My chances of cancer?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2007
My chances of cancer?
7
Fri, 06-22-2007 - 8:43am

Hi. I just discovered on Tuesday night that I have a mass in my lower neck area. I went into my gp on Wednesday and he confirmed that it was the right half of my thyroid and sent me for an us and had blood work done. I'm currently awaiting the results of both.

Of course the us tech won't tell you much but she did say that I had multiple cysts on both sides of my thryoid. She was calling them cysts but I'm assuming that she means nodules? Anyway, she did not say how many, only that I have several. However, I have a dominant one (not sure of the size yet) and she said that because of that they will probably want to do additional testing to determine its makeup. My assumption there is a fine needle biopsy to test for cancer but not sure yet.

I have no idea how big this thing is, only that you can easily feel my thyroid on the right side and if you look closely, you can even see it. I can also feel it pressing on the inside of my neck - not enough to cause coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing but I just feel like I have a lump in my throat. Which, I guess, basically I do.

Anyone else been in this situation and have it turn out not to be cancer? From what I've been reading on the net, the larger it is, the more likely it's cancer so of course I'm very worried. I'm 33 years old and a mother to two year old twins so the thought of cancer scares me to death!

Thanks in advance,
Tracy

Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Fri, 06-22-2007 - 8:59am

Hi Tracy,


Welcome to our board.


It's hard to say what your tests will reveal.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-26-2006
Mon, 06-25-2007 - 3:14pm

Hi Tracy,

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year at the age of 35. I have two little ones myself. If it is cancer, you will be just fine. It is the MOST CUREABLE cancer there is. Your US report sounds exactly like mine, many but one dominant. I had a TT in August with RAI. I feel great now, I run 5 miles a day, I work full time and run my kids to softball and soccer. This type of cancer is not only treatable but CUREABLE. Meaning, you will never have to worry about it again. Plus, they will follow your care to a T. Hopefully all will turn out okay and you will just be put on meds to help with the symptoms of a funky thyroid. Keep us posted on the results but remember, if it is cancer, you will be just fine and live a very long life!!!

Dyan :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2007
Wed, 06-27-2007 - 11:15am

Thank you to you both for your messages. I appreciate it!

I finally got some answers from my doctors office this morning. Unfortunately, my doctor is out on vacation and never called me back. Nice, huh? Anyway, the lady I spoke to on the phone just read off the radiology report ot me and this is what it said...

Two complex solid-cystic nodules located in right side of thyroid. One measured 2.3 and the other was 1.3. (I'm assuming this is cemtimeters considering how large my thyroid feels).

What really upsets me is I guess my report was mailed to an endocrinologist at a big medical center in my area. However, no one at my local doctors office ever bothered to call me back on this so I'm not even sure what I'm doing next, nor to I have my blood work results. Supposedly, the nurse said that one of the thyroid levels was off but the other two were ok. She didn't know which one.

I've been told that someone from the office will call me back to discuss all of this today. I'm hoping so because I'm not sure what to think or what my next steps are. I know that complex nodules are more of a risk for cancer, right? What does it mean if one of my thyroid levels is off??

I have so many questions and am really upset that I've basically slipped thru the cracks at the dr's office!!

Please help and thanks!
Tracy

Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 06-27-2007 - 1:20pm

Hi Tracy,


It is frustrating when they don't call you with the results and explanations.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2007
Wed, 06-27-2007 - 1:34pm

Thanks, Calley. I'm still waiting to hear back from someone at the office. They actually called but I was stuck in a meeting and missed the call and now this person is at lunch so hopefully we'll catch up with each other at some point. I will find out the specifics of my blood work and pass it along for your opinion.

So, do you think that my nodules are causing my levels to be out of whack or vice versus? Since my hormone levels are off, does this make it less likely that it's cancer or more?

Thanks!
Tracy

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2007
Wed, 06-27-2007 - 3:25pm

Ok - another update. I spoke to my doctor's office again this afternoon and they have set up an appointment for me at the endo's office. Unfortunately, though, it is not until Sept. 23rd! I'm going to hate waiting that long. I'm on the cancellation list but who knows if that will make a difference.

The lady I spoke to at my gp office had another doctor look at my us results (since my doc is on vacation) and he said that he's not concerned that it is cancer and in his opinion is probably the start of a goider. But, that they probably should be biopsied just to be safe.

As far as my blood work goes, I guess my T4 was low compared to where it should be but everything else is fine. This dr. didn't feel that one low value of T4 was significant but it will obviously be checked again when I go to the endo.

Do you think it's a concern to be waiting over two months? Gosh that's a long time. I did call the endo's office after my appointment was set and asked if they could have the dr. review my reports and if anything seemed concerning to him that we could move my appointment up and they said that they would put a note on my file and give it to him. So, I guess I've done all I can do at this point. Ugh - I'm going to hate the wait!!

Any ideas on the low T4? The doctor didn't seem to think this was significant.

Thanks!
Tracy

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-26-2006
Thu, 06-28-2007 - 2:45pm

Tracy,

If it is cancer, it is VERY SLOW growing so 2 months is okay. Don't worry!! As far as the T4 level, that doesn't really let you know if you have cancer or not, just if your thyroid is working properly. You have been very pro active and that is so good. You can never be to cautious. I caught mine so early that the path in the hospital said it was benign but MD Anderson said it was very very early cancer. So stay strong and keep us posted. They will not know for sure about the cancer diagnosis until they biopsy it.

Take care Dyan :)