What’s next - thyroid cancer diaognosis

Hi LL82

What happens next all depends on a number of factors, size, type, if the tumour was encapsulated etc. It can also depend on the surgeon too, and a lot of things have changed in the last few years, they don’t always rush in and take the other side out. 

I had the left side of my thyroid taken out a year ago this week, my tumour was 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm, encapsulated, only one lymph gland was checked, there was vascular invasion, I also have nodules on the other side, plus autoimmune thyroiditis, yet my surgeon didn’t give me the option of removal of the remaining thyroid as my tumour was below 6cm. He is reluctant to give me another ultrasound too and I will be pushing for one when I see him next.

You will see from others on here that some have had removal of all their thyroid, others just half, it all depends on what they found in the first half.

So try not to worry, difficult I know, I worried for months and really couldn’t come to terms with the diagnosis or the fact that they were leaving the other half in. 

Have questions ready for your consultant in August and hopefully he/she will be able to put your mind at rest 

Take care

Hi LL82,

Im sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

I too had a hemithyroidectomy in February after two ultrasounds and two FNAs came back as inconclusive.

I was diagnosed with follicular thyroid cancer after the op, the lump was 4cm and Dr said the whole thing was cancerous. To me this sounded horrifying but he said its nothing to worry about.

Like you, I am now doing the watch and wait thing. I've been alarmed to read of others who have had numerous scans, completion and RIA booked in just weeks after their diagnosis. 

I guess the most important thing to remember is that everyone is different and everyone's consultant is different. My endocrinologist told me that a more conservative approach is exercised nowadays. 

Ask as many questions as possible and if you feel that you want more scans, I would definitely request them, its your body!

I'm seeing my consultant tomorrow and I'm going to ask if he recommends a scan as I've had a persistent cough which is worrying me. I'm sure its nothing but in our situation, your imagination runs wild! 

I totally get your feelings of concern, my first post on this community was to check that the Doctor wasn't doing me a disservice!

Regarding your tiredness, I felt really tired a couple of months after the op and I'm now starting to feel more like myself, I've started exercising again etc. I had a blood test and the results came back as the low end of normal. 

If your tiredness persists after a couple of months, go and have your bloods checked again.

Sending positivity and strength your way,

LumiBear xx