Thyroid Nodule 4 1/2 years post radiation. It never seems to stop.

Larry449

I’m back! July 25, 2021 I was diagnosed with cancer at the base of my tongue. 31 radiation treatments took out the cancer. Of course I went thru all the after effects of the radiation, but things have been ok I guess though my main nutrition still come from smoothies. Been having a weird cramping sensation and some swelling in the right side of my neck. When I first mentioned it to my ENT it wasn’t really bothering me so I didn’t make too much of it and he said probably “nothing to worry about”. A month or so later when I went to my Medical Oncologist (who’s been monitoring my condition after prostate cancer in 2017) it was bothering me a bit so he added an MRI to the CTs he was already going to order. CTs showed no metastasis and reoccurrence, good news. But the MRI showed a Nodule on the right lobe of my thyroid and recommended a follow up with ultrasound. According to Dr. Google, the majority of thyroid nodules are benign but more common as a late after effect of radiation. I see my ENT next Wednesday. I’m anticipating an ultrasound in the not so distant future, probably followed by another biopsy. I think there might be a question in here … advice maybe … also maybe the following in parentheses.
(I don’t see my MO, who ordered the MRI until April 1rst. I’m considering maybe going to back to him or his recommendation instead of the ENT I’ve been seeing because I feel like they hospital system he’s in does a better job communicating among their doctors)

wbcgaruss

Hi, Larry, sorry you have a nodule on your thyroid to think about but the good news is as you say, the majority of thyroid nodules are benign.

It may not be connected to anything like your previous treatments but you have just gotten a nodule.

No matter, don't fool with it, get it biopsied to verify cancer/not cancer.

If no cancer they may recommend just monitoring it over time to see if it will grow or stay the same.

As far as seeing your MO, who ordered the MRI or your ENT you should be able to see either and they should have access to your scans. These days of all the computerization all the doctors you deal with can have access to your records and share them if you so request and give permissions. It actually helps give you better coverage with more eyes on your case and if a procedure or biopsy is done on your thyroid an ENT would be the likely candidate to do it.

Wishing you the very best…

Take Care, God Bless

Russ

NEGU (Never Ever Give Up)

Larry449

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1726376#Comment_1726376

my MO will automatically get the reports because he ordered it and I always ask for a cd to take with me because my ENT likes to look at them and explains to me what he sees. Also, of course I harp it isn’t another cancer but it does get painful sometimes, almost like a cramp in my neck (even in back sometimes) if I look up or down too far, so I’ll probably need some kind of treatment. Just hope to hell I don’t have to go through radiation again. I have read that they don’t like to use radiation on thyroids so there is that.

wbcgaruss

Great, Larry, it seems you are already sharing your scans with your docs, wonderful.

As far as my experience goes, and from what I have heard or read, and or garnered from my previous ENT, I am on my second one now, they usually operate on thyroids and remove them. I would imagine they possibly could remove the nodule, but I don't know.

I don't know how I got to talking with my first ENT about thyroids, but he commented that he was very good at removing them, and it is a fairly easy operation if needed.

The main thing, Larry, you are staying on top of things and taking no chances because you know problems are easiest to solve when found early and small.

Hopefully, there really is no problem, and they find nothing wrong, just an odd pain or soreness that will eventually go away

I had a sore spot on my inner cheek where my molars rubbed when I was chewing. It was bothering me when I chewed. And of course, since I had cancer before, your mind goes right to cancer. I told my ENT about it at my next appointment, and I am up on preventative scans, so he checked it out. I figured he would see a sore spot like red or an ulcer, but he said everything looked normal, and nothing unusual to the feeling of it.

He said it is probably unusual nerve signals from previous cancer treatments. I was radiated and operated on that side.

He was right; it eventually went away, but every now and again, the sore feeling comes back and goes away again. It's been like that for several years now. So it is nerves sending a pain signal even when there is no reason for it.

I even mentioned it to my dentist later, after seeing the ENT, and he said the same thing: everything looks fine, no problems, normal color, no ulcers, etc.

I am hoping the same for you, a false or temporary soreness.

Wishing You The Best

Take Care, God Bless

Russ