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Need opinion on biopsy results.
I am already scheduled for a TT for Jan 19th, but thought I would get some opinions on my biopsy report. I was diagnosed with multi-nodular goiter 2 years ago, I've had 4 ultrasounds, a thyroid scan and 2 biopsies, all regarding the same nodule. I was 1.2cm when all this started and it is now 2.5cm, I also have around 10 nodules in total, but only one dominant one. My first biopsy came back non-diagnostic the more recent one came back suspicious. All my blood work has come back normal. Here's the recent biopsy results:
"The sample contains macrophages, abundant colloid, and fragments of follicular epithelium predominantly arranged in a honeycomb pattern and exhibiting varying degrees of Hurthle Cell change. Some Hurthle Cell groups exhibit mild nuclear pleomorphism and atypia. Stromal fragments are noted. The features suggest a hyperplastic nodule that has undergone cystic change and that exhibits Hurthle Cell metaplasia. The differential diagnosis includes a Hurthle Cell neoplasm."Does this seem serious?
"The sample contains macrophages, abundant colloid, and fragments of follicular epithelium predominantly arranged in a honeycomb pattern and exhibiting varying degrees of Hurthle Cell change. Some Hurthle Cell groups exhibit mild nuclear pleomorphism and atypia. Stromal fragments are noted. The features suggest a hyperplastic nodule that has undergone cystic change and that exhibits Hurthle Cell metaplasia. The differential diagnosis includes a Hurthle Cell neoplasm."Does this seem serious?
Wow - you *ARE* a fighter! And a great attitude too.
I haven't experienced anything like the back pain you must have - just herniated C5-C6 and C6-C7 - but I can tell you the pain from the thyroid surgery is NOTHING compared to chronic back pain.
You know, I have a friend who had Stage III breast cancer. Double mastectomy and all the lymph nodes they could find. Two rounds of chemo that nearly killed her and a dose of radiation. When one of us is feeling down we hang out at lunch and complain. She says she wouldn't trade her problems for mine and I certainly wouldn't trade mine for hers. Sometimes it does help to put things into perspective and realize there are people out there going through MUCH more than we are.
Then again it also helps to lean on our friends when we are down. That's why I LOVE this forum and everyone on it.
Get some rest, things will work out fine.
I haven't experienced anything like the back pain you must have - just herniated C5-C6 and C6-C7 - but I can tell you the pain from the thyroid surgery is NOTHING compared to chronic back pain.
You know, I have a friend who had Stage III breast cancer. Double mastectomy and all the lymph nodes they could find. Two rounds of chemo that nearly killed her and a dose of radiation. When one of us is feeling down we hang out at lunch and complain. She says she wouldn't trade her problems for mine and I certainly wouldn't trade mine for hers. Sometimes it does help to put things into perspective and realize there are people out there going through MUCH more than we are.
Then again it also helps to lean on our friends when we are down. That's why I LOVE this forum and everyone on it.
Get some rest, things will work out fine.
Thank You Soooooo Much!! Actually, I won't have to worry about the back to work thing because I am on disability for a completely unrelated issue. I've been on disability through my work insurance for 4 years due to severe back deformities (scoliosis-double curve in spine, degenerative disc disease, L5 vertebrae fused to sacrum, etc) so that won't be an issue. And because of all that I don't have much energy anyway. I know I can get through this too. Most people would be severely depressed and feeling alone with all the things I seem to have wrong with me, but I never let it bother me. I just accept the fact that's it's happening and there's nothing I can do about it right now. I have to trust in my doctors to figure it out for me. There are a lot of people out there with worse problems than me and they get through and so can I. I just want to get this particular problem to be solved as quickly as possible so that I dont' have to deal with neck pain on top of all the back pain.
Actually the younger you are the easier you heal. You've got a great attitude and you'll do fine. Any idea when your surgery will be?
