Hemi operation and late cancer notification

Hey there Rory, 

Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you found us, though I'm sorry you have to be here. 

I'm also sorry you were told you'd get your results within 2 weeks. That very rarely happens in the world of thyroids, because there's very rarely any need for any urgency. So holidays, illness, backlogs, etc aren't worried about. Plus, they don't do admin very often as there are so many patients to see.

Do you know what type of thyroid cancer it is you've got? When you were going through investigations and you had the ultrasound, did they do the other half too? Were there any lumps seen on it at all?

A good way of looking at it is that you don't have cancer, you had cancer. They've removed the half with the cancer, and as they are looking at monitoring rather than more treatment then it would suggest they are confident that they got it all out.

If you've any questions, then do just shout and we'll help where we can! 

Lass

Xx

Thank you Lasse  x. I have Papillary cancer - well did have ??? Need to get my head around it all xxx  it was all a massive shock x  if a mass shows on other side , will get it removed ... biopsy was only on one side , which came back un defined ??  If I have it totally removed would they still scan the area in the future 

Yeh, thyroid cancer is an odd one like that. You're often told that you both had cancer and that it's gone, all in the one breath. Getting your head around that is sometimes harder than being told you have cancer, go through treatment, then get the all clear. That's a journey that gives you time to get your head around everything. But in this situation, it's very abrupt, and it's hard to know how to feel about it all. 

There's no wrong thing to feel though, no wrong reaction. Just take your time to think it through and come to terms with it all. However one thing I would say, is keep moving forwards and try not to get stuck in one emotion or on one thought for too long. 

Papillary is the most common form of thyroid cancer. It's the one most folks get and it has a 99% survival rate. So the odds are def in your favour there.

If a lump shows up on the other side, it'll be just the same as the last time. So it will be given a U rating from the ultrasound. If that's suspicious, then they'll give you an FNA. This will get the lump a T score. Depending on what that is, they'll either watch and wait, say its fine, or remove that half too.

If your whole thyroid is removed then there's no need for regular ultrasounds. Instead, you have regular blood tests to check a hormone called thyroglobulin. If that starts to steadily increase, then that's when they'd give you an ultrasound of the thyroid bed, because a steady increase in TG would possibly indicate that something was growing. 

Hope that helps. 

Lass

Xx

Thank you Lass - you are so amazing & so calm . You put everything in perspective ... you have re-assured me - you have a golden heart x  I have read ur history & oh my life , the strength you have shines through this whole forum x  THANK YOU 

Not a problem at all, I'm just glad you're feeling a bit better about everything. 

And now you know where we are, post anytime you want to vent, or have a question, or even just one of those niggling thoughts in your head that need to come out. The forum can be used for whatever you need, whenever you need it. 

And myself and others are usually lurking around somewhere, ready to help where and when we can. So you shouldn't wait too long for an answer. 

Lass

Xx