So Many Questions I Don't Know Where To Start...

My wife just had a lump removed from her throat (thyroid), which was believed to be a benign cyst, but it actually turned out to be cancerous. We are just waiting to see an Oncologist to see what the treatment will be going forward. My wife had what was described as a " Minimally invasive follicular carcenoma "

Questions:

I would like to have a chat to anyone who's had the same treatment. We've been told my wife (Tracy) may need the other side of the thyroid out, and radioactive iodine treatment 

 How long does it normally take to get yor energy levels back after and operation?

The specialist said that the long term prognosis is good for this type of cancer. What does that mean? Does it mean that with some further treatment my wife could be fully cured, or that her life will just be prolonged? 

 I am remaining positive about it all, but we are in the early stages, and its all freaking me out a bit at the moment.

On 8/2/2007 Zoggy wrote:

My wife just had a lump removed from her throat (thyroid), which was believed to be a benign cyst, but it actually turned out to be cancerous. We are just waiting to see an Oncologist to see what the treatment will be going forward. My wife had what was described as a " Minimally invasive follicular carcenoma "

Questions:

I would like to have a chat to anyone who's had the same treatment. We've been told my wife (Tracy) may need the other side of the thyroid out, and radioactive iodine treatment 

 How long does it normally take to get yor energy levels back after and operation?

The specialist said that the long term prognosis is good for this type of cancer. What does that mean? Does it mean that with some further treatment my wife could be fully cured, or that her life will just be prolonged? 

 I am remaining positive about it all, but we are in the early stages, and its all freaking me out a bit at the moment.

E Komo Mai (Welcome)

I know what you're going through with all the unanswered questions.  It seems like your world has ended but it hasn't.  I am a two time thyroid cancer survivor.  Yes, "thyroid cancer" has a very high successful rate.  I am living proof and other's on this website.  You have made the first step to get your emotional support you seek.  It isn't easy for some of us but with a good support system anything is possible. 

As for all your unanswered questions, seek answers.  I did numerous research to find out what this condition had in store for me.  I've been lucky and have good doctors that gave me bad and good results of thyroid cancer.  Know the facts and become knowledgeable as much as possible to be in control of the situation.  Never let any doctor brush anything off.  Be prepared when you see doctors/specialist.  Write your questions on paper and take it with you.  Make sure everything is covered so that you are well informed.

When it comes to recovery time, it'll depend on your wife.  Everyone is different.  The more healthier a person is the quicker they bounce back.  Staying positive with determination will help the healing process.  Please be there for your wife because she'll need you.  Just remind yourself that this is "only temporary" and it'll get better.  May I give you the strength to support your wife in the days ahead. 

Good luck and Best wishes for a speedy recovery.  Take Care & God Bless.  Stay positive and have faith.     

If you get a chance, please first read my story "Cancer Again ! Now What?" on this cancer compass website, page 9, dated Jan 2007. 

Hi!  I live in San Francisco and I had 1/2 of my thyroid taken out and it turned out to be follicular carcinoma too.  It was invasive and 4 cm.  They took the other half out soon after and it took a bit longer to recover the second time since I went back under the knife just 2 1/2 weeks after the first surgery.  When they say its a good prognosis I think they mean that your wife will probably live longer than her Doctor, that's what mine said!  Follicular thyroid cancer is "treatable", in that, if there is cancerous tissue they can remove it (surgery) and if there's any left, they can ablate it (destroy it with Radioactive iodine).  With follicular, it does not respond to traditional chemotherapy or beam radiation, so breathe a sigh of relief.  The bummers are: 

1.  Surgery sucks, of any kind, let alone twice through the same incision only weeks apart!

2.  Going hypothyroid before RAI treatment, don't feel like yourself for about a month.  (ask about thyrogen injections though, I have had RAI twice without going hypothyroid.  I received injections to raise my TSH instead of going off meds).

3.  The Low-Iodine diet, also in preparation for RAI.  It's tough and it made me cranky!

4.  Getting your thyroid hormone meds right, it's tricky, too much, too little - that's kind of ongoing, but you don't lose your hair or get puffy faced on prednisone like almost every other cancer.  So this is something that's doable. 

It has been a year since my diagnosis, and my latest RAI scan (last week) came back clear and my Tg (thyroglobulin) is undetectable.  I'm clean in only a year, this is definitely the cancer you want if you have to get one.

 It's all very confusing and difficult when someone says you have "cancer" but this one is beatable with not a whole lot of quality of life is lost in the process.

Hi!  First I'm sorry to hear about you wife and know how much you care about her to have visited this site and inquire.  How old is she?  I'm going through this at this time, had my entire thyroid removed just last Tuesday. They put you on a short term hormone therapy, usually Cytomel, before you leave the hospital after surgery.  This is working very well for me, other than feeling somewhat weak from the surgery my energy levels are good.  In my case and the path report will determine if your wife needs radiation ablation therapy, most likley she will, this normally begins several weeks after surgery.  She will have a return date with her endocrinologist or whomever will be handling her treatment and all hormone will be stopped, putting you in a hypothyroid state to prepare for the ablation.  She may as I will have to go on a strict diet at least two weeks before treatment.  From what I understand this period of being hypo and on this restricted diet is the worse part of the whole ordeal.  There is a great web site:  http://thyca.org  which will answer many of your questions.  Most forms of thyroid cancer have very good and even excellent prognosis, unlike other forms of cancer.  I work with a woman who had it in her late 20's and that was 20 years ago and she is doing fine other than some minor tweaking of her hormones from time to time.  I hope this has helped.  She is lucky to have you in her corner.