Nodule Archives

20 Feb 2025

18 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer: Nodes, Nodules, Lesions (and false alarms!)

Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Survivorship, The NET Effect Series, TreatmentAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Axillary nodes, Carcinoid syndrome, Carcinoid tumour, Distant metastatis, Hypothyroidism, Ki-67, Levothyroxine, Lung nodule, Lymphadenectomy, Lymphatic system, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Nodule, Octreoscan (Octreotide scan), Quality of LIfe (QoL), Sternoclavicular joint, Supraclavicularfossa (SCF) lymph nodes, Surgery, Thyroid cancer

A fairly common disposition of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms is a primary with associated local/regional secondary's (e.g. lymph nodes), and often with liver metastases. Technically speaking, the liver is distant. However, many metastatic patients appear to have additional and odd appearances in even more distant places, including (but not limited to) the extremities and the head & neck. Certain things are known about the behaviour of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) (a term for Neuroendocrine Tumours and Neuroendocrine Carcinoma) and specialists will be analysing many factors when working out the type of NEN and how it might behave. This is useful in cases of…

Thyroid nodules – something or nothing?

Patient AdvocacyNodule, Thyroid, Thyroid cancer, Thyroid nodule

I came across this excellent summary of Thyroid nodules from the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons which links to a similar European one. It confirms much of what I wrote in my blog post "Troublesome Thyroids" in regard to my own thyroid issues. I'm thankful to the AAES for promoting this on social media. I wanted to focus on the issue of Thyroid nodules given I see these mentioned all the time in my online patient group. Clearly, when you already have a cancer diagnosis, the discovery of more issues on top of that is of concern to patients. Many…

It’s been 10 years since I saw a scalpel (….but my surgeon is still on speed dial)

Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Survivorship, TreatmentAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Axillary nodes, Carcinoid tumour, Distant metastatis, Endocrine, Ki-67, Lung nodule, Lymphadenectomy, Lymphatic system, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Nodule, Octreoscan (Octreotide scan), Quality of LIfe (QoL), Supraclavicularfossa (SCF) lymph nodes, Surgery, Thyroid cancer

In 2012, I had a bunch of lymph nodes removed. Two separate areas were resected, only one was showing growth but both were showing up as hotspots on an Octreoscan. I had known since shortly after diagnosis in 2010 that 'hotspots' were showing in my left 'axillary' lymph nodes (armpit) and my left 'supraclavicular fossa' (SCF) lymph nodes (clavicle area). Some 10 months previously, I had a major liver resection, and 5 months prior to the liver resection, I had a small intestinal primary removed including work on some associated complications. There had always been a plan to optimise cytoreduction of my…

Tag: Nodule