- Re: Just diagnosed

[Guest guest]

Hi, -

Welcome to the group.

I'm , too (although I like to think I'm one :-)

A diagnosis of cancer is always a disturbing thing, even if it's The Good Cancer

(as many of us have been told). It's not unusual to have no symptoms of

thyroid cancer, and many of us are diagnosed

serendipitously (mine was found in a CT for an unrelated neck pain).

Do you know the size of your tumor?

It's always a good idea to get copies of all your medical records, including

blood test & pathology reports, so you know just what it is you're dealing with.

Increasingly, tumors less than 1 cm are often left untreated, although there are

some very good arguments to treat anyway (we've seen several recurrences years

after untreated small cancers). At the very

least, you should be having an RAI (radioiodine) scan, to be sure there was no

further spread.

NYC

kbalmforth wrote:

> Hi my name is ,

> I am a 31 year old from Glasgow in Scotland. I was told that I had,

> had thyroid papilliary cancer after recieving a total thyroidectomy

> to treat Graves, as I had previosly been hyperthyroid.This was found

> during the operation, and I was told a week later about the

> carcinoma, till then I did'nt have the remotest inkling that I had

> cancer.

> The doctor did tell me this was unusual, and that until last month

> he had not found thyroid cancer in a patient during an operation,

> but in the last month had come across three cases whilst

> operating.Luckily it was only a wee tumour, so it should all have

> been resolved during the thyroidectomy. I have to see an oncologist

> as a safety precaution, but have ben assured that I should need no

> further treatment.

> It feels a wee bit odd, and the facts are still sinking in, but I am

> feeling more or less acustomed to the idea now. From reading posts I

> am glad that I do not have to worry about paying for treatment, that

> must be a huge additional worry to deal with.

>

> Cheers