Newly Diagnosed

I have recently had FNA of a cold thyroid nodule [also recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism] that is suspicious of papillary cell cancer. My TT is scheduled in a month. I will soon turn 62, so all I read tells me this is not good. Are there any 50+ survivors out there that can tell me their experinces? I am a registered nurse, but cannot recall ever having a patient with thyroid cancer. I live in the Atlanta area.

Not a survivor, sorry but my 35yr old brother just had his thyroid cancer treated.

I was under the inpression that papillary cancer of the thyroid was common and easily treated. Even with spread it doesn't have a high mortality rate. If it hasn't spread beyond the thyroid the cure rate is as high as 80-90%.

At your age it should be less aggressive too.

My doctor informs me that, due to dietary deficiencies in the Western World, thyroid tumours are at an all-time high nowadays. (Even in our pets. 33% of all cats get one in their lifetime now).

So, not sure where your info came from, but before you freak out you might want to check again.

 

 

On 3/25/2007 Kilgh wrote:

Not a survivor, sorry but my 35yr old brother just had his thyroid cancer treated.

I was under the inpression that papillary cancer of the thyroid was common and easily treated. Even with spread it doesn't have a high mortality rate. If it hasn't spread beyond the thyroid the cure rate is as high as 80-90%.

At your age it should be less aggressive too.

My doctor informs me that, due to dietary deficiencies in the Western World, thyroid tumours are at an all-time high nowadays. (Even in our pets. 33% of all cats get one in their lifetime now).

So, not sure where your info came from, but before you freak out you might want to check again.

 

Thanks for your response. Check the National Cancer Institute's web site for thyroid cancer. Then check under professional for staging info. The American Cancer Society's site also gives staging info.

Hi!

Just read your e-mail dated March regarding a thyroid nodule that may

be cancerous.  I'm over 50 and having a thyroid nodule biopsied in a

couple weeks.  Apparently, I have several nodules but this one in

particular is solid and has micro calcification/s within or around, not

sure.  Dr. says there is an 80% chance of it being malignant but he

claims that thryoid cancer is easily treated if discovered early and has

an extremely high cure rate compared to other cancers.  I have read

a lot on the subject as well and what I have read concurs with what

my endocrinologist has said.  There is, however, one form of thyroid

tumor that does have a poor prognosis but not sure what type.  One

thing I have read is if you have hyper or hypothroidism or other

 problem as a result most liklely the nodule is benign.  I have neither

so I'm a little concerned.  I'm also a breast cancer survivor of 3 & l/2 years.  Let me know how things have gone for you.

 

On 5/21/2007 Leemg wrote:

Hi!

Just read your e-mail dated March regarding a thyroid nodule that may

be cancerous.  I'm over 50 and having a thyroid nodule biopsied in a

couple weeks.  Apparently, I have several nodules but this one in

particular is solid and has micro calcification/s within or around, not

sure.  Dr. says there is an 80% chance of it being malignant but he

claims that thryoid cancer is easily treated if discovered early and has

an extremely high cure rate compared to other cancers.  I have read

a lot on the subject as well and what I have read concurs with what

my endocrinologist has said.  There is, however, one form of thyroid

tumor that does have a poor prognosis but not sure what type.  One

thing I have read is if you have hyper or hypothroidism or other

 problem as a result most liklely the nodule is benign.  I have neither

so I'm a little concerned.  I'm also a breast cancer survivor of 3 & l/2 years.  Let me know how things have gone for you.

Is the dr planning to do a biopsy?

My fine needle aspiration was very suspisious for papillary cell cancer. I had a total thyroidectomy on 4/25. Post op I had 2 drains that were removed the next day. I didn't have enough pain to warrant taking pain meds.I ate reguler food a few hours after surgery and was up to the bathroom with help shortly after surgery. My voice was not hoarse, my throat was barely sore. I felt like there was a rubber band stretched across the front of my neck. It still feels that way, but is much smaller now. My calcium did drop as soon as surgery was over. He did an autotransplant of one parathyroid. My magnesium was also low. I received supplements of both and had labs drawn every 12 hours. That kept me from going home the next day.I am still taking TUMS for the calcium. I went home on the 27th. No driving and no lifting for a week. I went back to work on 5/7.

