Biopsy results thy3F - help, next stages?

Hello again Cat9,

Have the Drs given you the option of surgery or retesting in 3 - 6 months time, or are they just suggesting surgery? They do sometimes suggest a retest, as a 3 is indeterminate in that there aren't enough cells to tell one way or another.

3f basically means they are seeing more follicular cells than they might expect in a normal sample, but not enough to be more sure of it being cancerous. So if it's cancer, it's more likely to be follicular than papillary. But there's no guarantee.

There's also absolutely no point in worrying about spread before you've even been diagnosed with cancer. That's just too much information and too much worry to take on unnecessarily. So distract yourself from those sorts of thoughts with some spring cleaning, gardening, nice treats, etc etc. and just take everything one step at a time. The game of 'what ifs is where madness lies.

Lass

XX

Hi Lass, 

thank you for getting back to me so quickly. 

No mention of a delay on surgery, my consultant who will be doing the surgery also rang me today with the results and a quick chat before going into more detail at my next appointment on Monday. 

Shes keen to do the surgery ASAP. 

Thanks for the info xxx

Also, before I forget, I see papillary and follicular being thrown about on the internet as being easily cured (if there’s no spread elsewhere and it is contained) however, what makes follicular sometimes a little harder to treat than papillary, or there being a poorer diagnosis. Can’t find anything online  Xx

To be honest, more often than not when they do the second FNA they come back with another result of a 3. So it's just delayed the surgery and got them no further forwards. So if I were offered a second FNA or removal, I'd pick removal. Lol

Follicular isn't any harder to treat, nor does it have a worse prognosis. Follicular and papillary are both pretty much even stevens on the treatment front as well as the cure rate. So it doesn't actually matter, as far as we the patient are concerned, as to which of the two we get. We get treated exactly the same either way.

Lass

XX

Thank you Lass. You have really put me at ease. It’s hard with all the wondering, waiting and worrying, the 3 W’s . More so when there is young children involved, my youngest is one and he’s very much a mummy’s boy, I don’t think he’s going to be happy when I’m in the hospital for surgery. 

Will be be sure to update you. Thanks very much xx

Waiting is a MASSIVE part of anything to do with the thyroid I'm afraid. Nothing moves particularly quickly, because there's usually absolutely no need for any sort of speed.

Depending on when you get the surgery, he may not even notice you were in. Sometimes you're in and out the same day, more usual is just a one night stay. So in for 9am, out at lunch the next day. Kids are a lot more resilient than we sometimes think. My idea would be to send him on an adventure - depending on what sort of 1 year old he is. So he'll be distracted and excited and will barely notice you've not been around for a few hours. And there's nothing to stop you from video chatting with him if you cover any drains you might have with a scarf or blanket so as not to worry him.

But yes, certainly with other parents who have popped in and out of here, it's been more them who were worried about the separation than the kids. The kids really weren't fussed at all when it came down to it.

But pop in, chat, ask questions, whatever you need anytime you need it. We're here and will help as and when we can!

Lass

XX

I believe - and it's not something I've looked at these past few years - that there's not a lot of difference in prognosis for the two types once you've adjusted for age effects.

Papillary is the most common among younger patients (and patients in general) but follicular has a slightly older profile. As that older group includes people who are 70 or 80+, and as there are fewer follicular than papillary, the data is skewed by the deaths of the much older patients. And some of those may be completely unrelated to their cancer. 

It can be slightly harder to treat but it's not something you should worry about. Both have excellent prognoses.

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