Papillary cancer

Hi there i had my middle bit (cant spell it) abd a big cancerous lump removed 28/11.

Isthmus - hard to say, hard to spell.

Hey All. I had a full thyroidectomy and the Isthmus removed too on November 31st 2022. The cancerous lump was 8.5cm x 5cm. So got the scar to match it. Although the surgeon was very good. Now using bio oil to help it heal. Radio iodine therapy at the end of this month. And struggling to find things to eat! As not allowed iodine salt in the diet. That includes sea salts, which is used in soya milk

Hi Martin, have you started your LID diet ?  If so have you been given a sheet from the NHS which states what you can and cannot eat?  I can send you a link if not.  I like to snack a lot and ate crisps (check there is no milk content), nuts, fruit, soya yogurts/mousse, Vegan cheese (check no Carrigeenan which is a seaweed product), Oreo biscuits (not all are ok but the basic ones are), chocolate which is over 70% cacoa content (again check there is no milk content so go for a Vegan one) and I had Rice milk which is nice to drink on its own, and bearable in tea/coffee.  I bought oat milk then found it contained iodine so couldn't have it, but I believe Almond or Coconut milk are also ok.  Best wishes for your RAI I had mine just before Xmas. Other meals were fine and I ate Veggie based meals, Meat and veg, rice, pasta, jacket potatoes.  Just make sure you check packages especially on convenience foods which our Veggie burgers were).

Hey Petal66. Thank you for the quick reply. I'm 4 days into my LID diet. Just been eating fruit, chicken, couscous, juice drinks. I've been to Sainsburys these evening, and every single milk alternative has Sea Salts in the ingredients. I was given a booklet from the Royal Marsden, tells me what to avoid etc. Being a chocoholic I've managed to avoid all the sweet things too. A lot of items I look at, say it has salt, so I've avoid those too. 

You are ok with salt as long as it isn't iodised salt @MartinK.  Remember it says a Low Iodine Diet not a No Iodine Diet as there is iodine in lots of things, veg included it is virtually impossible to avoid everything, but know we want to and don't want to do anything that might interfere with treatment.  Hope everything goes for well for you.

Thank you for the info. Helps a lot. I've just read your profile too. Hope they sort your vocal cords out. Mine were also pushed during surgery, and left me with a croaky voice. Had the camera to check, and it was swollen, but getting better. Like you, I was very anxious before the surgery. But the pain level after wasn't too bad. Just a few days after when I got home, very tender for a while. And amazed at how long the drain tube was too. 

Thanks @MartinK I am waiting for surgery on my vocal cords which should be in the next few weeks according to the last letter I received.  I had an Ultrasound scan last week as I had a raised lymph node which would have delayed the vocal cord op if it had been a problem, but they said it was nothing to worry about.  Certainly hope it isn't.  The drain tube was annoying, having to carry it to the loo all the time and trying to get washed with it was a bit tricky.  I was so pleased when they removed it and I could enjoy a shower.  Don't like the camera scope thing, it  makes me gag, and I have had it so many times it doesn't get any easier.  At least if doesn't hurt though lol