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Diagnosed with thyroid cancer

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer(papillary thyroid carcinoma) last Tuesday after a Fine Needle Biopsy. I have an appointment with an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist tomorrow. My questions are:

1, How soon should I expect to get scheduled for surgery? Total Thyroidectomy
2. What is the recovery time after the surgery?
3 Is this done with me being completely knocked out?
4. Is this an outpatient surgery or will I have to stay the night in the hospital?

Any assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated. I am very scared and nervous about all this. I am a 40 year old woman with no history of cancer in my family so this has come as a great shock to me.
15 Responses
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197575 tn?1215532624
Mine came back as Highly suspicious for papillary carcinoma- and it was in fact cancer.
Helpful - 0
168348 tn?1379357075
Mine were FNA atypical follicular and turned out to be totally benign.  They say 25% go on to develop Cancer if left intact when atypical so I opted for 1/2 to come out and frozen biopsy showed them not to be cancer so they closed me up only to find out 48hrs later they found two other very small areas of papillary carcinoma elsewhere in the gland!!!!  They were fully encapsulated and no lymph node involvement .. so I am so very glad the larger ones were not cancer but we caught the others sooner vs. later.

Cheryl partial thyroidectomy 1/07
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am seeing a doctor tomorrow as I was told after FNA that I have "atypical cells" - has anyone had this or upon FNA did the cells come back positive immediately?? Endocrinologist said its time to have my goiter (approx 3.7 cm) removed - I've had it for approx. 10 years.  I am having panic attacks about this whole ordeal
Helpful - 0
185634 tn?1257071139
Okay.....since I'm new, I don't know about this chicken club.  Can you clue me in?  I'm glad you feel better after your surgery.  I hope mind turns out as well.  And yes....the "good cancer" comment gets a little irritating.  It's still cancer, and it's just as scary as if it were elsewhere!!

Lori
Helpful - 0
212753 tn?1275073111
Welcome to the forum I too had pap cancer when they took out my tennis ball goiter out from under my sternum.Got the RAI and I am on synthroid and cytomel and I feel great now.Better than before the surgery.You can come here all you like and we will see you through this tough time .A cancer dx is tough to take even if it is supposed to be the "Good Cancer"(boy that ticks me everytime someone tells me that.)
So keep posting and let us know how it goes for you.When you have your tt we will initiate you into the chicken club.
Love Venora
Helpful - 0
197575 tn?1215532624
I am 38 and  found a lump in my neck in March 07 and had my TT May 30th for papillary thyroid cancer. Mine was multi-focal (a 2.3cm and .1cm along with 2 lymph nodes with cancer)I am like you, no history or problems.   I was in the hospital for two nights.  I would research surgeons.  My doctor was a surgical oncologist that specializes in head and neck surgeries, not an ent. He does on the average, about 5 of these surgeries a week and  he used surgical glue to close my incision and it is barely noticeable. I am still working on recovery because I didn't start any meds. until almost 4 weeks after my surgery because I had RAI treatment.  I am on 100mcg of synthroid and I am still lethargic and have muscle pain and weakness due to my TSH levels being high still.  I go Aug. 2nd to have bloodwork to see if my meds need to be increased.  This site is so helpful because along with my research, I have had many questions answered here as well.  We are all here for you.
Kim
Helpful - 0
205212 tn?1202194797
Hello, I am 38 male and had my TT in Jan 07,I was in the hospital 3 days just because the surgeon didnt want me to go home with the drain.  My Calicum was rock solid.  

Official diagnosis; PapCa both sides but encapsulated two spots only no spread!!!!!!  
Very small nodules; L 0.8cm, R- 0.2cm.  Thank god I found this early.  

Had RAI in Mar 07, because of how fast my TSH rose in 3 weeks, had bare mim dosage; 30 mci. (was able to stay home and still interact with the family).  

Scan 2 weeks later, found out clean.   3 days after RAI I was back on Cytomel 25mcg, then te following week had synthroid at 150mcg and one more week of Cytomel(2 weeks only).

4 weeks ago I was lowered to 137 mcg due to very low TSH (0.03).  I will see my endo again on Aug 1st.  Will let you all know what my new TSH is after the lowered dose.  

