Cancer Survivors Network

I had my first post-operative sonogram on 12/5/2012 and unfortunately the results aren't as sclean as I would like. Two nodes were found to be abnormally large, both in my right neck. One at level IV which was round and 3mm which doesn't "demonstrate a fatty hilum" and one at level VI which was oblong 4mm x 3mm and does "demonstrate a fatty hilum."

From Googling I find that the absense of a fatty sheath {or hilum} around a lymph node and a spherical shape can be indicators of a cancerous node. So the one at level IV, which the report calls "suspicious" could be residual cancer. The other which does have a fatty sheath, is oblong and the report merely states "attention for followup studies recommended" is likely swollen from an infection {I did have a sinus infection some weeks before the sonogram.} A good sign is that all my blood levels are consistent with no cancer. However, my endo explained it's possible that the blood levels could be decieving.

The current recommendation is to "wait and see" and have another sonogram in six months. I'm not comfortable with the thought that if this is residual cancer, it may very possibly metastisize {if it already hasn't} while I'm "waiting and seeing."

Hopefully this is all leftover from the sinus infection and I'm fretting over nothing.

Alan

PS Historical info:  Papillary Stage III - Total Thyroidectomy 2/8/10 with 4 foci .7mm to 2.6mm -  55 lymph nodes removed right neck two of which were found to cantain cancer cells.