Pathology report back

[february]

I had a thyroidectomy 3/19/07 and have my pathology report back today.  I have not spoken to the dr. yet regarding the report as I could not wait till my appt. and obtained it today from medical records.  It is not the results I had hoped for....but, it certainly could be worse.  I am a breast cancer survivor so I am sure I can also deal with this.

1.  Papillary microcarcinoma.  Margins negative.
2.  Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis of Hashimoto's type.
3.  three benign lymph nodes (0/3)

I am sure I will be relying on you gals for support and help with my questions.

[gimel]

Glad to hear that your surgery went well.  Without a thyroid gland, of course your residual serum thyroid levels will now be diminishing each day.  So, it is important that you understand how to best test and treat hypothyroidism.  The very best tests for thyroid status are Free T3 and Free T4 (not the same as Total T3 and Total T4).  You should make sure the Frees are tested each time you go in for tests.  That is very important.  

Also, understand that the most important indicator of thyroid status is symptoms.   Free T3 is the most important test because it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all.  So a good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically, by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve hypo symptoms.   Make sure your doctor is willing to treat clinically as described, or you will likely end up under treated and symptomatic.  .  Further since hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, you should get those tests done as well.  

When you have further test data, if you would like to post  it, along with reference ranges, we will be glad to help interpret and advise further.  

[abji]

I have just had my whole tyroid removed I was terrified before surgery but cannot believe how easy it was it was  pressing on my windpipe aswell  I am now waiting on results from pathologist report

[utahmomma]

Cancer or not, if it is pressing on your trachea you need to get it out.  Being on thyroid replacement hormones the rest of your life isn't that big a deal.  Besides, you have LOTS of support here.  Don't risk your health further if your thyroid is already causing problems with your trachea.  My daughter had multiple nodules.  We were afraid it was cancerous because of the family's history.  When we found out her largest nodule was pressing against her jugular vein that was the final decision.  I'm so glad we had it out even though it was "just" precancerous - the surgeon said it would have caused major problems for blood flow within a few years.  That was three years ago - she's a beautiful, *healthy* 19-year old now and said she didn't realize how bad she felt before the surgery.  She also had Hashimoto's (found out on pathology) and her bipolar symptoms are nearly gone.

[misled 1]

ONE NODULE  BOPSY OK  HAVE MULIT NODULES  I FEEL LIKE UTHAMOMMAone of several are ok  well what abouth the others//  Path says toooo may to biosy   well  Goiter has begun to press on Trache  growing toward it 2.20 cm is the size  should I or  should I not have it removed?????  since I have been ill with my Kidney infection, lower back pain with a groth   well the surgeon say  do it now or do it later because they sre truley growing    what do you think   how bad will the life after be???

[rayneweather]

I'm not worried and as far as I know there are no plans to do any follow up ultrasounds since I had the TT and it's already out.  That's the one thing about medicine - things are always changing.  Did you ever get my email?

Rayne

[rayneweather]

And just to let you know that you may not need treatment depending upon the size of the microcarcinoma and your surgeon.  I have a 0.7mm microcarcinoma which was found on my final pathology report.  When I spoke with my endo prior to surgery what he told me is that there is a debate currently in the world of endocrinology about microcarinomas and whether they are clinically significant (meaning if they have any impact on your heath) and as long as they are small he elects not to treat them.  So if yours are small and the surgeon/endo feel the same way mine do you may not need treatment.  But either way, we'll be here for you.

[ChitChatNine]

Same here ..I was told the same thing .. in my case I have 2 of these things they removed so some push more than others for its removal as the new studies incidate multi-folcular blah blah balh to be removed.  

I've been warned by others (when I began my quest for TT vs. keeping partial) that I may become  statistical data that proves nothing in a few yrs down the road & protocols may be reversed .. that is, if I jump for TT based only in the micros that were found.

I'm comfortable being in the driver's seat calling the shots on my own deformed butterly's health .. that is the beauty of this type of cancer most of the time (speaking of the micro's) .. in the very end of my conversation with Endo #2 he said I will be ok with whichever I choose (TT vs. keeping partial) as long as I do serial ultrasounds ev. 6 mos to watch things inc. the small nodule on the other side.

I forgot .. that you, too, Rayne are in the same boat .. ugh

C~

[kkern]

I'm sorry the results weren't better.  I'm a few weeks behind you and I'm trying to think positive but preparing myself for the worst.  I am a newbie to the forum but all the ladies who are regulars have helped me tremendously.  I have thankfully calmed down and gotten the "I will not let this get me" attitude.   I'll be thinking of you.  Stay positive =)  You have alot of good people here praying for you.

[malawi]

Sorry to hear of your pathology report but you have a very treatable cancer and you will be just fine....it will be a piece of cake especially after you pummelled breast cancer...3 women on my street alone all had breast cancer and are all 10 plus years cancer free and doing great...!!just some words of encouragement for what they are worth
Roman

[utahmomma]

I'm sorry about your pathology report but glad that you are taking it so well and were so prepared for it.

As you know there are four of us in my family with papillary carcinoma.  Two have not needed RAI and two of us have.  My youngest sister had lymph node involvement so she didn't have a choice.  I was fine for years but my TSH level was creeping up and my thyroglobulin level was rising (sure signs of a recurrence) so I needed RAI roughly four years after the cancer was removed.

You might not have to have the RAI or, because of the breast cancer, your doctors may want to me more aggressive and just put you through it anyway.  All in all, it's not a big deal and no where near as horrible as chemo and radiation for breast cancer.

Welcome to our little, proud group of thyroid cancer survivors.

((HUGS))

[february]

Thank you!  Actually, I am quite calm and am not feeling too bad.  I think being that I have been "studying" on this formum that I realize what I now have is no way a death sentence!  ....Completly different from my feelings when I was diagnosed with the breast cancer.  I think being education about conditions makes things alot easier at times.

[venora]

Oh hon I can only imagine what you must be feeling after seeing the cancer word again.
We will be here for you.and papillary cancer of the thyroid is sooo treatable and it will be a snap compared what you had to go through for the breast cancer.
I am sending out healing energies for you thorugh cyber space.Keep us posted on your progress.Be good to yourself.
Love Venora

[february]

thank you for such a speedy reply :)...  I am not sure about the capsular invasion, although it does say...

Tumor  2cm or less in greatest dimension, limited to the thyroid.
encapsulation:  Not applicable

I know so much about breast cancer and so little about thyroid cancer, but I am learning alot from all of you and I do realize that what I have is one of the "better" ones if you are going to have thyroid cancer.

[ChitChatNine]

I had 2 microcarinomas that were fully encapsulated w/o lymph node involvement taken out along with 1/2 my thryoid .. they, like yours, showed up on final report.

I have been told by ev. single professional I have seen (regarding 2nd opinions, etc., bcz 1/2 the other side still remains) and all have told me that this type of cancer in the thyroid is not anywhere the same or treated with the same aggressiveness as breast cancer.  It does have its own aggressive treatment in the way of RAI and TT, etc., but they all have reassured me that it is very very different in that if this type of carcinoma was found in the breast it would be a very different story.

I am relieved to hear that it is Pap  ThyCa in the thyroid and not breast .. I don't even know if it can metastize into the thyroid but being Papillary is good news but not the kind of news anybody wants to get.

I hope this helps as you begin to learn about microcarinomas,

C~