Mine was well diferentiated papillary cell cancer. My nodule was found because I became hyperthyroid and it showed up cold on the iodine uptake scan. This was in the left lobe. I had several nodules in the right lobe, but they were benign. My lymph nodes removed at surgery were benign. My malignancy measured 1x1x1.1 cm. This was classified as stage 1. My endocrinologist told me I did not need to do the radioactive iodine treatment unless I wanted to. I have chosen to do a small dose of RAI and then have a whole body scan. Last Friday I stopped my cytomel [the thyroid replacement I started after surgery] and started the low iodine diet. The diet isn't too bad except I work and it is difficult to take my lunch because I'm out making calls. Today's lunch was apple, banana and health food store peanut butter  [no salt]on matzo cracker. Yuck.I see the dr. Friday to check to see how high my TSH has risen. I expect it to take until sometime next week for it to reach 30.

I did finally find some info that explained why some people over 40 - 45 do not do as well. There is a variant of papillary cell cancer called tall cell [there may be a couple of more]. These variants are known to be more agressive than regular papillary cell and tends to be seen on older people. Otherwise, everything I have read indicates this is a very slow growing cancer and the means of tracking for recurrences is pretty effective. I suppose if you have to have cancer, this is one of the better ones to have. No cancer would be better. I went to a yoga class last week and a few days later had leg pain. Although I was sure it came from the class, it still worried me until it went away. Also, last week I went for my mammogram and found myself very stressed over this, convinced that something else would be wrong with me. I don't have the reslults yet, but finally calmed down some about that situation.

There is a thyroid cancer called anaplastic that is very aggressive. The nodule usually grows very rapidly. We had a chief justice die of this a few years ago. From what I could find it is rare and usually found in the elderly.

I am sorry you are facing the possibility of going through another cancer diagnosis. But, you do have a 20% chance that this is benign. Keep me informed of how things are going. Good luck.

 

On 5/21/2007 Seashore wrote:

 

On 5/21/2007 Leemg wrote:

Hi!

Just read your e-mail dated March regarding a thyroid nodule that may

be cancerous.  I'm over 50 and having a thyroid nodule biopsied in a

couple weeks.  Apparently, I have several nodules but this one in

particular is solid and has micro calcification/s within or around, not

sure.  Dr. says there is an 80% chance of it being malignant but he

claims that thryoid cancer is easily treated if discovered early and has

an extremely high cure rate compared to other cancers.  I have read

a lot on the subject as well and what I have read concurs with what

my endocrinologist has said.  There is, however, one form of thyroid

tumor that does have a poor prognosis but not sure what type.  One

thing I have read is if you have hyper or hypothroidism or other

 problem as a result most liklely the nodule is benign.  I have neither

so I'm a little concerned.  I'm also a breast cancer survivor of 3 & l/2 years.  Let me know how things have gone for you.

Is the dr planning to do a biopsy?

My fine needle aspiration was very suspisious for papillary cell cancer. I had a total thyroidectomy on 4/25. Post op I had 2 drains that were removed the next day. I didn't have enough pain to warrant taking pain meds.I ate reguler food a few hours after surgery and was up to the bathroom with help shortly after surgery. My voice was not hoarse, my throat was barely sore. I felt like there was a rubber band stretched across the front of my neck. It still feels that way, but is much smaller now. My calcium did drop as soon as surgery was over. He did an autotransplant of one parathyroid. My magnesium was also low. I received supplements of both and had labs drawn every 12 hours. That kept me from going home the next day.I am still taking TUMS for the calcium. I went home on the 27th. No driving and no lifting for a week. I went back to work on 5/7.

