re: thyroid issues

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
re: thyroid issues
4
Mon, 07-31-2006 - 2:49pm
Hi, I just found this board. Recently my sister noticed a lump in my neck. I went to the doctor,had an ultrasound and blood work done. Long story short, they found two masses in my neck. One is in my thyroid and is "quite large-apx. 3 cm" the other (also 'large')they thought was in one of my parathyroids but, as my calcium levels came back normal, they don't know what it is. Oh yeah, my thyroid levels are "normal" as well. What is the 'normal' range? My appointment with a specialist is not until August 17th. I don't know what to do or ask. When I called to ask if this appointment was for the biopsy or just a consult, the woman told me it was a pre-surgery consult. What surgery? I feel as though things are out of my control. Can anyone give me any direction? I appreciate your time and consideration.
Liz
Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Mon, 07-31-2006 - 8:48pm

Hi Liz,


Welcome to our board.


I'm guessing you'll be seeing an endocrinologist on August 17th.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 07-31-2006 - 9:26pm
Calley,
Thank you for responding and for the links--they were very helpful. The doctor that I am seeing is not an endocrinologist--he's an ear/nose/throat surgeon. My gp said that, due to the size of the lumps/masses/whatever, they need to come out. I guess that I'm more worried because they don't seem to know what the second lump in my neck is-yet they're ready to perform an operation. On the one hand, if they think that it is something bad, shouldn't they have set up the appointment for an earlier date? On the other hand, if it isn't bad, why are they going to set up a surgery? I'm sorry, I know that these are questions that I should probably ask the doctor (and I will)...it's just frustrating. What are normal levels in thyroid hormone? Do you know? I will ask for copies of my tests. Thank you, I never thought of that. Again, thanks for responding.
Liz
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 08-01-2006 - 5:16pm

Hi Liz,
I've just been through a somewhat similar situation... My dr. found a small lump in my neck during a routine physical. It was small enough that I couldn't feel it when I tried to find it.. I had bloodwork done, as well as an uptake and scan. At that appt., I knew something was wrong because a dr. came in and immediately scheduled an ultrasound. I wasn't told anything, but my doctor called back a few days later and recommended that I have a biopsy done. He recommended that I call an otolaryngologist (ENT), so I made an appointment thinking that I was going to have the biopsy done right in his office. Like you, I wasn't really sure what to expect.

At the appt., he felt around my neck a lot. He gave me a lot more information--told me the size of the nodules (there were actually 2 found during the u/s--I had no idea), and explained all of the options (fine needle biopsy vs. surgery). He felt that they were both small enough (1.8 cm) that I should have the FNA, so we scheduled that for later in the week.

My fine needle biopsy took place at the hospital with a doctor who I wasn't familiar with. It wasn't too uncomfortable and didn't take long. He told me that the right nodule was just a fluid filled cyst and that the nodule on the other side looked benign to him. I went back to the ENT a few days later, feeling very optimistic, but he told me that they found papillary cells. Based on his recommendation, I had a complete thyroidectomy last Tuesday (one week ago today) and am doing very well! My cancer did not spread. I will undergo RAI and body scans in a few weeks.

All of my thyroid tests came back normal, too. My thyroid was functioning just fine despite the cancer...

I felt out of control, too. The worst part of the past 2 months has been all of the waiting in between appointments. I think there is a feeling (at least in my case) that the chance that it was cancerous was minimal, and that this type of cancer is very treatable, slow growing, etc. that they didn't feel I had to have surgery, appts. etc. immediately. This was quite a contrast to when they found breast cancer in my mother... I remember that she had the biopsy and surgery the VERY next day. I had my biopsy, waited 5 days to see the dr. -Then waited 8 more days to have the surgery!

I was very anxious to have my appointments--and even called and asked if they could put me on a waiting list if anyone cancelled or if another doctor in the practice could see me sooner. I got an appt. a week earlier than originally scheduled doing this. Also, don't hesitate to call your doctor if you have questions... I didn't have a relationship with the ENT, but my regular doctor (PCP) who found the lump, was able to call me back to answer questions when I called his office. It might help to write down questions--I know one of the sites I found on the internet had a page with questions to ask the doctor (sorry, I can't remember which one, but it was most likely one Calley7 linked you to).

Please let me know if I can answer any of your questions. I've just been through all of this. Chances are that you don't have cancer like I did (I hope and pray that you don't) but they will most likely want to remove the lumps because of their size...

((((((hugs)))))) Claudia

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-02-2006 - 11:12am
Claudia,
Thanks for your reply. Yes, my PCP immediately sent me to an ENT. I called his office to see if the biopsy would be done on the appointment date and was told "no, it is a consultation before surgery." I know that, due to the size of my lumps, they will probably have to come out. I am glad that you made it through your surgery so well. Thanks again for your reply. My main question is "what are they" --which they can't answer yet. I do know that the one lump has solid and liquid components, the other is solid. Anyway, thank you for relating your experience. I feel calmer.
Liz