Last week I found out that I have to have a biopsy on a nodule in my thyroid. This is a precaution to rule out cancer or any other atypical growth. I was hoping I would be able to get in to the ENT doctor this week and have it done. Unfortunately, they told me initially they didn’t have any openings for 4-6 weeks. I was about to freak out when the receptionist told me they would get me in much sooner for something like this. I wasn’t sure how to take that remark, so I am just assuming when you need a biopsy- you need a biopsy.
They were able to fit me in next Friday, April 10th. I was really nervous, but I have been doing some reading, and have received some great information from my friends. My friend, Sherry, who is a nurse, told me the thyroid only needs 10% of it, to function. I keep being told thyroid cancer is the most treatable cancer, and am hearing stories from so many people who have had it, and they are fine. Sherry also told me the biopsy doesn’t hurt (I don’t like needles), so that is nice to know as well.
I forgot to ask how long it takes to get the results after the biopsy, but I can’t imagine it being more than a few days. Overall, I am a lot calmer and not so scared. Thank you to all my wonderful friends, family, acquaintances, and readers of my blog, who have taken a moment out of their busy days to send me an e-mail of encouragement or to just wish me well. I never knew how many friends I really have, and it has been overwhelming. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
I wanted to share one special gesture to me from my sister, Mara. She is a busy mom to a two-year old, and works as a second grade teacher. As parents, we know our kids get sick. Mara never takes sick days anymore when she is sick; she saves them for when her daughter is sick, so she can stay at home with her that day. Sick days are a precious commodity as a parent. When I told Mara last week I had to have the biopsy, she told me she would be there-just let her know when.
I objected- she had to work. Mara said she’d take a sick day. I told her no, she needed those days for when her daughter was sick. She told me no- it was fine. I decided to stop arguing and let her be there for me.
The truth is I went to the ultrasound by myself and it was hard. I cried for 15 minutes afterwards in the car because I was scared. I texted a friend who called me right away, but I was still crying, and I kept thinking I should have had someone go with me.
My sister doesn’t care she is losing one of her sick days that she could save and spend with her daughter-she is going to be there- because I need her. That gives me strength and comfort- bring on the biopsy! 
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Mel says:
thank you for sharing your journey on this.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:58 pm
OM says:
Has your friend personally endured the biopsy? I won’t sugarcoat it for you – it feels like somebody is jamming your throat to the other side of the room. Maybe that isn’t helpful, but I wish I’d known. I have thyroid cancer and I’m tired of people minimizing the pain, energy loss, and depression of it all. It’s very curable, but it’s not as if you take two aspirin and call the doctor in the morning.
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:25 pm
banteringblonde says:
I’ve been reading along and thinking about you this week. I’m glad you have such a great sister!
April 4th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Emily says:
It’s very curable, but it’s not as if you take two aspirin and call the doctor in the morning.
April 7th, 2009 at 12:21 am
Tricia says:
Hi – I stumbled upon your site looking for info on this. I too have nodules and am scheduled for a FNB on the 4/21 – I will be thinking of youon Friday – please keep me posted as to what to expect. Not sure jamming yur throat to the other sde of the room is an accurate description…at least I hope note for the both of us. Good luck -hope to hear from you soon. PS – My doctor gave me Xanax to take 1 hour prior -
cause I’m a nervous about the uinknown…once there and during I will be fine…as you will too.
April 7th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Tricia says:
PS – My typing is horrible – please pardon the typos
April 7th, 2009 at 7:54 am
A Mama's Blog says:
Hi Tricia- great to hear from you, and thanks for sharing your information with me. My doctor didn’t give me and Xanax, but my sister may bring a drink or two for me before.
I will write an update, as soon as I can after the biopsy. Let me know how you are doing, and thank you so much for your kind words.
Heather
April 7th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Tricia says:
Good Luck Today! Fill me in.
April 10th, 2009 at 5:44 am
Tricia says:
still waiting…..how’d ya do?