Mine was well diferentiated papillary cell cancer. My nodule was found because I became hyperthyroid and it showed up cold on the iodine uptake scan. This was in the left lobe. I had several nodules in the right lobe, but they were benign. My lymph nodes removed at surgery were benign. My malignancy measured 1x1x1.1 cm. This was classified as stage 1. My endocrinologist told me I did not need to do the radioactive iodine treatment unless I wanted to. I have chosen to do a small dose of RAI and then have a whole body scan. Last Friday I stopped my cytomel [the thyroid replacement I started after surgery] and started the low iodine diet. The diet isn't too bad except I work and it is difficult to take my lunch because I'm out making calls. Today's lunch was apple, banana and health food store peanut butter  [no salt]on matzo cracker. Yuck.I see the dr. Friday to check to see how high my TSH has risen. I expect it to take until sometime next week for it to reach 30.

I did finally find some info that explained why some people over 40 - 45 do not do as well. There is a variant of papillary cell cancer called tall cell [there may be a couple of more]. These variants are known to be more agressive than regular papillary cell and tends to be seen on older people. Otherwise, everything I have read indicates this is a very slow growing cancer and the means of tracking for recurrences is pretty effective. I suppose if you have to have cancer, this is one of the better ones to have. No cancer would be better. I went to a yoga class last week and a few days later had leg pain. Although I was sure it came from the class, it still worried me until it went away. Also, last week I went for my mammogram and found myself very stressed over this, convinced that something else would be wrong with me. I don't have the reslults yet, but finally calmed down some about that situation.

There is a thyroid cancer called anaplastic that is very aggressive. The nodule usually grows very rapidly. We had a chief justice die of this a few years ago. From what I could find it is rare and usually found in the elderly.

I am sorry you are facing the possibility of going through another cancer diagnosis. But, you do have a 20% chance that this is benign. Keep me informed of how things are going. Good luck.

 

Thanks so much for getting back.  Sorry, it turned out to be cancerous but glad you are now doing well.  Yes, I'm scheduled to have a needle aspiration of a small nodule on the right side June 7th.  There are two other questionable nodules with coarse calcifications but dr. indicated that unless the more suspicious lesion proves to be benign it won't be necessary to biopsy the others.  I guess he has already determined that if the more suspicious nodule on the right lobe is malignant they would just do a total thryoidectomy probably due to the number of nodules and those two others which would otherwise have to be watched.  I'm assuming this would be the course of action.  The nodule in question is very small and so therefore not very aggressive so I guess this is a good thing from what you say.  And, you are right, there is a 20% of it being benign and then I would just have to be followed.  When I had a suspicious mammo the radiologist told me I had about a 15% chance of it being malignant and it was, so maybe I just follow the lower percentage rates which in this case would be in my favor.  My concern is that I'm on so many medications as it is and have been treated for osteoporosis I can't afford to have my calcium levels affected.  Is this the norm or was this unique in your situation after the thryoidectomy??  My thryoid levels are otherwise unaffected so I'm hoping this isn't one more thing that has be be dealt with.  Seems one thing triggers another, and another.  Good luck on your mammo, glad to hear you are followiing up with those, mine probably saved my life as I did not have a palpable lump at the time of diagnosis, only a strange pattern of microcalcification that had increased in number from a previous study.  I'll let you know what happens after the biopsy. Thanks again!

 

On 5/21/2007 Seashore wrote:

 

On 5/21/2007 Leemg wrote:

Hi!

Just read your e-mail dated March regarding a thyroid nodule that may

be cancerous.  I'm over 50 and having a thyroid nodule biopsied in a

couple weeks.  Apparently, I have several nodules but this one in

particular is solid and has micro calcification/s within or around, not

sure.  Dr. says there is an 80% chance of it being malignant but he

claims that thryoid cancer is easily treated if discovered early and has

an extremely high cure rate compared to other cancers.  I have read

a lot on the subject as well and what I have read concurs with what

my endocrinologist has said.  There is, however, one form of thyroid

tumor that does have a poor prognosis but not sure what type.  One

thing I have read is if you have hyper or hypothroidism or other

 problem as a result most liklely the nodule is benign.  I have neither

so I'm a little concerned.  I'm also a breast cancer survivor of 3 & l/2 years.  Let me know how things have gone for you.

