Could A Positive Biopsy Be Wrong?

Could a FNA biopsy for Papillary Cancer be wrong? Have you ever heard of that? I got a viral infection with all swollen glands and lump in my throat.  Then I had an ultrasound of thyroid. They found a nodule. They did a biopsy and it came back positive for Papillary Cancer. Next week I am having a TT.  But the nodule has shrunk in size, can no longer feel it.  Could the biopsy be wrong?  They will not give me another biopsy. They said if it says malignant there is no way it could be wrong. What do you think?

I have heard that the biopsy's could be inconclusive .. but when they come back positive you can bank on it being positive ... if there was any doubt about it, it would have come back inconclusive. Sorry about that, I didn't want to hear mine was possitive either, but it was the same as yours. Feel blessed they found it and are able to take care of it ... some people go for years and don't know they have it :) ... best of luck to you ...  The surgery is not bad at all .. honest :) .. i am post TT 4 months now.

jenni

Did you have RAI? It is just so wierd I do not feel anything anymore.....

I did have RAI, but it was my choice. The endo offered to suppress my TSH instead of RAI and I refused. I wanted a piece of mind knowing that the cancer didn't spread. After the RAI they give you a whole body scan so you know if the cancer had spread and mine came up clean. I was very relieved... The endo is still going to suppress the TSH for the next 5 yrs or so as a safety measure.. When is your surgery?  Do you have any questions? .. you do know this is VERY curable cancer right?

Do they only suppress for five years and then give a normal dosage? Is that a standard of care? I thought they suppressed you for life which scared me because of bone density problems and heart issues. But if they only suppress you for five years, that would make me feel much better.  Is that the standard, just suppress for five years?  My surgery is next week and I am very frightened.  I have heard it is highly treatable but I joined a support group that so many people had recurrences and metastis to lungs, it scared me to death....

I am post-TT for 1 month, and I can safely say the surgery was a breeze for me.  The pain was very, very manageable and I only needed regular strength Tylenol for pain when I got home two days later.  The only real discomfort I had was from the position they had my neck in during surgery.  I had a lot of muscle tightness and a headache caused by a combination of the Vicodin they gave me in the hospital and the stiff neck.  With this in mind, if you have neck problems anyway, then ask for a neck support pillow and some hot packs to relax the muscles.  Maybe even a muscle relaxant.  My muscle/joint related neck discomfort lasted for a week or so, though.  But the actual thyroid surgery wound healed very quickly!

I was hopeful, too, that my FNA was wrong, because I received the same diagnosis as you did.  I had absolutely no symptoms - thyroid tests were normal, the doctor couldn't feel my nodules (three of them).  My nodules were discovered during a carotid artery ultrasound.  I agree that you should thank God yours was also found early.  It has truly given you an advantage over those who went for years without knowing.  Nothing is an accident, I honestly believe that!  Take care.  I just found the site, but it looks like there's good people here to help you out if you need it!