Wow, you guys are great. Definitely getting good advice on this. I hope all of you who have had surgery, live long healthy lives with no further problems, and those of you who are waiting on surgery, I hope everything goes well. good luck! I first saw my surgeon Nov. 2, so my wait is around 2 1/2 months. It's really not as long as it seems because here where I live surgeries are only performed on Fridays (strange, huh?). To azqtpies, I hope you get that earlier surgery date. I hate waiting too, but at least is wasn't a 6 month wait, or worse, being put on a waiting list with no idea of when the surgery would be. My outlook is good. My ENT says I'm of the perfect age to have this done now with no complications, which is good. I know I'm probably kind of young to have my entire thyroid removed but I figure, taking a pill everyday for the rest of my life isn't such a big deal compared to the alternative.
It may be a swollen lymph node which could, or could not, be related to the thyroid mass. Either way, January 19th and it won't be an issue any more!
I had two thyroid surgeries (slow learner). For both I was back to work the next week. Between the surgeries (for each I was hospitalized overnight) and weekend I was "recovering" for about 4 days. Sure I was tired and sore when I went back to work but it wasn't too bad.
My youngest sister had a lymph node removed too (papillary carcinoma that had spread to the lymph node) and she recovered just as quickly.
Your body will take a bit of time to get used to the thyroid replacement so you will be a bit low on energy for a while until your levels balance out. *If* it is cancer and you have to have RAI, I'd recommend you do it right after surgery. That way you won't have to go on the medication only to come off it again for the RAI. The RAI recovery was a bit longer only because my body was starved for thyroid hormones and it took about a month an a half to get back to "normal" (well, as "normal" as I ever am).
You are young and you are a fighter. You'll come through this fine! We'll make sure of that! :-)
I had two thyroid surgeries (slow learner). For both I was back to work the next week. Between the surgeries (for each I was hospitalized overnight) and weekend I was "recovering" for about 4 days. Sure I was tired and sore when I went back to work but it wasn't too bad.
My youngest sister had a lymph node removed too (papillary carcinoma that had spread to the lymph node) and she recovered just as quickly.
Your body will take a bit of time to get used to the thyroid replacement so you will be a bit low on energy for a while until your levels balance out. *If* it is cancer and you have to have RAI, I'd recommend you do it right after surgery. That way you won't have to go on the medication only to come off it again for the RAI. The RAI recovery was a bit longer only because my body was starved for thyroid hormones and it took about a month an a half to get back to "normal" (well, as "normal" as I ever am).
You are young and you are a fighter. You'll come through this fine! We'll make sure of that! :-)
My surgery is scheduled for Jan. 19, so I've got only two more weeks to go. I honestly can't wait, as long as they remove it and it hasn't by chance spread anywhere, then I won't even have to think about it anymore (hopefully). I really wasn't very worried about it until the prospect of it spreading came up. I don't know if it's related (I hope not), but I have a swollen area (possibly lymph node) just behind and below my left ear. The hurthle cell neoplasm is on the left side as well. I noticed the swelling just over a week ago but hopefully it isn't related. How long did it take for you to recover from your surgery?
I'm glad you found a great surgeon. Mine was wonderful too (she did the entire family's surgeries, we've made her an honorary "sister"). It is so wonderful to have a surgeon you can trust and talk with.
Keep us posted and let us know when you join the TT club. I swear, we really need to add pictures to this forum so we can compare battle wounds . . . er, I mean scars. :-)
Stay tough, no matter the outcome you are taking this thing head on! That's the first, and most important, step.
Oh . . . just over 2 years since my last thyroid surgery and you can't see the scar unless you are REALLY looking (even then it's tough to find). After your surgery ask here about scar treatments, we all have our personal favorites.
Keep us posted and let us know when you join the TT club. I swear, we really need to add pictures to this forum so we can compare battle wounds . . . er, I mean scars. :-)
Stay tough, no matter the outcome you are taking this thing head on! That's the first, and most important, step.
Oh . . . just over 2 years since my last thyroid surgery and you can't see the scar unless you are REALLY looking (even then it's tough to find). After your surgery ask here about scar treatments, we all have our personal favorites.