Is the dr planning to do a biopsy?

My fine needle aspiration was very suspisious for papillary cell cancer. I had a total thyroidectomy on 4/25. Post op I had 2 drains that were removed the next day. I didn't have enough pain to warrant taking pain meds.I ate reguler food a few hours after surgery and was up to the bathroom with help shortly after surgery. My voice was not hoarse, my throat was barely sore. I felt like there was a rubber band stretched across the front of my neck. It still feels that way, but is much smaller now. My calcium did drop as soon as surgery was over. He did an autotransplant of one parathyroid. My magnesium was also low. I received supplements of both and had labs drawn every 12 hours. That kept me from going home the next day.I am still taking TUMS for the calcium. I went home on the 27th. No driving and no lifting for a week. I went back to work on 5/7.

Mine was well diferentiated papillary cell cancer. My nodule was found because I became hyperthyroid and it showed up cold on the iodine uptake scan. This was in the left lobe. I had several nodules in the right lobe, but they were benign. My lymph nodes removed at surgery were benign. My malignancy measured 1x1x1.1 cm. This was classified as stage 1. My endocrinologist told me I did not need to do the radioactive iodine treatment unless I wanted to. I have chosen to do a small dose of RAI and then have a whole body scan. Last Friday I stopped my cytomel [the thyroid replacement I started after surgery] and started the low iodine diet. The diet isn't too bad except I work and it is difficult to take my lunch because I'm out making calls. Today's lunch was apple, banana and health food store peanut butter  [no salt]on matzo cracker. Yuck.I see the dr. Friday to check to see how high my TSH has risen. I expect it to take until sometime next week for it to reach 30.

I did finally find some info that explained why some people over 40 - 45 do not do as well. There is a variant of papillary cell cancer called tall cell [there may be a couple of more]. These variants are known to be more agressive than regular papillary cell and tends to be seen on older people. Otherwise, everything I have read indicates this is a very slow growing cancer and the means of tracking for recurrences is pretty effective. I suppose if you have to have cancer, this is one of the better ones to have. No cancer would be better. I went to a yoga class last week and a few days later had leg pain. Although I was sure it came from the class, it still worried me until it went away. Also, last week I went for my mammogram and found myself very stressed over this, convinced that something else would be wrong with me. I don't have the reslults yet, but finally calmed down some about that situation.

There is a thyroid cancer called anaplastic that is very aggressive. The nodule usually grows very rapidly. We had a chief justice die of this a few years ago. From what I could find it is rare and usually found in the elderly.

I am sorry you are facing the possibility of going through another cancer diagnosis. But, you do have a 20% chance that this is benign. Keep me informed of how things are going. Good luck.

 

Thanks so much for getting back.  Sorry, it turned out to be cancerous but glad you are now doing well.  Yes, I'm scheduled to have a needle aspiration of a small nodule on the right side June 7th.  There are two other questionable nodules with coarse calcifications but dr. indicated that unless the more suspicious lesion proves to be benign it won't be necessary to biopsy the others.  I guess he has already determined that if the more suspicious nodule on the right lobe is malignant they would just do a total thryoidectomy probably due to the number of nodules and those two others which would otherwise have to be watched.  I'm assuming this would be the course of action.  The nodule in question is very small and so therefore not very aggressive so I guess this is a good thing from what you say.  And, you are right, there is a 20% of it being benign and then I would just have to be followed.  When I had a suspicious mammo the radiologist told me I had about a 15% chance of it being malignant and it was, so maybe I just follow the lower percentage rates which in this case would be in my favor.  My concern is that I'm on so many medications as it is and have been treated for osteoporosis I can't afford to have my calcium levels affected.  Is this the norm or was this unique in your situation after the thryoidectomy??  My thryoid levels are otherwise unaffected so I'm hoping this isn't one more thing that has be be dealt with.  Seems one thing triggers another, and another.  Good luck on your mammo, glad to hear you are followiing up with those, mine probably saved my life as I did not have a palpable lump at the time of diagnosis, only a strange pattern of microcalcification that had increased in number from a previous study.  I'll let you know what happens after the biopsy. Thanks again!

