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Thyroid Disorders
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Posted 10/30/2009 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Had nuclear scan few months ago.  Finally tog to see my doc this week.  My lump is huge! She did needle biopsy and sonograhm and now waiting for results.  She thinks possible cancer at this point and wants to remove entire thyroid regardless of cancer due to it's size.  I am calm but underneath desperately trying to hold it together.  I feel as if I can't freak out just yet so my family doesn't suffer needlessly.  I just wish the call would come that had some answers!  Waiting is so hard when the "C" word is involved.  I do know that the lump has extended below my collar bone and 6cm is what they have been able to measure that is ABOVE the collar bone and can't tell how much is below without a ct scan.   Deep breath....
Posted 10/30/2009 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Mojowo, I'm sorry to hear they think you may have cancer. I don't know a lot about the topic of thyroid cancer, but I did find some sites that may have information to help you. I'm a firm believer in educating myself about my diagnoses.

http://www.endocrineweb.com/thyroidca.html


https://health.google.com/health/ref/Thyroid+cancer


Try to focus on the good news - you know it's there and you're on the way to treatment. I can see that you've survived a virtual war in your gut, I'll bet you're not going to give in to a stinkin' little thyroid gland.

We're here to support you regardless of the findings, so keep us posted. (((hugs)))

Posted 11/1/2009 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Mojo, in 1999, a week before my 31st birthday, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had surgery, chemo, radiation and took Tamoxifen for 5 years. In 2008, I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer.

All cancer sucks, but let me help you put it in perspective....thyroid cancer was about 1000X easier than breast cancer. Not to minimize it, it is still cancer, but the cure rate is spectacular....for my situation (stage 1) it is about a 99% cure rate. Surgery is not that bad and the treatment is a hassle, but not bad. I likened it to having a chronic disease with an acute flare up....once treated with a radioactive iodine pill, it takes a bit to get you regulated on medication and then for most, it is over, and you get to live your life again.

This is not a bad cancer....I know they are all bad, but if you have to pick a cance, thyroid is at the top of the list. It is a temporary bump in the road but is easy to take care and treat. Try not to worry till you know what you are facing...worrying won't change the outcome, it will just make you more distraught. And who needs that?

Just know that whatever it is, you can handle it and will likely be able to keep a pretty normal life during the process. Hang in there!

Posted 11/7/2009 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Good news! My tests came back negative for cancer. I had prepared myself and felt confident that if it was malignent (sp?) that it would be fine and all that I read said it would be pretty easy to treat in terms of cancer. But the emotional relief to know that I do not have cancer is unreal. I still have to have my whole thyroid removed but do not have to worry. I can handle a little pill every day for the rest of my life! I have seen in the recent years too much heartache due to cancer and did not even wish the smallest amount of that on my family. Thank you for your support and words of encouragement. It is the people in this forum that get me thru some of the darkest moments that I do not want to burden my family with! Big hugs and thanks for being there!
Posted 11/7/2009 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
What terrific news! Please let us know how you progress through your surgery and recovery.
Posted 11/8/2009 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Good for you! I know that was a great relief.

Joy
Posted 11/9/2009 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you...does anyone have advice, stories etc on recovery, scars etc?
Posted 11/9/2009 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Mojowo4, I don't know if there's anyone else around who has had thyroidectomy. I can give you some on-line resources to start with, and perhaps someone else will respond from experience:

Mayo clinic - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thyroidectomy/MY00709

Cleveland clinic - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/Thyroidectomy/hic_Thyroidectomy.aspx

These are both highly respected centers and have sites which are usually quite user-friendly. 

Posted 11/14/2009 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Mojowo,
First of all let me say that I am extremely happy that your results were benign and that it was not cancer. I had two thyroid surgeries within a few months of each other. The first surgery I had half of my thyroid removed due to a recurring cyst. Final pathology showed that I had papillary thyroid cancer so I opted for a second surgery to remove the other half of my thyroid. Both surgeries went extremely well with only minor pain at the incision site afterwards. In fact I only needed to be on prescription pain meds for the first day after surgery. I did have a sore throat after sugery but I believe that was from the insertion of the anesthesia tube. Throat lozenges (sp?) took care of the sore throat. My scar is barely noticeable at this point. Of course, I think everybody heals differently and I think scar appearance depends on surgical skill as well as how well you body heals. For me, thyroid sugery was a breeze and I have no doubts that yours will be too! Take care and I will be thinking about you!!
Posted 11/14/2009 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mojowo--

Am I glad I happened on this thread--

I'm waiting to see the doc after ct and ultrasound tests have shown a small (1 cm) nodule on my thyroid.  I see you were on remicade for a while.  So was I--for ulcerative colitis.  It cured my colitis great, but had to get off because of severe lupus-like symptoms. 
And now this thyroid thing.  It really worries me because of the anti TNF action of the remicade.

Plus--I had radiation therapy for ringworm of the scalp over 60 years ago, back in the dark ages--I can imagine the possible side effects of that--I'm a registered x-ray tech. 

So it gives me a boost to know things might not be as dark as they look right now.

Glad things turned out good for you.  And soooo glad for everybody at HealingWell.

Hugs idea

Michigoose

 

Posted 12/18/2009 7:17 AM (GMT 0)
Mojo-
I keep tying to get my wife to come here, but for some reason she won't. Anyway, she had her left side removed and half of her right side removed 6 1/2 years ago. The scar looks just like a wrinkle. In fact her surgeon said most people have a wrinkle in the area he uses and all he did was give her one she should have had. He is also a plastic surgeon, but i know several people who have had this surgery and all of them have pretty much the same results.
She has Hashimotos and had a very large thyroid and is very happy she had the surgery.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 3/22/2010 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
It has been awhile since I was on but surgery is done, went great and I am healing well. The scar is red but looks pretty darn good. They did freeze biopsies right in the operating room to double check for cancer and found none so they left me my right side thyroid, otherwise would have taken that too. What was alarming was that the growth they found when they got in there was the size of a grapefruit and extened down into my chest. They took it out in pieces so they wouldn't have to crack my chest open to get it. Feel wonderful and the ablility to swallow and breath better is sooooo nice!!! Thank you for all your wonderful replies. It never does get any easier with surgury but it is nice to have a place to vent and get good advice!
Posted 3/22/2010 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Great to hear from you.
It's great that you are healing nicely.

Joy
Posted 3/23/2010 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, I'm glad you got that taken care of! Glad tohear things are going well now.
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