Re: fna results

[Guest guest]

Kate,

I don’t know what I would do.

I think talking to the surgeon is an excellent idea. I have found that to

be extremely helpful in situations that have arisen with family members.

I’m saying a prayer for you right

now.

Kim

From: Texas_Thyroid_Groups [mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On Behalf Of Kate Guynn

Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009

11:55 PM

To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups

Subject: Re:

fna results

I now have the actual papers of the biopsy.

Right lobe, needle biopsy

Minute fragments of thyroid tissue with benign follicular structures.

Skeletal muscle is also present.

The specimen consists of a white-tan tissue fragment that measures up to .5

cm long and less than .1 cm transversely, submitted entirely in block 1A.

Question-what does skeletal muscle also present mean?

Isthmus nodule-

Thyroid, fine needle aspiration cytology:

unsatisfactory

Microscopic description: The smears are markedly hypocellular without

follicular cells present, as well as few fragments of adipose

tissues. The specimen is unsatisfactory for evaluation of a thyroid process.

So this is the one that I am trying to figure out what to do. I have read

a few studies that show in follow up of unsatisfactory 35-37% end up

malignant. I am leaning toward a follow up ultra sound at the 6 month mark

from the last US. But I am going to talk to surgeon Wednesday and get some

input from him.

Any comments are welcome!

Thanks,

Kate

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

I really appreciate your prayers. I'm trying to get the full picture on

all my options. I know that 3 of the 4 thyroid cancers are slow

growing. I'd be less concerned if I didn't have a sister who is a ThyCa

survivor. My husbands Aunt said she would just go ahead a remove the

thyroid so I didn't have to worry about it anymore. My other sister said

don't do any unnecessary surgery, follow with an US. My ThyCa sister said

repeat the FNA. My husband said follow with an US. Originally we had said

if it was indeterminate we would remove based on the ThyCa in the family

as, that's what my sister had on her FNA. But my husband also said, he is

in full support of what ever I decide is best for me.

If anyone has any personally experience with an unsatisfactory on an fna

and what step you took, I'd love to hear. I understand that everything is

highly individual.

Thanks,

Kate

At 06:22 PM 1/1/2010, you wrote:

>Kate,

>I don't know what I would do. I think talking to the surgeon is an

>excellent idea. I have found that to be extremely helpful in situations

>that have arisen with family members.

>

>I'm saying a prayer for you right now.

>

>Kim

>

>

>----------

>From: Texas_Thyroid_Groups

>[mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On Behalf Of Kate Guynn

>Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 11:55 PM

>To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups

>Subject: Re: fna results

>

>

>

>I now have the actual papers of the biopsy.

>

>Right lobe, needle biopsy

>

>Minute fragments of thyroid tissue with benign follicular structures.

>Skeletal muscle is also present.

>

>The specimen consists of a white-tan tissue fragment that measures up to .5

>cm long and less than .1 cm transversely, submitted entirely in block 1A.

>

>Question-what does skeletal muscle also present mean?

>

>Isthmus nodule-

>

>Thyroid, fine needle aspiration cytology:

>unsatisfactory

>

>Microscopic description: The smears are markedly hypocellular without

>follicular cells present, as well as few fragments of adipose

>tissues. The specimen is unsatisfactory for evaluation of a thyroid process.

>

>So this is the one that I am trying to figure out what to do. I have read

>a few studies that show in follow up of unsatisfactory 35-37% end up

>malignant. I am leaning toward a follow up ultra sound at the 6 month mark

>from the last US. But I am going to talk to surgeon Wednesday and get some

>input from him.

>

>Any comments are welcome!

>

>Thanks,

>

>Kate

>

>

>

>

>No virus found in this incoming message.

>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

>Version: 8.5.431 / Virus Database: 270.14.124/2596 - Release Date:

>01/01/10 09:20:00

[Guest guest]

I had an aunt that had cancer on only one part of the lobe and so she left the

other. It has been 15 years now and she is still cancer free. If there is

nothing on the other side, then don't take out the whole thing. That's my

opinion. At least you can be sure at least your getting some amounts of the

" unknown " hormones.

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, distant metastases can show up twenty years or more later.

And any remaining thyroid tissue after cancer cannot be allowed to function, so is not likely to provide the other hormones.

>> I had an aunt that had cancer on only one part of the lobe and so she left the other. It has been 15 years now and she is still cancer free. If there is nothing on the other side, then don't take out the whole thing. That's my opinion. At least you can be sure at least your getting some amounts of the> " unknown" hormones.>

[Guest guest]

I fully disagree with that. I have Hashi's, I have no real use for my

thyroid. We are suppressing it anyhow because of the Hashi's. I have also

read of too many people who get cancer in the other lobe.

My decision isn't how much to remove, it's do I remove it now or wait and see.