Cheers,
Scott
Helpful - 0
11852 tn?1216841443
I had my TT on Dec 13, 2006, which was about a month after my FNA came back suspicious for papillary carcinoma.  I had RAI done on Jan 25, 2007 with a WBS done a week later.  

After TT on 13 Dec, I had complications with calcium levels and had to stay in for 6 days.  I went back to work on 2 Jan 2007.

You're definitely knocked out since it's considered major surgery.

Most stay at least overnight.  Mine was suppose to be two nights.
Helpful - 0
185634 tn?1257071139
That was great information....thank you!!
Helpful - 0
168348 tn?1379357075
I had a partial thyroidectomy Jan '07 . . . they found 2 incidental findings of pap cancer after I was closed up 48hrs later .. the orig. nodules were benign.  I go ev. 6mos for ultrasounds and so far so good on the other side .. they are watching  3mm nodule.  My orig. nodules were atypical follicular.

I have not had RAI as the other side is still intact.  My pap ca was very small .. 2 nodules 0.4 and 5mm respectively and fully encapsulated and NO lymph node involvement.

I am on Synthroid for cancer surpression .. 100mcgs and adjustment has not been too bad for me at all and I'm esp. sensitive to all meds!!!

Cheryl
Helpful - 0
205171 tn?1189755821
Hi was am 27 and was just dx with pap cancer in April. This is what I went through

TT- Was two weeks after my dx. Was completely knocked out for it. Was in recovery for an hr and then taken to my room. Originally the stay was suppose to be two nights, but did so well was able to leave after one. Recovery is as expected-take the pain meds as you need them. Get plenty of rest! You will probably sleep most of the first day (Esp if you have a morphine drip like I did). Your neck will probably be in a wrap, but mine was taken off the second day along with my drain. Was put on Cytomel to help lessen the hypo symptoms

RAI- Was June 25th (TT was May 1st). They take you off of your thyroid meds for what they call "hypo hell"....Pretty much as states. Make sure you have help if you need it and be prepared for the LID. Most places now just give you the radiation and send you home with precautions (at-home-isolation). But because I had a 1 1/2 year at home I was able to do two days of in hospital isolation. It all depends from place to place! I had no complications from RAI, my taste was a little off but not too bad to notice all the time

WBS- Whole Body Scan will follow after all of this. Most peoples ( I found out today mine did not) scan will come out clean and you will just have to keep up with your scans and work with your dr to get your meds adjusted correctly. And hopefully you will be healthy and never have to go through this **** ever again.

   So sorry you have to go through this. Take care, and get some rest! You have a journey ahead of you. I hope that answered your questions and if you have any more feel free to ask.
Helpful - 0
185634 tn?1257071139
How long after your surgery did you have the RAI?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
How quickly  you have surgery is upt to you and your physicain.
I was in the hospital over nightand yes yopu undergo general anesthesia (pain is not to bed)
was back to work in a week, although quite tired as withthe total thyroidectomy you going through a  time of depleation of you thyroid hormone
had radiation pill (in patient as I have 5 children) 3 days in hospital then tool 2 days before Ireturned to wrork ( felt very tired after this! worse than after the surgery for me) and then started thrroid replacemant hormone

Helpful - 0
185634 tn?1257071139
I'm in the same boat as you.  I got the news June 18th, and am meeting with the surgeon tomorrow.  From my understanding, as long as the surgery goes well and you're doing well, it's an overnight stay.  I think recovery time varies from person to person, from what I've read on this forum.  I'm asking all of these questions (and more) at my appointment tomorrow, so if you'd like, I'll let you know.

This forum is absolutely wonderful, and the people out here are great.  Welcome!!

Lori
Helpful - 0
220331 tn?1199842519
I am a 45yr old female that has hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  Due to being undiagnosed or untreated for too long I ended up having a Total thyroidectomy June 26th of this year.  I was scheduled within 10 days, recovery is different with each person and diagnosis and I was completely out the whole time but only stayed in the hospital overnight.  While I do not have the diagnosis that you have had I wanted to welcome you to this forum...I don't know how I would have gotten through the last month without the people here.  I will be thinking about you and hope to talk to you again soon.

Suzie
Helpful - 0
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