Hi,
I went to the doctor for an lump in my neck. She thought it was a twisted carotid artery. The ultrasound showed that it was an enlarged lymph node and that my thyroid was pertruding and that it was hypervascular. I read up on this and it could be a sign of cancer. I had a blood test done on Friday and I will get the results on Wednesday. I don't know if this is all in my head, but I now feel that at times it is hard to swallow and I feel pressure in my throat.
Has anyone had similar symptoms? I am 51 and no one in my family has had thyroid cancer. I read up on the different types and the medullary and anaplastic sound horrible. Thanks for listening.
Hi Belle! The waiting is TERRIBLY hard when cancer is possible, but do your best not to worry until you get the results. It could be many other things BESIDES cancer. And, if it IS thyroid cancer, it's usually very easy to treat with a really high success rate (around 95%, I believe). You are taking all the steps you can at this point, so just take a deep breath. Keep us updated on your progress. I will be sure to check the posts on Wednesday!
Okay, keep in mind that the internet only tells you the worst case scenarios (usually so you will run to your doctor and find out what you really have!). Most thyroid cancer is curable if it were that.
The thyroid is a very vascular area, so it would be normal for it to be hyper vascular. Try not to get ahead of this, go step by step.
Is there a thyroid nodule, or is it a swollen lymph node? They could be totally unrelated, because thyroid cancer usually presents as a nodule on the thyroid. (most of these, 95% are benign, and many people have them). But that probably would have shown on the ultrasound?
I think you need more testing, maybe a needle biopsy of the swollen lymph node, it may have nothing to do with your thyroid, or you may just have a swollen thyroid (a goiter) or something else, are you seeing a neck specialist or ENT? Find a good one, and take this step by step, it may just be something minor or temporary.
Thank you desert rose and reece for your replies. I went to my primary care physician about the lump (turned out to be lymph node) in my neck. She thought something might be growing on my carotid artery so she sent me for an ultrasound that showed the pertruding and hypervasuclar thyroid. She telephoned telling me to get blood tests and see her on Wednesday. So in the event that it is thyroid cancer I should see an ENT? Would my primary care physician do the biopsy or the ENT? Is it best for the ENT do the surgery? Is the surgery an out patient operation or do you stay over night? I have never been to an ENT before.
I will let you know what happens at my Wednesday doctor's visit.
They can't tell if you have thyroid or lymph node cancer unless they actually remove some of the cells for a pathologist to view. Do you have an endocrinologist? Mine does fine needle biopsies herself, while some make you go see a surgeon. If you do have thyroid cancer, you see a thyroid surgeon. Sometimes ENTs are also head and neck surgeons and they can do the surgery.
Endocrinologists usually have a list of the best surgeons (some are listed as general surgeons, but they have tons of thyroid experience). But don't worry about all this until you get all your tests done. It might be something else entirely.
I don't think your primary care physician will do the biopsy. If yours is small, an ENT might do it in his office. Personally, I had mine done at the hospital, and I don't remember the title of the person that did it, but I think they were some sort of surgeon. But yes, don't worry about all that until after you've gotten your test results. Best not to worry until there's something to worry about! Good luck to you!