It is good just to get the whole thing out.I had to go through 2 surgeries and they didnt find the papillary cancer until my second surgery.
So welcome to the club of thyroidlessness well almostlol
Love Venora
So welcome to the club of thyroidlessness well almostlol
Love Venora
Wow! That's crazy how many family members had thyroid cancer (and all females). My history concerns my ENT because I have a cousin with Grave's Disease and my Aunt had a Thyroidectomy and RAI(not sure what it was for). I'm definitely going for the TT. I don't want to have to do this twice, and my doctor says there's no reason not to do the TT if I don't care about taking meds. Another reason I want the TT is that I don't want any more biopsies or scans or ultrasounds, I feel like a lab rat. The great thing is that my surgeon says it's completely up to me (he's great, much better than my endo). Everyone on this site is so supportive and kind, it's great! Especially when you're dealing with something that others close to you don't understand (except of course for you and your sisters). Looking through previous posts has given me lots of info I couldn't find on the web. And it's from real people who are going through the same thing, what a great place this is.
Hi there,
I read your post and wanted to let you know there are others out there experiencing that same fears. I to am having a thyroidectomy a partial as of now , soon I was scheduled for March 5 but I cant wait that long the waiting is horrible so am waiting for word on either Jan 18, or Feb 5 I too have had a large nodule 3 cm on my right and 1.6 on the left with a cyst originally it came back benign in 05 now showing follicular lesions and sucpisious. I found mine over two years ago and now I wished I would of just had them take it out then, rather then worring myself sick now. There is alot of info on the net but I had found that there is too much information, I am just hanging onto most nodules are 85% benign, either way unless they are maliginant by a FNA hang on to the 85%, searching all the info sometimes makes it worse in the wait, I know! Good luck to you I know what your going through, be strong soon it will all be over with and you can move on with life, that what I keep telling myself. I hope you have a good support system! feel free to ask any questions alot of people on here have some good advice and experience with this situation, keep us posted!
Kelly
I read your post and wanted to let you know there are others out there experiencing that same fears. I to am having a thyroidectomy a partial as of now , soon I was scheduled for March 5 but I cant wait that long the waiting is horrible so am waiting for word on either Jan 18, or Feb 5 I too have had a large nodule 3 cm on my right and 1.6 on the left with a cyst originally it came back benign in 05 now showing follicular lesions and sucpisious. I found mine over two years ago and now I wished I would of just had them take it out then, rather then worring myself sick now. There is alot of info on the net but I had found that there is too much information, I am just hanging onto most nodules are 85% benign, either way unless they are maliginant by a FNA hang on to the 85%, searching all the info sometimes makes it worse in the wait, I know! Good luck to you I know what your going through, be strong soon it will all be over with and you can move on with life, that what I keep telling myself. I hope you have a good support system! feel free to ask any questions alot of people on here have some good advice and experience with this situation, keep us posted!
Kelly
I had my right lobe out first but it wasn't determined that my small, suspicious nodule was cancerous until I was in recovery. Had I had more information (and this forum) I would have elected for the TT even though my left lobe had no nodules. A year later I had the left lobe and isthmus out because 3 out of 4 of my sisters were also diagnosed with thyroid cancer. :-(
I'm glad I had the other half out because this year (three years after the first surgery) the cancer started to come back and I needed to have RAI.
My philosophy (take it for what it's worth), if you are going to have the surgery and there is a good chance that there will be cancer eventually in the other half, just get the entire thing out. Either way you'll be on thyroid replacement and, if worse comes to worse and it's cancer, it will save you another surgery before RAI.
Please let us know what you and your doctor decide.
I'm glad I had the other half out because this year (three years after the first surgery) the cancer started to come back and I needed to have RAI.
My philosophy (take it for what it's worth), if you are going to have the surgery and there is a good chance that there will be cancer eventually in the other half, just get the entire thing out. Either way you'll be on thyroid replacement and, if worse comes to worse and it's cancer, it will save you another surgery before RAI.
