metastasized to thyroid?

kgasmart
kgasmart Member Posts: 64 Member
edited April 2019 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hoooohh-kay... deep breath here...

 

Over the past week the way my neck feels has changed pretty significantly, at first I thought it was my lymphedema but I'm beginning to think it's possible my HPV BOT cancer (surgery/dissection 12/2018, 30 rads, took 57 lymph nodes/1 was involved) metastasized to my thyroid.

 

No swelling that I can feel but a tenderness at the left front of the neck below Adam's apple, and the periodic sense that my windpipe is narrowing. This all came on pretty quickly.

 

And I've always had some flushing since the neck dissection, but this week I'm dealing with diarrhea.

 

And all of this suggests medullary thyroid cancer.

 

Did anyone else see their initial cancer metastasize into this? Or am I just the "lucky" one.

 

ENT visit scheduled tomorrow; I'm sure they'll want imaging, and if the see anything then it'll be time for a biopsy, etc. etc. etc.

 

I really can't stand it.

Comments

  • wbcgaruss
    wbcgaruss Member Posts: 2,466 Member
    #2
    At This Point

    You are just letting your mind run too freely. "It's not cancer till they say it's cancer". You have not had any scans or tests done yet to confirm anything. Stop getting yourself upset. You will see the doc tomorrow and he can get to the bottom of it. Reading your post indicates you may have researched this and you have already decided you have thyroid cancer. Calm down and relax if you can as I have read on here many times people were sure they had cancer or it metastasized somewhere else only to find they had an infection or some other problem that was quickly resolved and not cancer at all. Don't get me wrong you may well have what you think you have but either way, you have to verify what is going on and deal with it. Another bump in the road for us cancer folks as every time we get a new ache, pain, or soreness somewhere, or especially near where we had cancer we start thinking cancer again, it has to be, we all go through it. So God Bless and hoping for a good ENT report tomorrow. And don't forget we're here for ya.

  • johnsonbl
    johnsonbl Member Posts: 266 Member
    #3
    Spread of your HPV cancer to your thyroid...

    Isn't likely.  However, as recipient of head and neck radiation you are at higher than normal risk for thyroid cancer (just like the majority of us).  Thyroid cancer isn't a common cancer for men (even with the increased risk) and on bright side, it's also extremely curable with 5 year rates into the 90's (just like our HPV BOT cancer).

     

    I hope you get a good report from your ENT.  Good luck.

  • kgasmart
    kgasmart Member Posts: 64 Member
    #4
    Welll....

    Just came back from my ENT appointment, she thinks the tightness in the neck/sensation of the windpipe narrowing has to do with GERD/acid reflux. Which I've had for years, and I'm on Omeprazole for it, but apparently I haven't been taking it correctly, need to take it before meals, I always take it after. And even though I don't get the burn any more she says it can still be doing damage.

     

    Scoped me, saw nothing; felt the neck extensively, no nodes, no enlargement of the thyroid.

     

    I have a follow-up CT coming up previously scheduled by my radiation oncologist, so if anything beyond this is going on, hopefully that will show it.

     

    Wish I could be 100 percent certain she's right, I guess we'll see. But geez - for you long-term survivors, is it always like this. always on the lookout for the next major health crisis?

  • johnsonbl
    johnsonbl Member Posts: 266 Member
    edited April 2019 #5
    kgasmart said:

    Welll....

    Just came back from my ENT appointment, she thinks the tightness in the neck/sensation of the windpipe narrowing has to do with GERD/acid reflux. Which I've had for years, and I'm on Omeprazole for it, but apparently I haven't been taking it correctly, need to take it before meals, I always take it after. And even though I don't get the burn any more she says it can still be doing damage.

     

    Scoped me, saw nothing; felt the neck extensively, no nodes, no enlargement of the thyroid.

     

    I have a follow-up CT coming up previously scheduled by my radiation oncologist, so if anything beyond this is going on, hopefully that will show it.

     

    Wish I could be 100 percent certain she's right, I guess we'll see. But geez - for you long-term survivors, is it always like this. always on the lookout for the next major health crisis?

    Yep...every ache and pain...

    Great news though!

  • Pclark21st
    Pclark21st Member Posts: 126
    #6
    kgasmart said:

    Welll....

    Just came back from my ENT appointment, she thinks the tightness in the neck/sensation of the windpipe narrowing has to do with GERD/acid reflux. Which I've had for years, and I'm on Omeprazole for it, but apparently I haven't been taking it correctly, need to take it before meals, I always take it after. And even though I don't get the burn any more she says it can still be doing damage.

     

    Scoped me, saw nothing; felt the neck extensively, no nodes, no enlargement of the thyroid.

     

    I have a follow-up CT coming up previously scheduled by my radiation oncologist, so if anything beyond this is going on, hopefully that will show it.

     

    Wish I could be 100 percent certain she's right, I guess we'll see. But geez - for you long-term survivors, is it always like this. always on the lookout for the next major health crisis?

    They thought ours was met to thyroid

    But instead it is an extension of the original tonsil cancer.  The orig tumor went from under the right ear down to the front of the throat.  He needed emergency trach.  After 40 rads and 3 high cisplatins... we thought was clear.  9 mos scan showed mass.  Took biopsy, told us believed et thyroid cancer as it was right behind breastbone.  2nd opinion indicated the new growth began exactly where radiation field ended...I guess a couple of cells too small to detect were left behind and began growing again.  We never would have found unless we asked them to include chest area in CT...then it would have been too late.  Now they are doing 30 rads and 6 cisplatin...fingers crossed they get it all this time.  Good luck with your journey and always ask if something feels different

     

     

     

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