Aa
Terrified, please tell me I don't have anaplastic thyroid cancer.
OK, I am so terrified. Try to not focus on this but I can't help it.
Two weeks ago today was the first time I felt anything. The day before I was at the doctor for a check, she felt my thyroid and she felt nothing. The next evening I felt something very small, and I swear since then it just keeps getting bigger.
Went to the doctor the Monday after I first felt it (first felt it on the 21, went to the doctor on the 23). She felt it - because it is right there! She did lab work - TSH was in normal range, but on the lower end. Free T4 and total T3 were also both in normal range but on the higher end of normal. Thyroglobulin was 49, with normal being less than 50, but thyroglobulin antibody was 25, and should be less than so I know that Thyroglobulin test isn't accurate. My anti-thyroid antibody is over 800 and it should be less than 5.61. Had an U/S on 11/30 (with Thanksgiving in there I couldn't get in anywhere until then)
The U/S showed for nodules. Three of them clustered together on my left thyroid lobe, sizes: .4cm, .8cm and 1.01 cm. The endo I saw on 2nd said they look almost like psuedonodules from Hasimotos. The looks of them were more worriesome because of the shape, but she felt like they were really nothing to worry bout. The guy on my right lobe is the one that she is worried about. He is 3.01cm. She did say he is very well encapsalated, and honestly looks like a nodule that looks just like the thyroid itself. She said "He needs to be biopsied and come out" She tried very hard to get me in that day to have someone biopsy it but the earliest we could get in anywhere was this coming Monday (two days from today).
I swear it is getting larger by the day - I know it could be in my head - but I swear it is. Since wednesday my throat has started to hurt and it always feels like there is something in my throat that needs to be swallowed. By the end of every day my neck aches all the way up to my ears. Added to that, I think I am actually catching something (high allergy season here right now), my ears hurt and itch, sounds like water in my ears, having severe virtigo, lymphnodes in the back of my neck swelling, when I do swallow I hear this clicking noise when the nodule hits the trachea (it moves with they thyroid when I swallow) and I am pretty sure post nasal drip down the back of my throat (always sticky nasty that needs to be swallowed). Added to that this horrible taste in the back of my mouth - metallic tasting almost. Logically, I know it is probably all related to the post nasal drip causing ear issues, and probably the bad taste in my mouth. . .but I am scared! My mind keeps going to it being anaplastic thyroid cancer and it spreading like wildfire! I do logically know that is the least likily thing to have happen - but my mind just can't get beyond it.
Really would love to hear something from anyone else who has gone through something similiar.
Two weeks ago today was the first time I felt anything. The day before I was at the doctor for a check, she felt my thyroid and she felt nothing. The next evening I felt something very small, and I swear since then it just keeps getting bigger.
Went to the doctor the Monday after I first felt it (first felt it on the 21, went to the doctor on the 23). She felt it - because it is right there! She did lab work - TSH was in normal range, but on the lower end. Free T4 and total T3 were also both in normal range but on the higher end of normal. Thyroglobulin was 49, with normal being less than 50, but thyroglobulin antibody was 25, and should be less than so I know that Thyroglobulin test isn't accurate. My anti-thyroid antibody is over 800 and it should be less than 5.61. Had an U/S on 11/30 (with Thanksgiving in there I couldn't get in anywhere until then)
The U/S showed for nodules. Three of them clustered together on my left thyroid lobe, sizes: .4cm, .8cm and 1.01 cm. The endo I saw on 2nd said they look almost like psuedonodules from Hasimotos. The looks of them were more worriesome because of the shape, but she felt like they were really nothing to worry bout. The guy on my right lobe is the one that she is worried about. He is 3.01cm. She did say he is very well encapsalated, and honestly looks like a nodule that looks just like the thyroid itself. She said "He needs to be biopsied and come out" She tried very hard to get me in that day to have someone biopsy it but the earliest we could get in anywhere was this coming Monday (two days from today).
I swear it is getting larger by the day - I know it could be in my head - but I swear it is. Since wednesday my throat has started to hurt and it always feels like there is something in my throat that needs to be swallowed. By the end of every day my neck aches all the way up to my ears. Added to that, I think I am actually catching something (high allergy season here right now), my ears hurt and itch, sounds like water in my ears, having severe virtigo, lymphnodes in the back of my neck swelling, when I do swallow I hear this clicking noise when the nodule hits the trachea (it moves with they thyroid when I swallow) and I am pretty sure post nasal drip down the back of my throat (always sticky nasty that needs to be swallowed). Added to that this horrible taste in the back of my mouth - metallic tasting almost. Logically, I know it is probably all related to the post nasal drip causing ear issues, and probably the bad taste in my mouth. . .but I am scared! My mind keeps going to it being anaplastic thyroid cancer and it spreading like wildfire! I do logically know that is the least likily thing to have happen - but my mind just can't get beyond it.
Really would love to hear something from anyone else who has gone through something similiar.
I'm sorry you are going through all of this! For what it is worth, I had some nasty symptoms and my docs started looking for cancer.
