Hi all,
New to the group so hope this post is ok to submit.
March 2023 an MRI scan picked up inflammation around my thyroid, went for an ultrasound and showed a cyst which looked to be benign and so no biopsy was taken. I was 14 months post partum with my first child at the time. Fast forward to March 2024, 3 weeks post partum with my 2nd child, a swelling developed in my neck accompanied by a cough, sort throat and ear pain. I reconnected with an ENT specialist who sent me for another ultrasound where I had 4 slides taken from FNA. Results came back a week later (all of the above has been done privately) showing that the cyst had an additional nodule with an overall size of 24mm - part was graded as U3 (undermined) and part U4 (suspicious). I was advised that I should undergo a left hemi thyroidectemy to perform a histology for diagnosis. I had my surgery on 17th May this year and was in and out the next day. Fast forward a week and my wound was infected - I went to A and E where they admitted me that night and sent me down for emergency surgery the next morning. In that surgery they discovered not only did I have an abscess, a hole had been discovered in my windpipe which was likely caused from the original surgery (consultant held hands up and admitted to this). I had to have a drain in my neck for a few days and fed by nasogastric tube to save me from using my throat and potentially any food or liquids getting into my windpipe. I had to stay in hospital for a week and it was whilst I was there that I got the phone call confirming my histology results show I have T2 Papillary Thyroid Cancer.
Yesterday (21st June) I had a follow up with my consultant where he has advised that I was discussed at the MDT and they are ‘confident’ that all the cancer has been removed and there is nothing to show any suspicion of cancer in the right remaining side of my thyroid. He also said that it has not spread to anywhere else in my body however I’ve not been offered a CT scan, they are purely going by the ultrasound that was perform on my neck back in March. The NHS consultant I had seen whilst I was in hospital advised that I should make sure my private consultant sends me for a CT scan however this has not been offered as he said that an ultrasound is more reliable.
I have been left with the decision of more surgery to remove the rest of my Thyroid as more or a ‘preventative’ measure, or to monitor instead with ultrasound scans at 3 months, then 6 months then annually. Even if I choose to have the rest of my Thyroid removed I will still have to have scans for the next 5 years to ensure it hasn’t returned. I’m really in a predicament as to what I should do, as I’m petrified of having more surgery and it potentially getting infected again or worse - another hole in my trachea. Then again I’m also petrified at the thought of it coming back! I’ve already had 3 surgeries now this year, 1 c section and 2 on my neck, can my body take a 4th?
Has anybody else been in the same position? What did you decide? Has anyone gone down the route of monitoring it and if so has it returned? I’m also a recovered anorexic so the thought of gaining weight also petrifies me. Feeling extremely conflicted right now as to what I should do for the best. My babies need their mum at her strongest. All this has happened whilst I’m supposed to be enjoying my last ever maternity leave with my 4 month old baby boy so it’s getting me down as I’m sure anyone can imagine.
Kind Regards,
CT x
