Thyroid Cancer

I haven't ever mentioned it on here, but thought that perhaps I should, because though thyroid cancer is somewhat uncommon, it is increasing and in fact is the most common endocrine cancer.

My own diagnosis was delayed by three years because my primary care doctor really wasn't at all concerned about the 22mm (2.2cm) lump in my thyroid gland that was found on a CT scan after a rather nasty fall.   It was really after I changed doctors - and even then, it took the anger of a family member before I was eventually referred to an endocrinologist. 

It has been my experience that most general practitioners know absolutely nothing about thyroid cancer, and even if your lump is readily visible as mine was, and even if you complain of trouble swallowing and neck pain, they tend to not worry about it at all, even when it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and looks like a duck they still refer to zebras and horses.  It can be frustrating beyond all belief or reason.   About all they do is repeatedly check your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels and tell you you're fine.   What they don't seem to realize or know is that most people with thyroid cancer are euthyroid - have normal hormone levels.

By the time they took out the first half of my thyroid gland, the lump had grown to 3.3cm, of which 1.9cm was cancerous.  I then had to return 2 days later for a second surgery to remove the other lobe of my thyroid - and it too had cancer (.9cm) in it.

It's now been a year since I had it removed and went through the radioactive iodine treatment, and I've just had my 1 year scan - which I am happy to report came back with "no evidence of metatastic thyroid cancer".   Still waiting on my bloodwork, but am confident that it too will be good news.

I still must stay on top of it, as it could come back at any time - even decades later.  But I'm lucky.  Lucky because delay in diagnosis can be a really bad thing.  Mine threw me into a higher risk category due to my age.  The thing is, it was not teeny tiny when it was found.  It may have been in there for a decade.  Had it been diagnosed when the lump was found I'd have had a three year headstart - not to mention it wouldn't have cost me nearly as much money as I had double insurance coverage at that time.  

So the bottom line and my advice to you - if you have a thyroid lump, nodule, whatever that you are concerned about, get yourself to an endocrinologist.   They can rule out true problems from non problems far more quickly and inexpensively than a doctor who knows next to nothing about it.

Know this:

If you have a lump over 1cm, standard protocol calls for a biopsy as a rule.    Again, mine was delayed, and even then came back as "undiagnostic" - so press for answers.

Cold nodules are more likely to be cancerous than hot ones (ones that produce thyroid hormone).   If your thyroid hormone levels are normal, yet you have a larger sized lump press them for answers as to what exactly that lump is doing there.  Do not just take their word for it that "these are very common".  Small ones yes, but larger ones need to be investigated.   Insist on going to an endocrinologist. 

I'm lucky in so many ways, not the least of which is having an endocrinologist who is very sharp - a very bright lady who has taken excellent care of me.  The trick was getting to her in the first place, but once I did things started happening and she got it taken care of.

If you need more information about thyroid cancer, I recommend www.thyca.org