biopsy last week, and the results are in

[ckaa990507]

Like I said, I had a biopsy on 2 nodules last week.  1 of them small and solid, the other large and complex.  Dr called that my results are in, and wants me to come in Thurs morning to discuss results.  Most definitely thinking the worst, as I'm thinking, wouldn't they tell me over the phone that it was ok?  Then come in to discss the details(such as what to do about the nodules) in depth?  
I do know that thyroid cancer is very treatable, so I can't really say that's what is freaking me out.  I guess it's the whole process.
I wish I would have just been able to make an appt for follow up initially, as I wouldn't be as stressed, knowing I had a set appt, as I feel there HAS to be a problem, if she wanst .  I've been "ok" this week, definitely more freaked out now that I KNOW the results are in, and I can't do anything about it for 2 days.  It's sooo hard to get an appt with this endo, so that fact is stressing me out even more!!

So again I ask, what is others' experiences?  Have you found in the office that it was benign or malignant?  Or have you found out over the phone?

thanks

[ckaa990507]

as far as it being suspicous, I'd read somewhere that if the results came back inconclusive for cancer, they labeled it suspicous, and treated as if it were cancer (ie PT, and then if malignant, followed by RAI, but if benign, RAI not needed)  I don't know if that is correct.  I've read so much on this in the past few weeks.  Doesn't help that it was a month from the time I found out I needed the biopsy, until it was done-she only does them in office once a month, and got my results from the ultrasound the day after Feb biopsies....I've been making myself crazy!!  Must step away from the computer now!!!

Thanks for the luck tomorrow. I think I've convinced myself it's not cancer, either inconclusive or wants to remove something due to size and the issues it's causing me, such as the choking feeling...positive thoughts, right?

[petmom1]

I think the first thing is to find out exactly with the pathology report says.  I found it helpful to look at the pathology report while with the doctor. This way I could ask what anything I was unsure of meant. Always get copies of bloodwork and pathology before leaving so you can make a file for yourself.

If your biopsy result is malignant (I pray it's not), find out what type it is ( ie. papillary,follicular etc). If there is a known cancer, the doctor will recommend a total thyroidectomy.

If your biopsy result is suspicious, what type to they suspect? In my case they suspect
papillary. Your doctor could recommend another biopsy at short interval, or as in my case, recommend a partial thyroidectomy for definitve answer.

My ENT will be doing my surgery. Sometimes a general surgeon does them, but I personally wouldn't be comfortable with that. Also, not all ENT's like to handle thyroid
surgery while some ENT's actually specialize in them.

I asked my ENT...How many thyroidectomy surgeries does she do a year? How many has she done in her career? How many of her patients had serious complications ( ie. parathyroid damage or accidental removal, recurrent laryngeal nerve damage, serious bleeding requiring transfusion...) and what the complications were? I also asked her how long does the surgery take and how will my pain be managed both while in the hospital and after released.

I'm not sure, but I think that the Endo handles or coordinates the RAI if needed.

I wrote everything down that I wanted to ask so I wouldn't forget anything. Good luck tomorrow, I'll be thinking of you.

[ckaa990507]

this is what I have come up with so far to ask:

if benign: how does she plan on treating the nodules, as well as my symptoms?  My bloodwork showed I was on the low side of normal(I don't have a copy of those records yet, only the inital ones-TSH, FT3, FT4-that my regular dr did last summer).  She told me before I had the ultrasound, that only if there was enlargement, would she consider medicating me based on those numbers.  So this would indicate to me, that it would be appropriate, based on what she'd told me before.

if malignant or suspicious:
surgery?
partial or total thyroidectomy?
who does surgery?  ENT?
RAI?
how will she treat symptoms post surgery?

what other things should I be asking?

[utahmomma]

Petmom:  Your endo is correct - with that biopsy result the only way to conclusively know would be to have it out.  One of my sisters and my daughter had similar cells but theirs had not turned to cancer yet (unlike the other four of us who had full-blown cancer).

My suggestion would be to talk to the surgeon, make sure that he/she had done *lots* of these surgeries.  Also, make sure there is a pathologist in the OR who can do a frozen cutdown immediately.  *If* it is cancerous you will need the entire thyroid removed for further treatment and one surgery is always better than two.

ckaa990507:  take someone with you to the appointment (if you can) or take good notes.  Write down a bunch of questions beforehand to discuss too.  Get copies of the ultrasound results, the biopsy results, and any labs.

Both:  Hang in there and try not to freak out too much.  Yeah, the idea of cancer is frightening but this cancer is very easy to find and kill - and it is slow growing.  You're among friends here.

Take care

Utahmomma
papillary carcinoma '03, second surgery '04, recurrence and RAI '06
three sisters with papillary carcinoma (one with three recurrences/RAI)
another sister and daughter with precancer

[petmom1]

I had my nodule biopsied on 3-4-10 and also received a phone call asking me to come to the office the next day. I felt something wasn't right immediately since I also had the same nodule biopsied 2 years ago and when the results came in that time, I simply got a phone call from the doctor to tell me it was benign.

When I went to see my endo the next day, she told me that the current biopsy showed some scattered cells demonstrating nuclear grooves and occasional intranuclear inclusions, features associated with papillary cancer. And, the only way to know for sure
what it is is to have it removed. So, I am scheduled to have a hemithyroidectomy on        4-14-10. To be honest, I am freaking out about this whole process! Thankfully, I found the people on this forum to be very helpful for which I am most grateful.

I really hope you get good news on Thurs. Whatever your biopsy shows, you are not alone.