My doc appointment.
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| Thu, 02-17-2005 - 1:16am |
So here is how my doc appointment went. I sat in the waiting room for an hour. Not fun when you don't feel good. Went in and the P.A. asked how and what I was feeling. Looked in ears, throat and did other things. We then talked about family history and went in to get an ultra sound. It took 20 minutes for the ultra sound. The ultra sound tech told the P. to come in and check the pictures. This is where I started getting upset. The ultra sound showed that I have two nodules (sorry if i spelt it wrong)One on the right side and one on the left side. Well after a minute or two they started bantering back and forth what they looked like, how they were formed, and if they were cancerous. The ultra sound tech kept saying it looked like cancer. What people don't understand is that my mother died of cancer, and my brother has a tumor on his brain stem. I was totally freaking out. I didn't think I would have to hear things the way I did. The doc saw I was crying and became a little more tactful. She sat down and explained things. She said I have a 16 pecent chance of it being cancer. sigh. So now my next appointment is to do the biopsy.
I'm not sure how I'm feeling right now. I've been crying all day. Granted the chance of cancer is down, so that has me feeling a bit better. So since I do have those nodules will they have to take out my whole thyroid? arugh.
Thanks for listening.
Kim

Hey, I just wanted to tell you to try and not s tress yourself out over it.
IF it is cancer it's easy to treat. They will probably want to remove your thyroid. (I had this operation and trust me it's easy!) Then they will give a dose of RAI to make sure it destroys all the cancer. SInce your thyroid is the only thing in your body that absorbs iodine they give you radiation in that form. Which means it won't hurt other things in your body!
From what I've read and heard thyroid cancer is the best cancer to have b/c it's so treatable.
Hi Kim - I just had my whole rpely to you and I hit the wrong button and lost it!!! OK, one more time!!!
I think your doctor and the ultra sound tech were unbelievably rude and inconsiderate to you. If you have a chance to let them know that, I would if I were you. It's just amazing to think they could be so horrible!!! No one deserves that type of treatment - and to think, you have to PAY for that!! It's just awful!!! On to the main issue ....
First of all, you should know that you cannot tell whether or not a nodule is cancerous by looking at an ultrasound!! So that's just wrong for the tech to say ... it makes no sense. They don't do ultrasounds to look for cancer but to see the nodules, and look at the overall condition of the thyroid. The biopsy is what determines the composition of the nodule.
Second, thyroid cancer is extremely rare - I've read that only 8 to 10 % of the nodules are cancerous, not 16%!! So your chances of having it are even less than you think. I know you figure you might be the one in that small group that has it - and that's possible, of course, but the chances are really slim. I know it makes it worse for you that your mom had cancer and your brother is dealing with it now, but that doesn't increase your chances of having those nodules be cancerous. So you really need to take a deep breath over it and try to seperate your circumstances from theirs.
Third - if it was cancer, thyroid cancer is extremely treatable. It isn't the type of cancer that you will die from. I know the whole thing is extrememly stressful. I'm not trying to take away from that. But putting it in perspective, which is what any of us would have to do if we were facing the same thing, it is treatable and recovery is excellent. They do not necessarily remove a person's entire thyroid. It would really depend on the size of the nodules, the location, etc. A friend of mine at church had thyroid cancer last year and she's in great shape today. So it's something that can be dealt with very successfully. Not that anyone would want to have to go through it but ... it's not the worst thing that can happen either. Do you know what I'm trying to say????
When do you go for the biopsy? Is this the first time you're seeing this doctor? I think it is, right? If I were you, I'd start looking right now for a new doctor. There's absolutely no excuse for her behavior or that of her ultrasound tech. That just burns me up!!!! Big Hugs, Cathy :)
Thanks so much for everyone's replies and prayers. I have been doing lots of thinking today. I know there is a huge difference between me and what my mom and brother have. I know that thyroid cancer is the most curable cancer out there. So that makes things a little bit better. All of this is just so knew to me.
I am looking for another doctor. For now my biopsy is scheduled for feb 28. Thanks again for all your thoughts. You ladies are great! I hope everyone has a good day tomorrow.
Kim