Hi!  I'm glad your response popped up on my e-mail as I wanted to update you on my biopsy (aspiration) of that suspected nodule.  Well the one they originally wanted to aspirate was deep in the posterior thyroid and they couldn't get any cells but found another which looked similar on the left side closer to the surface and it is papillary carcinoma with the tall cell subtype which I understand makes it somewhat more agressive.  They also tested a small nodule in my lymph node which also turned out to be cancer.  I have 4 other nodules, one cystic, one mixed cystic and ? and another that was attached to the cancerous nodule so it sounds that I have at least another cancerous nodule of unknown property.  There was a mention of the possibility of follicular but won't know until after surgery and the total pathology is determined.  I see a surgeon who is the only one being recommended for my case as I understand I will need more extensive surgery due to lymph node involvement, July 9th.  I'm anticipating I won't be scheduled for surgery until late July or early August.  I've read a lot on what I possibly can expect and can't say I'm looking forward to any of it but I wanted to update you regarding the results.  Hope this finds you well!

 

On 3/25/2007 Seashore wrote:

I have recently had FNA of a cold thyroid nodule [also recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism] that is suspicious of papillary cell cancer. My TT is scheduled in a month.

Hi,

The thyroid cancer I have is associated with Hyperthyroidism as well and the doctord told me they never encounetered a case like mine with hyperthyroidism TSH 0.01 and thyroid papilarry cancer as well. I had the needle one week ago. I will be scheduledt to thyroid extraction when the hyoerthyroidism will get better - but the doctors said it could take a month, two ro three months - I cannot wait to see the cancer extending.

Would it be a solution to have I131 Radioactive Iodine before the surgery in order to have the surgery sooner ?

Please give me any opinion, I'm kind of desperate over the situation.

Thank you.

 

On 2/16/2008 theme wrote:

 

On 3/25/2007 Seashore wrote:

I have recently had FNA of a cold thyroid nodule [also recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism] that is suspicious of papillary cell cancer. My TT is scheduled in a month.

Hi,

The thyroid cancer I have is associated with Hyperthyroidism as well and the doctord told me they never encounetered a case like mine with hyperthyroidism TSH 0.01 and thyroid papilarry cancer as well. I had the needle one week ago. I will be scheduledt to thyroid extraction when the hyoerthyroidism will get better - but the doctors said it could take a month, two ro three months - I cannot wait to see the cancer extending.

Would it be a solution to have I131 Radioactive Iodine before the surgery in order to have the surgery sooner ?

Please give me any opinion, I'm kind of desperate over the situation.

Thank you.

I understand your stress and anxiety. Now that it has been almost a year since my diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer and 10 months since my surgery, I am much calmer. It was 7 weeks from the time of my needle biopsy to the time of my total thyroidectomy. The reason it was 7 weeks was because I wanted the most experienced thyroid surgeon in the Atlanta area and I had to wait for an opening in his surgery schedule. During this 7 week period I was on medication to slow down my hyperthyroidism. Yes, before surgery can be safely done, the gland needs to be less hyper. Most important for you to remember is this type of cancer grows very, very slowly and any cells left behind after surgery or spread to other body parts are very treatable with RAI. This cancer has a very, very high rate of cure.

I am a nurse and have never seen a hyperthyroid gland with cancer treated with radioactive iodine to slow the gland befor surgery. I've only seen it used to destroy a hyperthyroid non malignant gland instead of doing surgery. Ask your doctor about this.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/thyroid/Hea

Check out the above web site for the National Cancer Institute. You will want to read the info for patients and professionals. Also, check the American Cancer Society web site.

Good luck to you. Read as much information as you can find. I hope you can have your surgery in the next month or two. Try to remember these are slow, slow growing cancer cells. They are not growing and spreading rapidly.