r/thyroidcancer

I’m a 28F and was diagnosed with thyroid cancer about 2 months ago. I had my whole thyroid removed on july 24th and since then been on levothyroxine 112mcg. I was doing amazingly well up until last week. Now I started feeling a lot of fatigue, depression like symptoms. Is this somewhat normal? I really don’t know what to do

It’s been a little bit since I posted an update on how things are going for me. I still have no insurance, but it looks like the hospital a couple hours away updated their financial assistance program and my application was finally approved. I talked with my surgeon today via virtual visit.

The surgeon wants to biopsy a lymph node on the right side (so far only the left side has had anything biopsied). The current plan is a total thyroidectomy, left central neck dissection, and left modified radical neck dissection levels 2-4, with the possibility for the right side as well if the biopsy shows anything over there.

Waiting to hear back from scheduling to move forward more, but glad it’s not standing still like it has been for so many months now.

In 2024, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I went through the whole experience alone. My mom was there but is emotionally unavailable. Right before I got diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I was feeling extremely faint. I couldn't take hot showers, and I love hot showers, without feeling severely dizzy and out of breath. I didn't know what was wrong. So I got out of the shower with just my towel on and lay on the floor of my room to stop feeling like I was going to pass out. I tried telling my mom this, but she didn't care. She was upset that I didn't actually take a shower. She told me, "Do you actually want to go to the doctor?" I was going to just say no. I felt defeated, like I do now. I felt she didn't care. I felt no one cared, but I went anyway and then ultimately got diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Even now, my mom doesn't believe my symptoms, even though my entire thyroid is gone. She believes just by drinking tea and taking aspirin, I'll be better. After the surgery, she immediately left, and I was in the room by myself. This was my first ever surgery. Then, at one of my endo appointments, I was panicking. I was scared it had come back, and the only thing she commented on was my shoes being dirty. When I got upset, she left and handed me a magazine about physical health.

All my appointments, I've been alone. My fine needle appointment follow up to check my lymph nodes, I was alone. My mom actually asked me if she could wait in the car while I got it done, even though I was scared. I spent the whole time before surgery in my room not eating. No one called, no one checked up on me, and no one asked how I was. I realized at this time how truly alone I was and severely regressed. Every small gain I had was driven back. Now I'm about to lose my job, which is the only thing I have, really.

There are other things in my life that are bad. I have 2 personality disorders, OCD, severe depression, and social anxiety. The only family I got is my mom and my brother, who is severely handicapped mentally and nonverbal. Never had grandparents on either side of my family. My dad is alive but has abandoned me. He is not a bad guy, I guess. He should just never have had kids.

My brother has no empathy, really, at all. His world is very small, and he only really likes watching cartoons and Supernanny for some reason. He is 27. Right after I got surgery and I came home a day later, he had a meltdown and was screaming at the top of his lungs. I don't know why. He doesn't usually do that, so I don't know.

My whole life, I've been neglected by every adult. So many adults in my life, I'm sure, saw something was wrong, but I guess it wasn't their business, so they let me be. Now I'm an adult, and I'm just dysfunctional. I don't have the willpower to pull myself out of this misery all by myself. I could go on. I dont know if I want to die, I think I want my life to get better. I don't die because im afraid to. I dont die because I hope one day I will have someone who loves me and cares about me and checks up on me. But I look at myself now, on top of this big keloid on my neck and if I saw myself even I wouldn't want anything to do with me.

Pain on parts that were numb. Previous anyone else feel this hair hurts to touch.

I have to go through a radio iodine test to see if it is infact cancer. Same type of radio iodine for the cancer treatments, but in a smaller does for testing.

Im just so tired of it all. I just got the restricted diet paperwork, and I'm already depressed just thinking about going through that again. Im tired before even starting things.

P.S. I was 17 in 2011 when I first went through my thyroid cancer. Im 33 (34 come September 4th).

Have any of you experienced very itchy eyes post RAI. It’s been 7 weeks for me and it kicked off real fast and been very itchyyyyyyyy.

Hi everyone,

My father has thyroid cancer. He already had surgery and radiotherapy, but unfortunately neither worked as hoped. He has now started Lenvima (lenvatinib).

I would really like to hear from people who have been through something similar.

What was your experience with Lenvima? Did it help shrink or control the cancer? What helped you during the treatment, especially with side effects?

Any personal stories, advice or things that helped you through the process would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

I’m 9 months past TT with right lateral neck dissection, and almost 8 months past RAI (150 mCi with rTSH).

The last 5 months we’ve been gradually increasing my Levo dosage. Since I’m high risk, the goal is to get my TSH suppressed to <0.1. I feel like it’s taking a lot of time to get there.