April 15th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Tricia says:
Good Morning – I just wanted to share with everyone that I went yesterday for my thyroid biopsy. I have to say I was really worked up hearing how painful and uncomfortable it was. The man I worked with told me he had tearsinhis eyes. I just wanted to share that I had mine done in my ENT’s Office by the doctor and I have to say it was no worse than a a blood test – he did two on only the largest nodule and again I didn’t feel anything….Just thought I’d share not to brag just to let other people it must depend on who is performing the procedure….Good luck to all -nOw I have to wait 10 days for the results!
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:15 am
Jean says:
Hi I recently went to an ear doctor because I was having trouble hearing out of my one ear. I thought if they were cleaned out it would be ok. Well the doctor looked in my ears and told me to go get a thyroid scan,i told him I always have blood work done for my thyroid and its always ok. He said you cant tell by the blood work alone. So I got a scan then had to go for a biopsy which was totaly painless except for holding my head a certain way. He was wonderful. Now the worst part waiting for the results. JC
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:07 pm
laura says:
back in 2005 after thinking I had asthma that never seemed to get better with meds and inhalers an MRI done at the end of 2004 showed a odd looking thyroid. April 05 i had surgery to remove the left side of my thyroid as i had a tumor the diameter of quarter on it. Needless to say I have worried ever since about the right side that also had some nodules on it but wasn’t that bad. Hello 2005 and the cough i had back in 2003 is back so is the nodule on my thyroid causing the cough. Now I’m a mom of a 3yr old and seem 10xs as worried as last time. it wasn’t cancer then but i worry that it could be now. Didn’t have the biopsy done before the last surgery because it was so big and causing such issues. I haven’t needed meds for my thyroid but sounds like i would do better with my fibro and exhaustion if i was. I’m really in a panic now about this and almost can’t wait till it’s over. just wanted to check your thoughts or anyone else’s. thanks for listening.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:20 am
A Mama's Blog says:
Laura,
I’m sorry this issue has come back for you. One thing I can think of right away is to have your doctor order your thyroglobulin level- if it at zero, or unreadable, it would be very, very, unlikely you have cancer. The last blog post I wrote, Good-bye to Cancer, (http://amamasblog.com/2009/10/26/good-bye-to-cancer/) I explain more about what the thyroglobulin levels mean.
A biopsy is the most accurate way to tell though. It was a bit painful, but it is far better to catch it early, if it does happen to be cancer than to put it off.
Good luck, and please keep me posted.
Heather
October 28th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Sandy says:
I just had mine done.
It all depends on the type of tumor you have.
If it is a soft type tumor it will go well.
If it has calficied you are in for a huge shock. Mine was one of the most terrible things I have experienced.
Mine was calficied and it took forever to do. Very painful. The type of cancer i have causes the tumors to get like stones and are very hard to asperate.
Go but pray its not medullar.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:09 am
Carole says:
Had my biopsy done yesterday. I have 3 nodules in my thyroid.
Doctor did the largest one that had increased in size just over one
inch since the ultasound loop done 6 mos ago. The needle with
the numbing solution was like a bee sting and the needle used
in the biopsy gives pressure as he inserted it into the nodule.
My neck is tender and sore last night and today but I think
that is normal. Test was not to bad.
January 12th, 2012 at 10:27 am
Vesna says:
OUCH!! I have a calcified cyst and I’m not long home from the biopsy. They took a bit of fluid and blood out but all the digging around was quite a shock and really quite painful. I have a high pain threshold and have recently had throat surgery so was expecting far less pain than I just experienced. Perhaps I’m lucky it was only 3 needles? I do wish I had known about the pain though given I have a bad cough at the moment and even swallowing hurts
I probably would have held off until next week.
Ouch :’( I’m icepacking now. Here’s hoping the pain subsides quickly and the pathology comes back all clear. Best of luck to others who are going through this too. Remember we are more than our noduley cysts
January 12th, 2012 at 7:17 pm