[Talley]

#1059934

I had a CT yesterday with IV contrast. I have a lymph node in my neck that has been swollen since at least October of last year. Doctor did an ultrasound in Feb and recommended at CT but I put it off.

My doctor called yesterday afternoon to tell me the radiologist called and is very concerned about “something” he saw at the lower edge of the CT in the Mediastinal area (upper chest). She said he thinks it looks like lymphoma. She had me come in right away for blood work and scheduled another CT for Monday.

I am wondering if this could be related to my thyroid? I know no one will have an answer for me, I’m just venting. I really HATE that this happened on a Friday and I have to wonder what is wrong all weekend. I HATE that she already contacted a Cancer Center and that they called me to get me “in the system”…I am sure they have a protocol to follow, but it’s really making me scared.

I looked up Mediastinal tumors on line and it does say that it could be a “thyroid mass mediastinal—generally a benign growth, but can sometimes be cancerous”. I think this is good…and I am hoping this is what the radiologist saw.

Thanks for listening. I have not been very good about treating my Graves. Maybe this is the “scare” that I need to start following my doctor’s tx protocol.

[Gabe]

#1178885

Talley. Wow, shame on doctors who drop bombs like that over the phone, especially on a Friday! Hope you are finding ways to keep your mind and body focused on positive activities this weekend. I wish you the best and hopefully whatever it is will be gone soon.
Happy thoughts!
Karen

[vanillasky]

#1178886

@Talley, I am no doctor, but I would definitely look into this in depth. I read this and don’t like the way it sounds.

My father had thyroid cancer. all it took was one little nodule in the center of gland and it caused big, big problems for him. A total thyroidectomy and then they said it invaded his vocal chords.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, see what is going on. No one wants to end up like poor Roger Ebert.

I don’t mean to scare you but when I read things like this, I am concerned!

Karen

[Talley]

#1178887

Thanks much:)

I will see the radiologist Monday and get another CT scan and hope it shows nothing of importance.

Again, I think I just need to “talk” about it…can’t talk at home with my husband because I don’t want the kids to hear and don’t really want to tell my friends since it may be nothing.

Going to a cinco de mayo party tonight – that should get my mind off things;)

Thanks again!

[Kimberly]

#1178888

Wow, agree with Gabe’s comment that this was a really awful bombshell to drop on a Friday afternoon. Hope that things go well today…please keep us posted!

[snelsen]

#1178889

HI from Shirley
Well, I think that it was the right thing to do, for the doc to call you on Friday. I realize others disagree. I’d want to “talk” about it too, but not to family and friends. There’s really nothing to say right now.

There is an area of concern, and to schedule things in a timely and expedient manner, and for you to be able to plan to be seen for labs and tests on Monday, that is what was needed to be done, the way I see it,

Radiologists see lots of stuff that we would never know about if we did not have these tests. And a lot of it is to use their phrase, and perhaps not so out of line to use it, is “unremarkable.”

From that way I see life, I sure as crap would not have liked to get that call on a Monday, with the possibility of scheduling, either from they side or yours, being more problematic. I think he was doing exactly the right thing, and the call was in the best interest of your health.

It’s true that you have certainly been thinking about it this weekend, but if it were me, that is exactly the way I’d want it to happen. The radiologist read it. He actually contacted your doc on a Friday afternoon. Your doc followed up with what he/she thought was the right thing for you.

I wish you the best, and I imagine there will be a bit of waiting at the beginning of the week for the labs and repeat CT.

You did the right thing! Hope you had a heck of a good time at cinco de mayo! Seems it is celebrated for days and days in some places. Fun.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Shirley

[cmac]

#1178890

I am totally with Shirley’s take on this one. Not tell a patient something because it might ruin their weekend? I don’t see it that way, from either a medical ethics or practical treatment angle. I want to know everything affecting me ASAP. Unless the patient is a child or psychologically vulnerable person, they should be told all pertinent info ASAP. Isn’t the more common complaint that docs condescend to patients and don’t keep them in the loop? Seems like they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

Most importantly, Talley, I hope you get better news this week.

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