In Autumn 2020 I began to notice a change in my voice. Adrian also noticed and suggested that I contact the Doctor.
This was during lockdown, but I was given a telephone consultation with the surgery. I was told that it was most likely something innocuous such as reflux, but as the voice symptom could also possibly be cancer related, I was given a referral to see ENT at Worthing within 2 weeks.
At the appointment, I had a nasoendoscopy which is basically a camera up your nose and pushed down to examine the laryngeal area. The Dr asked me to wait whilst he looked at the computer. I was quite convinced that he was working out how to tell me some bad news and I prepared myself accordingly.
In the event, he explained that he was surprised to see that my right vocal cord appeared to be paralysed and that it was likely due to Muscle Tension Dysphonia. To double-check that everything was OK lower down, he arranged a CT scan.
I had an appointment to return and discuss the results of the scan, but beforehand, the consultant rang me and explained that the CT scan had shown a shadow in the area of my thyroid and that before seeing me, I should have an Ultrasound scan where they would possibly do a biopsy as well. Then he would see me after that.
At the Ultrasound scan the practitioner saw 2 “suspicious” lumps, 1cm and 1.5cm in the right hand side of my thyroid gland. She took pictures and also went ahead with taking samples from each lump for a biopsy.
It was another couple of weeks before I saw the consultant again. He explained that the lumps may or may not be malignant, but that anyway, he would like to remove them. He would remove at least the right half of my thyroid gland along with the offending lumps. During the surgery he would then make a decision as to whether to go ahead and remove the whole thyroid gland, and possibly any other affected tissue.
My next appointment was to arrange the surgery. A Macmillan nurse showed me in and asked if I had come alone. I thought it a little strange as it was during lockdown and I had been asked to come alone. A stock question I suppose! I was a little surprised to be seen by a different but equally caring consultant. It was explained that with the passing of time that the samples had now been confirmed as being malignant and so we were now “calling it cancer”, and that he would be removing the whole thyroid gland.
I was told that it was stage 2. I.e. it had spread a little outside the thyroid gland. Because of this I would also be given radioiodine treatment which specifically targets thyroid cancer.
The surgery was arranged for April 2021 in Brighton. It actually wasn’t a shock as I already knew I would be having surgery and the process had taken several steps enabling me to adjust along the way.
I went home and waited for Adrian to get back to share the news!
I’m not superstitious but somewhat amusingly, I received the diagnosis on April 1st!
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