Please let us know what you and your doctor decide.
Thank You very much for your support and information. Actually my ENT at first suggested a hemi-thyroidectomy. I was fine with that at first but he said there was a good chance he would remove the whole gland in OR if he deemed it necessary. At a later appointment I asked him what the chances were that the other half would have to come out. The was when he told me that if malignant the other half would have to come out immediately, and also that if it were benign there was still a likely chance that within the next 5 years the other half would be removed. He stated that any number of things could occur since the other half has several nodules and is enlarged and therefore would likely be removed at some point. I asked him what he thought I should do, and he said that if taking medication for the rest of my life doesn't bother me then there is no reason to do a hemi-thyroidectomy, we might as well do the TT. I think he gave me the option because of my age (27).
I too had Papillary Carcinoma. The fact that it has grown would be reason enough to have a tt. They also labeled mine suspicious. Like most will tell you the tt is not bad at all. If I would have been given the option 12 years ago when they first found mine I would have done it then. Instead my internal med doctor treated me for hypo without ever having a scan done. It was only when I started working for a radiology tech that he found it. By then it was already cancer. Good luck to you. Just get that nasty thing out. We are all here to root you on.
I'm no medical professional (I wish I was, then I could afford to pay for my medical treatments) but here are some very informative sites regarding your biopsy (and upcoming TT):
http://www.endocrineweb.com/
http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thyroid-cancer/DS00492
http://www.cancer.gov/cancer_information/cancer_type/thyroid
Looking at a thyroid surgery and knowing that you have a "suspicious" nodule with all of those frightening, strange words is worry enough and I'm sure that you realize there is a chance that your nodule is malignant. Hurthle cells are very unique findings on a thyroid biopsy. Hurthle cells can be benign or malignant. The malignant ones have been categorized as follicular cancer but are now being diagnosed separately as Hurthle Cell Cancer. http://www.endocrineweb.com/hurthle.html
Your biopsy said hurthle cell neoplasm. A neoplasm is defined as: An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division. Neoplasms may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called tumor.
With your biopsy results, you are looking at one of two things: 1) the possibility of thyroid cancer and, if it's Hurthle cell, radio iodine uptake treatment, possibly some lymph node removal and possibly external beam radiation or;
2) you've just gotten rid of a nasty goiter with some messed up cells in it and won't have to worry about it turning cancerous later.
Either way your TT will take care of a *HUGE* part of your problem and start you on the road to recovery.
There are others on this forum who have been through Hurthle Cell cancer (I've just been through papillary) and can give you more detailed information but the treatments are pretty much the same so ask away. You've found the right place for answers and support!
Hang in there and keep us posted!!!
http://www.endocrineweb.com/
http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thyroid-cancer/DS00492
http://www.cancer.gov/cancer_information/cancer_type/thyroid
Looking at a thyroid surgery and knowing that you have a "suspicious" nodule with all of those frightening, strange words is worry enough and I'm sure that you realize there is a chance that your nodule is malignant. Hurthle cells are very unique findings on a thyroid biopsy. Hurthle cells can be benign or malignant. The malignant ones have been categorized as follicular cancer but are now being diagnosed separately as Hurthle Cell Cancer. http://www.endocrineweb.com/hurthle.html
Your biopsy said hurthle cell neoplasm. A neoplasm is defined as: An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division. Neoplasms may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called tumor.
With your biopsy results, you are looking at one of two things: 1) the possibility of thyroid cancer and, if it's Hurthle cell, radio iodine uptake treatment, possibly some lymph node removal and possibly external beam radiation or;
2) you've just gotten rid of a nasty goiter with some messed up cells in it and won't have to worry about it turning cancerous later.
Either way your TT will take care of a *HUGE* part of your problem and start you on the road to recovery.
There are others on this forum who have been through Hurthle Cell cancer (I've just been through papillary) and can give you more detailed information but the treatments are pretty much the same so ask away. You've found the right place for answers and support!
Hang in there and keep us posted!!!
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