Diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. Scared

Good morning to you, you are not alone, there are lots and lots of us here who felt exactly the same as you do now.  It takes time to get  your head around a cancer diagnosis, regardless of how good the prognosis is, so give yourself time, be kind to yourself and take comfort in the posts of other people here who are going through right now or have gone through the same thing as you.  I am older than you, no kids but I was very very scared too.  I had my ops and radioactive iodine treatment back in 2018 and I am still here and to be honest I very rarely think about my cancer diagnosis now. At first I had no idea how to live with this thought,  I HAVE CANCER without worrying myself to death. A bit of research, a bit of a stern talking to from Lass (who will be in touch soon I am sure) and coming to the realisation that the important point in our diagnosis is that the prognosis is good, sorted me out.  So, put the visor down and accelerate, you will get through this.  Sending you a virtual hug and my warmest regards.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE we are all here for you.

Thank you so so much for the reply, I appreciate it with all my heart. I definitely know it will take time, I’m very impatient when it comes to emotions as I don’t deal with them well. I cannot for the life of me stop crying! My eye balls will roll out soon. Knowing I have all this support and not being alone makes me feel warm. So very happy for you for overcoming it back then! Thank you again for the reply, it has put a smile back on my face 

Hello M! 

(That makes you sound like a mysterious Bond character!)

Welcome to the forum, though I'm sorry you have the need to be here. 

So first things first, don't Google. There is a lot of misinformation out there surrounding thyroids and thyroxine, and it will only confuse and worry you further. So please do stick with us, cancer research, and the butterfly thyroid cancer Trust. 

Thyroid cancer does have a 99% survival rate, and it's generally not a genetic or hereditary thing. So if there had been any thoughts or worries about your kids getting it, you can quash them now.

I'm guessing that you've been diagnosed from an FNA, or fine needle aspiration? Do you know if they're only taking half of your thyroid or are they doing a full thyroidectomy? And I presume the 3 grading was from the ultrasound? 

As for the operation, generally you're only in hospital overnight and you're so out of it and exhausted from the anaesthetic, that all you do is sleep. So you won't really notice that you're away from the family, and chances are you'll be back with them at lunchtime again. So def not something to get worked up over. 

Lass

Xx

Hello! Thank you so much for the reply. Haha I will now be known as M then, as it’s cool  

I really am trying to hard to stay away from google, I guess I’m trying to find as much reassurance as I can anywhere I can. I know I know, I’ve only gone and got myself more worked up due to this will try harder to refrain. My little girls are everything to me, and seeing that it can’t be passed down gives me great relief. Yes, I had a biopsy and an ultrasound a couple of weeks ago, the Grade was just the grade of the lump from what they saw on the ultrasound also. I spoke with my GP yesterday on the phone when he called me to break the bad news, and asked what will be taken away. I was advised that because the cancer is growing on the right side of my thyroid the surgeons will just remove that half. I do have other small nodules around my neck and on the left side which they will investigate also, I had these checked on the ultrasound and was told they are very small and look very ok. 
1 night doesn’t seem so bad! And neither does catching up on sleep ha. 
thank you again for the reply, M xx

Heya, 

OK, so more good news there then.

If they are only taking half of your thyroid then they don't think it's a very advanced case or one that might spread. If they were concerned, then they would be taking the whole thyroid out, so that's def positive. 

Thyroid nodules are very common, and often pop up in women at times of hormonal changes. So for you, puberty and pregnancy.... And further down the line, the menopause. But over 90% of these nodules turn out to be benign and nothing to be worried about at all.

So you've just got that one baddie who has decided to randomly mutate and turn malignant. Which when you think of it like that, isn't quite so bad.

So what's ahead, with what we know at the moment, is you'll go into hospital one day, starving hungry im afraid, they'll whip it out while you feel like you've just blinked, then the next day you'll head home. 

Now, I don't know what your home situation is, but if you are primary care giver to the kids then you'll need help for a week after the op. You'll feel knackered, and you shouldn't lift the kids up. I'd def suggest doing some batch cooking and freeze it too, so if you're the cook, you are just defrosting and reheating. You'll need to sit down regularly and support your head, so that your neck can rest and heal. So make sure to take your paracetemol and Ibuprofen regularly, if you're OK taking those drugs. Don't wait for things to hurt, take them for that first week on time, every time. It will honestly help. 

Also, make sure and keep your fluids up, as the intubation will give you a bit of a scratchy throat and a cough that brings gunk up off your lungs. Just have a good cough and get it shifted, it's totally normal after an op. And as a tip, build a slope in your bed to lie on. Lying flat out on a pillow really isn't comfy. But if you make a pile of towels, pillows, duvets etc to give you a recliner angle, then you'll sleep soundly. 

So as you can see, my way of coping with everything is to break it down into "what do I know at the moment", and "what can I do about it?". So I'm very logical and practical, because looking forwards, even without a cancer diagnosis, shows you far too many 'what ifs'. You'd drive yourself mad if you worried about every single possibility, and having cancer just adds more possibilities to the mix. So very definitely just deal with the here and now, worry about the future when it arrives.

And if you're ever bored, feel free to have a read of my profile by clicking on my username. It'll tell you how and why I've come to the above conclusion. But do remember that I'm classed as a unicorn in this disease. I am NOT the norm, and my oncologist has never had another like me! Lol

Lass

Xx

I never thought about it like that... looking more positive if they take half then, I won’t get overly excited... just enough to convince myself I’ll be ok. I’m a very big foodie so this will be VERY dramatic for me (har har   )  Doctors orders, I will follow there instructions at all times. I have a partner who has to work but my mother will be staying over to help with the kids she’s a god send. Thank you for the advice on how to sleep/sit I know I’ll definitely need it. You have really reassured me with this, I’m still in shock definitely but all this great information is going to help me so so much, thank you! I have added you too. Thank you again x

That's what we're here for, so you can learn from our experiences and have a better experience than maybe we did. 

Shock is understandable, and will pass in time as you get your head around everything and move through the process. So please do shout up if there's anything you don't understand, or want more info on, or just if you want to chat.

And as a fellow foodie, I highly recommend having something nice waiting at home for after the op! Got to treat yourself now and again, and if not then.... When?

Lass

Xx

I am so so very greatful for the support, I really am from the bottom of my heart. Its very comforting. I definitely will post if I’m unsure about anything or feeling low, and I will have something very nice waiting for me when I get home! Thank you xx