Kate G

At 12:19 AM 1/2/2010, you wrote:

>I had an aunt that had cancer on only one part of the lobe and so she left

>the other. It has been 15 years now and she is still cancer free. If there

>is nothing on the other side, then don't take out the whole thing. That's

>my opinion. At least you can be sure at least your getting some amounts of the

> " unknown " hormones.

[Guest guest]

Inconclusive means they can't tell either way. Insufficient means that

there was not enough tissue to evaluate. Yes, there are false positives

and false negatives. That has to do with larger nodules not getting enough

samples from different parts of the nodule from the studies I read.

Thanks for your kind words, have a blessed day.

Kate

At 02:50 AM 1/5/2010, you wrote:

>Kate,

>Thank you very much. I'm glad for your sister. How exactly do you

>interpret insufficient? I mean I know what that means, but in this case,

>I guess I don't. I mean what do you do with that? I know alot of

>researching, etc. I wonder if it comes back, Benign, or malignant are

>they really sure about that as well. I am going to get a second opinion

>on my FNA results no matter what they are. Wouldn't that be a good place

>to start? I am wishing you the very very best with this whatever

>decision you make.

>God Bless

>Mamie

>

> > >Little,

> > >Are you saying that your FNA did not conclude, but you had a

> thyroidectomy

> > >anyway? And then found out it was not cancer? I am having one this

> > >week. Am I right to assume that it can be this way and turn out not

> to be

> > >cancer, OR if they say it's not, then it can be? I'm sorry, I'm confused

> > >and scared as we all are. These FNA's are not all cracked up to be what

> > >they are supposed to be? How does anyone make an informed decision on

> > >this? This is just so awful.

> >

>

>

>

>

>------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, i just would like to say hang in there . things will get better. and no you have not frighten anyone. it is good to let everyone know, so the rest of us can be informed . and to let everyone know how inportant it's to be involved in taking care of your thyroid . i had no idea . i know a little more from your post. i will be keeping you in my prayers. do what is best for you and listen to your iner voice. every thing is over whelming for you right now take one step at a time and a deep breath. and go from there. Joan

To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Sent: Tue, January 5, 2010 11:19:26 AMSubject: Re: fna results

Mamie,Your welcome. Kate, thanks for your kind remarks. This is a difficult journey for me, and I have tried various strengths of Levoxyl, cytomel, erfa, and compounded sr T3. My body is extremely sensitive, and even low doses of just about anything can throw it off. I feel confident that I will find an answer and that I will be ok some day. I'll keep trying until I am. It's just very hard right now. That's why I hesitated to post, because I don't want to frighten anyone. I hope that I haven't. I feel confident that you will make the best decision for yourself regardless of which direction you, your family, and physician decide to proceed with. You are clearly becoming informed and are proactive. You should be proud of yourself. I am.Lil>> Hi Lil,> > Thank you for sharing your experience. I hadn't heard of intolerance to > thyroid replacement after surgery. What are your taking or what have you > tried? I am on Compounded desiccated thyroid. I'm not going to rush to > surgery this month, the earliest would be March because of the money we > would need to cover the out of pocket and deductible. Right now I'm fact > finding. Leaning toward waiting and doing an US in early April.> > Praying you find a solution.> > Kate> >

[Guest guest]

Is a 1.6 cm nodule considered large? I'm sorry, i just don't know. I have not

even been explained anything about the FNA. Just be there. They left a message

today to remind me. And it also said (It was a recorded message) if I wanted

sedation to be there 30 minutes early.

It was almost like If you want sedation, press 1, etc. Everything is so

impersonal these days. OH MY.

Thanks,

Mamie

> > > >Little,

> > > >Are you saying that your FNA did not conclude, but you had a

> > thyroidectomy

> > > >anyway? And then found out it was not cancer? I am having one this

> > > >week. Am I right to assume that it can be this way and turn out not

> > to be

> > > >cancer, OR if they say it's not, then it can be? I'm sorry, I'm confused

> > > >and scared as we all are. These FNA's are not all cracked up to be what

> > > >they are supposed to be? How does anyone make an informed decision on

> > > >this? This is just so awful.

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >------------------------------------

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Lil,

Have your doctors looked at your adrenals and your iron/ferritin? Often if

those are off, you have trouble with taking thyroid replacement.

Thank you so much for your kind words. I have always been one to ask

questions and take charge of my own health. I need to read the articles

that Jan posted.

Praying you get your situation straightened out.

Kate

At 11:19 AM 1/5/2010, you wrote:

>Mamie,

>Your welcome.

>

>Kate, thanks for your kind remarks. This is a difficult journey for me,

>and I have tried various strengths of Levoxyl, cytomel, erfa, and

>compounded sr T3. My body is extremely sensitive, and even low doses of

>just about anything can throw it off.

>

>I feel confident that I will find an answer and that I will be ok some

>day. I'll keep trying until I am. It's just very hard right now. That's

>why I hesitated to post, because I don't want to frighten anyone. I hope

>that I haven't.