I had severe left side lymph swelling - throat and victors nodule (above collarbone) for months. It came on so suddenly and got worse every week. My trachea was slightly pushed to the right and I was choking all the time, I had trouble eating/keeping food down and I had plugged ears, sore throat, almost like I had an infection, allergies, etc. My left arm was numb/tingling for months and I had intense back/arm/neck pain. I could barely turn my neck. However I tested negative for everything, and my docs said my symptoms could not be thyroid related. I had ultrasounds, endoscopy, blood work, xrays it went on and on. I even went to emergency once the choking was so bad. Docs were worried and so was I.
In the end I started NDT and all of my symptoms are going away, first my numb arm and then my lymph nodes.
I know it is a long scary road until you know what is going on but I had cancer indicators and I definately do not have cancer.
I hope this helps, take good care, Kel
I had severe left side lymph swelling - throat and victors nodule (above collarbone) for months. It came on so suddenly and got worse every week. My trachea was slightly pushed to the right and I was choking all the time, I had trouble eating/keeping food down and I had plugged ears, sore throat, almost like I had an infection, allergies, etc. My left arm was numb/tingling for months and I had intense back/arm/neck pain. I could barely turn my neck. However I tested negative for everything, and my docs said my symptoms could not be thyroid related. I had ultrasounds, endoscopy, blood work, xrays it went on and on. I even went to emergency once the choking was so bad. Docs were worried and so was I.
In the end I started NDT and all of my symptoms are going away, first my numb arm and then my lymph nodes.
I know it is a long scary road until you know what is going on but I had cancer indicators and I definately do not have cancer.
I hope this helps, take good care, Kel
1 Comments
Thank you Kel.
COMMUNITY LEADER
First of all, let me say that your high TPOab indicates that you have Hashimoto's, which is an autoimmune thyroid condition. Hashimoto's is the number 1 cause of hypothyroidism in the developed world, but is often characterized by periods of hyperthyroidism, which, apparently, you have, since you say you have low TSH, but high end Free T4 and Total T3.
Nodules are very common with Hashimoto's and are, typically, not an issue unless their characteristics are unusual. Here's where we run into trouble with yours, because apparently, you have one (or more) with unusual characteristics, so let's go there...
Less than 5% of all thyroid nodules turn out to be cancer in the first place. I can't imagine why you settled on Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer --- it's the least common of all thyroid cancers and accounts for only about 1% of all thyroid cancers... Even the U/S says the nodule is "well encapsulated"
Secondly, thyroid cancer is one of the easiest to cure, in that, typically, the thyroid is removed and the cancer goes with it. The worst that happens is that you end up with hypothyroidism and take a pill every day to replace the hormones your thyroid would have produced if you still had a thyroid... There are a lot of us here on the forum that haven't had our thyroid removed, but we still take that pill every day because our thyroid has been destroyed by the disease called Hashimoto's, which you also have...
I apologize if it sounds like I'm downplaying the large nodule on your right lobe... I'm not, but you've actually given it a life of its own, by calling it a "he" (or maybe the doctor did that) and you need to take that away. I'm sure it feels like it's getting larger by the minute and it may be growing, but I doubt it's growing "that" fast... when we're afraid, it's easy to let anxiety rule us.
Why not tell us about your thyroid hormone levels. What were the actual numbers? Be sure to include reference ranges, since those vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report...
Do you have symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
This will all be important later on, because the chance of cancer spreading (if it "is" cancer) are so slim, it's almost non-existent and you need to be informed about optimal thyroid hormone levels, what tests need to be done each time you have labs (Total T3 is obsolete), etc.
Once you've had your biopsy on Monday, we can help you prepare for the next step and be here for whatever comes down the road.
Nodules are very common with Hashimoto's and are, typically, not an issue unless their characteristics are unusual. Here's where we run into trouble with yours, because apparently, you have one (or more) with unusual characteristics, so let's go there...
Less than 5% of all thyroid nodules turn out to be cancer in the first place. I can't imagine why you settled on Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer --- it's the least common of all thyroid cancers and accounts for only about 1% of all thyroid cancers... Even the U/S says the nodule is "well encapsulated"
Secondly, thyroid cancer is one of the easiest to cure, in that, typically, the thyroid is removed and the cancer goes with it. The worst that happens is that you end up with hypothyroidism and take a pill every day to replace the hormones your thyroid would have produced if you still had a thyroid... There are a lot of us here on the forum that haven't had our thyroid removed, but we still take that pill every day because our thyroid has been destroyed by the disease called Hashimoto's, which you also have...
I apologize if it sounds like I'm downplaying the large nodule on your right lobe... I'm not, but you've actually given it a life of its own, by calling it a "he" (or maybe the doctor did that) and you need to take that away. I'm sure it feels like it's getting larger by the minute and it may be growing, but I doubt it's growing "that" fast... when we're afraid, it's easy to let anxiety rule us.
Why not tell us about your thyroid hormone levels. What were the actual numbers? Be sure to include reference ranges, since those vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report...
Do you have symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
This will all be important later on, because the chance of cancer spreading (if it "is" cancer) are so slim, it's almost non-existent and you need to be informed about optimal thyroid hormone levels, what tests need to be done each time you have labs (Total T3 is obsolete), etc.
Once you've had your biopsy on Monday, we can help you prepare for the next step and be here for whatever comes down the road.
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