Thyroid surgery

Scribble 2 days ago

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Hi all,

I had thyroid surgery 2 weeks ago to remove the left thyroid after a biopsy was done and came back as suspicious of thyroid cancer. I have had the surgeon call me today who did the operation with the results. They said that it had come back as thyroid cancer (Papillary) and said that it was very small (9mm) in total and because it was less than 10mm I would not need any further treatment or surgery.

Before the operation they stated that if it came back as cancerous they would need to remove the other side, however after todays conversation they have said that they dont need to remove the other side as it is less than 10mm.

I am of course pleased that I dont need anymore surgery however I have quite a complex medical history and also have a diagnosis of Neuroendocrine cancer which I have undergoing multiple operations and surgery for. I am therefore slightly concerned that they are not considering removing the other half because of my past medical history.

Sorry for the long post but just looking for any help or advice really.

Thanks

unistudent2002 1 day ago

Hi there!

I had a hemithyroidectomy initially as well. My tumour was larger than they were expecting during the surgery, but with the information they had at that point not large enough for a definite decision for a completion thyroidectomy - so basically it was up to me what I wanted to do and when which also felt concerning to me!

I can empathise that with your history, the watch and wait approach to thyroid cancer does feel very slow and frustrating.

If it's any reassurance papillary thyroid cancer is (generally) a very slow growing cancer, and any developments that might be concerning are not that fast moving - I'm being closely monitored and that's still only at 6 month intervals for the last 2 and a half years.

Sorry if I can't say anything more reassuring, but if you have any specific questions I'd be happy to do my best to answer them here.

In the meantime - if you have a CNS nurse you can get in contact with they are incredibly helpful when things aren't clear or you feel your concerns aren't being listened to.

Definitely utilise them, no question or concern is too small! (I had my first surgery right before christmas '23 and I called her to see if I was allowed alcohol - the answer was yes as long as I was off the morphine first!)

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