Diagnostic Hemithyroidectomy

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Hi

Just before Christmas i felt a lump on my neck and the GP referred me on the 2 week wait cancer pathway. I’m a 54 yr okd female with no existing health problems. My thyroid is finctioning normallly. I sibsequently had a biopsy that was indeterminate. The nodule is partially cystic and 5.5cm on my left lobe. 

i just wondered what other peoples experiences are in terms of timescales? I waited 3 weeks for the biopsy results (got these on 8th Feb.). Was given a date of 27th feb for op which got cancelled and rearranged for 27th March. This hss now been cancelled and am waiting for another date.  Is the operation supposed to be done within a certain timescale?  A cancer diagnosis is supposed to be urgent - i just want to know the worrying is not nice. 

  • Hi Patty101, sorry to hear your op has been cancelled twice! It's such a stressful time. Do you have the number or email for your clinical nurse specialist? Mine was really helpful and kind and replied to any emails very quickly. 

    As regards timescale experience, I've learnt there's so many variables; thyroid cancer variant (if they know it from biopsies), if it's contained or spread, diagnostic thyroidectomy first like you or if like me they want to gather all data from biopsies/MRI/CT scans before op (was just over a month in all). Also no doubt varies from surgeon to surgeon and NHS region to region too. Sorry not to be more help, the waiting is just awful. Hopefully someone who's had a diagnostic thyroidectomy will be able to reply soon. Take care and let us know how you're doing x

    Medullary Thyroid cancer dx May 2023