I’m currently on 150 mg of Levo, and TSH has finally dropped significantly and currently sits at 1.3 mIU/L. fT4 has raised to 26.9 pmol/L (= 2.09 ng/dL). I’m starting to feel some minor symptoms like dizziness, fasciculations and light tremors and some wieght loss. It’s all quite manageble, but I’m wondering how much I can expect this to raise further and when/if the symptoms will increase.

I can’t seem to find any literature as to what’s an expected T4 level to get TSH suppressed. Only that T4 will need to sit at a ‘high normal’ range or slightly above.

So my question to you all: What are your T4 levels while being TSH suppessed? And do you have any symptoms?
Fwiw: I’m M37 and 77kg (170 lbs).

I had ptc and ftc and had RAI plus a pretty drastic neck dissection in 2021. I’ve been in remission for almost 6 years and don’t get me wrong I’m super grateful, but you can see it in my face. Pale where I used to be tan, big dark circles. I feel like Goob from meet the Robison. I’m 26f and I already have gray hair. All my labs are fine though, which is frustrating

I have my thyroid surgery today, I'm having the left lobe of my thyroid removed and the bridge between the two lobes.

I'm feeling so incredibly anxious, if anyone else here has had it done and has any kind words or advice to share I would be most grateful.

Anxiety brain is getting the best of me!!!

I found out on Thursday that although my biopsy scored a 4, the consultant is treating it as cancer because it’s very suspicious and he likely thinks it is cancer. I had my pre op on Friday and i will have a hemithyrodectomy on the 25th, so all really quick to process (I’m Audhd for context)
This weekend has just entailed being strong for everyone else and I’ve done a pretty good job. The consultant has said I’m going to be fine and live a long healthy life however, it is still scary isn’t it? I feel so in shock - a lot of my family have had different forms of cancer and I lost my dad too it so I feel like it feels like the beginning of the end in a way for me?
Today has been the first day I’ve truly let myself feel the situation and I spoke to my manager and his words where ‘your just getting in your own head your going to be fine’ and it’s kinda made me feel so invalid in how I’m feeling, yes I’m going to be fine and yes I feel so lucky to be in the situation but yes I’m also only 26 and this is a really shit situation to still be in, especially with the unknown as someone who craves certainty.

Anyway, funnily enough the week before I got offered a new job, my notice period is three months. I guess the uncertainty of how these next few weeks is going to look is worrying me and whether or not I should even take the new job?
What should I expect for life after surgery? They are unsure yet whether I will need further treatment but if so, how long did yours take? Do you think taking a new position would’ve been silly for you? It’s legal work so mainly computer based.
I would love just any advice please. Thank you!

Did anyone have an extreme impending sense of doom leading up to their thyroid surgery? I’m having half my thyroid removed next week and have such a horrible feeling that feels like intuition. I know it’s just anxiety but I’ve ever been so scared before and have had multiple procedures in my life.

Is this a universal experience?

Anyone have a good outcome after showing Pax8/ppary on affirma?
I’m anxious af waiting for my survgery and could use some reassurance .
I have a 2.5 year old girl and want to live a long life for my baby 😭

Hi everyone- I have a family member undergoing lobectomy surgery next week and wanted to get ideas for a care package. What did you need on hand after your surgery? Thank you in advance 💕

Hi everyone. I’m 22 and I’m looking for people who have had a similar experience.
I was initially diagnosed with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (7 mm) and had my **first surgery, during which my thyroid was removed**. I was told that because the primary tumor was very small, the risk of significant spread was low.
I recently had a **second surgery**, this time to remove the central neck lymph nodes. The pathology was much more concerning than I expected: **7/7 lymph nodes removed were positive for metastasis**, with the largest metastatic focus measuring **12 mm**. However, there was **no extranodal extension (ENE)**.
My lateral neck lymph nodes have not been confirmed as metastatic. There were some suspicious nodes on ultrasound, but these were removed, and a Tg washout from one of the suspicious lateral nodes was **negative**.
I’m now going to have radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment.
I’m particularly worried about whether there could still be microscopic disease in the lateral lymph nodes, and whether RAI could eliminate microscopic iodine-avid disease without needing a lateral neck dissection.
**Has anyone had a similar situation, especially having 7/7 central lymph nodes positive after a second surgery, but no confirmed lateral metastases?**
Did you have RAI? Did you eventually need a lateral neck dissection? What happened to your Tg and ultrasound results afterward?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through something similar.

Hi all,
I had a total thyroidectomy 4 days ago and something I didn’t really anticipate was the weakness and dizziness that came with recovery. When did it get better for you? I’m only on day 3 of medication, and my doctor has me taking tums for this initial recovery period for the calcium, although they left my parathyroid glands in. Anything I can do to help recovery? When can I expect it to get better. I was really active and marathon training before surgery and I just feel so run down