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Newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer and have 2 main concerns
Thyroid Cancer | Last Active: Oct 24, 2023 | Replies (140)Comment receiving replies
Well, I got the news yesterday that I never expected to hear. My nodule was benign! The pathology report was sent directly to me and I read it over and over again to try to understand it. I saw that one genetic marker (HBME1) was positive, so I assumed that meant I had cancer. A little while later, a nurse called to say "Good News" and I was in disbelief. According to my FNA, I had "Suspicious (Bethesda Category V) for papillary carcinoma, and even though I read that the "risk of malignancy is 60-70%," I assumed mine would be malignant. Thankfully, I was wrong. Needless to say, I am SOOOO glad I opted for a lobectomy and not a full thyroidectomy.
@cocha - Do you know what Bethesda category your nodule is?
@lise01 - Any idea when you'll get your path results?
I'm still planning to follow up with you (if that's okay), because I care how things turn out for you both. Having this little group was a great support for me and I want to be supportive to you too.
Nan
Replies to "Well, I got the news yesterday that I never expected to hear. My nodule was benign!..."
Congratulations Hopeful23!!! I am hopeful that the medical field continues to find new ways to diagnose before someone has surgery.
That is great news @hopeful23 !! Hope you continue to feel better!
In my case the FNA biopsy report says it IS carcinoma, and not "suspicious for". No Bethesda category has been mentioned. So it does not sound very good I think. From zero health issues ever to carcinoma directly feels unreal right now.
@lise01 hope to see a positive outcome in your case as well!!
Yes, please stay in touch both of you. This has been a wonderful support system.
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I am SO happy for you! That's amazing! And so glad that you didn't have your whole thyroid removed! This really reinforces my decision to just go for the lobectomy as well. I'm sorry you had to go through all of this -- but what a wonderful outcome.
Aside from the biopsy results, I think they can tell quite a bit from looking at it. My surgeon/otolaryngologist hasn't even suggested the possibility that it could be benign (and he is one of the top thyroid surgeons in the country, so he's seen a few). Mine has irregular margins, microcalcifications ... basically all of the features you'd expect from a carcinoma. I'll be ecstatic if it turns out to be benign too, but not expecting it. Do you recall if they described any of these features of your nodule?
He also told my mother, while I was still in recovery, that it was a totally encapsulated, unimpressive little microcarcinoma, and that had they not found it I could likely have lived out my life without any issues. So as far as pathology goes, I'm just hoping that it's just common papillary cancer, and that I can just start moving forward too. He told me it should be about a week to get results, so hoping next week.
So did they say what's next? Assuming they are going to check your remaining lobe's function soon to make sure you don't need any supplementation?
@cocha any updates yet?