>

>I feel confident that you will make the best decision for yourself

>regardless of which direction you, your family, and physician decide to

>proceed with. You are clearly becoming informed and are proactive. You

>should be proud of yourself. I am.

>

>Lil

>

>

> >

> > Hi Lil,

> >

> > Thank you for sharing your experience. I hadn't heard of intolerance to

> > thyroid replacement after surgery. What are your taking or what have you

> > tried? I am on Compounded desiccated thyroid. I'm not going to rush to

> > surgery this month, the earliest would be March because of the money we

> > would need to cover the out of pocket and deductible. Right now I'm fact

> > finding. Leaning toward waiting and doing an US in early April.

> >

> > Praying you find a solution.

> >

> > Kate

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Joan,

It's getting late, and I'm about lay down for the night. I will let your wise

words drift thorough my mind as I get ready to sleep. Your kindness is truly

appreciated.

Lil

>

> Hi, i  just would like to say hang in there . things will get better.  and

no you have not frighten anyone. it is good to let everyone know, so the rest of

us can be informed .  and to let everyone know how inportant it's to be

involved

>  in  taking care of your thyroid .    i had no idea . i know a little

more from your post.  i will be keeping you in my prayers.  do what is best

for you and listen to your iner voice.  every thing is over whelming for you

right now  take one step at a time and a deep breath. and go from there.   

Joan

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Not small, not large. 1.6 cm (16 mm) is about 3/4 of an inch, sort of like a large cherry. But when you consider how small the spaces in your neck and airway are, 1.6 cm seems pretty large.

30 minutes for sedation? I remember getting sedation for a dental procedure thirty minutes ahead of time. I was wide awake for the procedure, but could not stay awake two hours later. . . . .just barely made it home.

I have never had an fna, but the ice-before and after-sounds like a better idea. I would call ahead and ask if they have ice and if they don't, I would bring my own.

> > > > >Little,> > > > >Are you saying that your FNA did not conclude, but you had a > > > thyroidectomy> > > > >anyway? And then found out it was not cancer? I am having one this> > > > >week. Am I right to assume that it can be this way and turn out not > > > to be> > > > >cancer, OR if they say it's not, then it can be? I'm sorry, I'm confused> > > > >and scared as we all are. These FNA's are not all cracked up to be what> > > > >they are supposed to be? How does anyone make an informed decision on> > > > >this? This is just so awful.

[Guest guest]

Jan, Why did'nt you have a FNA? And Im curious to know what kind of thyroid

disease do you have? Yes, when you consider where it is, that seems large. OH

MY!!!! I wonder why doctors can't feel this.

Thanks for the suggestions,

Mamie

> > > > > >Little,

> > > > > >Are you saying that your FNA did not conclude, but you had a

> > > > thyroidectomy

> > > > > >anyway? And then found out it was not cancer? I am having one

> this

> > > > > >week. Am I right to assume that it can be this way and turn out

> not

> > > > to be

> > > > > >cancer, OR if they say it's not, then it can be? I'm sorry, I'm

> confused

> > > > > >and scared as we all are. These FNA's are not all cracked up to

> be what

> > > > > >they are supposed to be? How does anyone make an informed

> decision on

> > > > > >this? This is just so awful.

>

[Guest guest]

Diagnosis: Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma.

The location of the nodule made it inaccessible. All but one tiny nodule had been shrunk by suppression, but I was sent straight to surgery after a new 11 mm nodule came up within six months.

Had a subtotal thyroidectomy. Nothing showed up on the frozen section. Fortunately, the surgeon did not like the looks of something and removed an additional half lobe. Three days later, follicular carcinoma was found in that excised half lobe. It was not the big muthuh that freaked the doc out. The cancer was the tiny nodule that refused to be shrunk by suppression.

I was given three choices: RAI, completion thyroidectomy, or do nothing. Not having any information, I chose to do nothing. If I had it to do over, I would have had the completion thyroidectomy, but not the RAI. Ideally, I would have asked for a total thyroidectomy in the beginning.

Even if I did not have cancer, I still have a piece of the thyroid gland that functioned on an inadequate level and is still inclined to grow nodules/cancer.

I only recently discovered that I still have the other half of the lobe that had the cancer. That half lobe now has nodules. . . . .All these years, I have been told that my sonograms were "clear" because there was nothing growing in the right lobe bed. . . . .Until I talked to the radiologist. . . . .

Was I pi$$ed? You better believe it.

> > > > > > >Little,> > > > > > >Are you saying that your FNA did not conclude, but you had a> > > > > thyroidectomy> > > > > > >anyway? And then found out it was not cancer? I am having one> > this> > > > > > >week. Am I right to assume that it can be this way and turn out> > not> > > > > to be> > > > > > >cancer, OR if they say it's not, then it can be? I'm sorry, I'm> > confused> > > > > > >and scared as we all are. These FNA's are not all cracked up to> > be what> > > > > > >they are supposed to be? How does anyone make an informed> > decision on> > > > > > >this? This is just so awful.> >>