive radio or chemotherapy and long term physical and psychological harm, most thyroid cancers will be relatively simple to handle.

We are very lucky that the rates of survive and thrive are really high for thyroid cancer. Please hold on to the knowledge that you can and will get through this if you need to.

Best regards to your wife. I'm sure she'll be an enormous help to you whatever the outcome of your surgery.

Hi Nicky,

I received a thyroid cancer diagnosis just 3 days ago and followed a similar route to you. I had a hemithyroidectomy on 31st July following an inconclusive biopsy on a 3cm nodule on the right side of my thyroid. My results showed that the nodule was cancerous but there wasn’t actually any cancer in my thyroid which was strange. I have the option for more treatment (total thyroidectomy and RAI) or to just leave it be as they are fairly certain they cut it all out. Hearing the words ‘it’s bad news - it was cancer’ is quite possibly the most horrendous thing I’ve ever heard, but please know that if your diagnosis is cancer that there is a high chance you really will be okay. I am 31 with a 1 and 3 year old so I am naturally terrified about them facing life without me, but you have to hold on to the ‘positives’ that this type of cancer presents with. 

I have everything crossed for you that your results are not cancerous but more than happy to answer questions and support you either way. 

Hi NMC,

I have just joined this forum as was told I had to have a hemi- thyroidectomy yesterday for a thy4 suspicious nodule. I had a long wait for results after both biopsies and expected it to be clear really.

It’s good to hear that you have recovered well from the surgery. I’ve played it down to my family so not to worry them but today I feel so low! I had an MRI in January for another ENT reason and they took 6 months to give me the results. I didn’t chase them for 5 months as my husband was very ill and in and out of hospital. I have taken a couple of months off work already this year to support my husband and family and this has worried me about taking more time off and sick pay.

Have been told it should be surgery in next 6 weeks and then another few weeks until the histology results. 

my husband is having a prostate biopsy this week as well. Low risk of cancer but nothing would surprise me now. My main concern is my children as they are only in their teens and early twenties.

Thank you for sharing how you are feeling. I am sorry to hear that your wife has had treatment as well. My husband is unable to support me  due to his own health needs. I feel terrified even though everyone says it’s one of the best cancers to have if it is confirmed! 
I wish you well for your future recovery .

Hi, 

I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reply! 
I too was having investigations for something else when the nodules were discovered. 
I’ve had the results for the pathology after surgery and the nodules were cancerous but it was 0.9cm so no other treatment is required thankfully. 
mom doing really well, though my voice gets a bit shaky now and again but it’s a small price to pay!

I totally, totally understand your concerns but both my consultant and surgeon always maintained that thyroid cancer is easily treated and very, very, very rarely anything to worry about! I started a new job teaching, just over two weeks after surgery and was absolutely fine although my voice, as I said before was a little weak! 

i hope that’s helpful to you xx

Hi, I was told yesterday that I need to have a Hemithyroidectomy as I have a cyst on the right side of my thyroid that come back after being drained a few months ago.

Does anyone know how long the wait is for this surgery on the NHS as the consultant said it can be up to 6 months and I’m in a lot of discomfort.

thanks!

Hi NMc

Sorry for my late reply, I wasn’t sure if the chat thing was making me feel worse so haven’t looked for a month or so. I had my hemithyoidectomy a week ago and waiting again for results. I’m trying to be positive  but struggling. Surgery was ok but I didn’t expect to feel so tired a week on. In my 50s so not bounced back as quickly as after previous anaesthetics.

how do you feel now knowing it was cancer? Have you been able to put it to one side and accept it? 
hope the new job is going well.

I was worried about my job as I work with children and have to do some teaching to colleagues. My voice seems ok so far but not using it much.

thank you for your reply. If mine is cancer , I just want to get on with the treatment. It’s been so drawn out over the last year, the stress is the worst thing about it.

Take care x

Hi there! I just wanted to feedback ony progress after I had hemi done. They said about 2 weeks but for my the first week was literally just very small things I did and only the 2 weeks after did I start to gain more energy and ended up going back to work probably a bit less than a month after. I also do talking in my job and I wouldnt have managed personally not that I couldn't talk just the energy levels. I also had phased return.

I hope all goes okay :) yes receiving the cancer diagnosis is hard in my opinion as everyone has different thoughts on the next steps but ultimately I would do what brings you less stress in the long run!

Thanks mojmoj , hearing from other people has helped. I braved ringing the hospital today to chase the results. A lovely admin person helped me as the medical secretaries were not available for some reason on the number I had previously used. Been given the contact for CNS nurse for head and neck to ask now, I feel a fraud as I don’t have a cancer diagnosis. No answer today.I try to switch off on work days and wear a high neck as when I see the scar it reminds me. 

Im still very tired and took x3 espresso’s today to wake up. Hoping it will improve as it was 4 weeks post surgery today. 
hope you continue to recover. Thanks again x