Getting the Results
The hardest part of dealing with thyroid cancer is the unknown, and the waiting for the known. Once I know what's going to happen, I handle it well.
Lynda, Toronto, ON
The time it takes to get the results back from testing will vary per hospital and lab. The results will be reported to you by your doctor. In most centres it takes a week to ten days to get the results of a biopsy. If a diagnosis of thyroid cancer is made, then surgery is the next step. In some instances surgery is recommended even when the biopsy has come back normal or inconclusive, because of the suspicious nature of the nodule. The post-surgery report and pathology report will provide much more detailed information about the type of cancer (if any) and where it was located.
The Diagnosis and Prognosis
Questions you may want to ask your doctor after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer:
What kind of thyroid cancer do I have?
Has my cancer spread beyond my thyroid gland?
Do I need all or part of my thyroid gland removed?
What treatments are available, and which are best for me?
What risks and side effects can I expect from my treatment?
How long will it take me to recover from treatment?
What are the chances that my cancer will recur?
It is very common to have many questions after receiving the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. It is a good idea to write down your questions and take the list with you to the doctor's office. Don't hesitate to ask if you need additional clarification of your doctor's explanations. It can be challenging to absorb and understand all the new information in quick medical appointments. It may be helpful to have a family member or friend accompany you to the appointment so that they can write down the doctor's replies to your questions. It is easy to forget information when you are under stress and in an unfamiliar situation. Doctors can provide copies of tests and reports upon request. Educating yourself and your family about your disease will make it more manageable and less frightening.
Maintaining a log of appointments and a file with your test results or reports can help you understand and participate in your treatment. Keep copies of your reports in a file folder or binder including: biopsy, surgical report, pathology report, treatment reports and test results such as blood work. Some patients prefer to keep track of their appointments in a journal by using a computer generated spread sheet or a separate book. For a sample of a patient file and journal, please see www.thryvors.org/Resources.html.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this website does not constitute medical advice. Visitors are encouraged to work closely with their doctors to make sure that their individual medical needs are met. The Canadian Thyroid Cancer Support Group (Thry'vors) Inc. does not endorse any product, treatment, service or practitioner and is not responsible for the quality of the information or services offered by other organizations or websites.
© Canadian Thyroid Cancer Support Group (Thry'vors) Inc.