Routine Checkup Leads to Unexpected Cancer Diagnosis

Andrea Pugh-Kelley, an environmental scientist from Tallahassee, Florida, recently received a surprising diagnosis of a rare thyroid cancer following a routine gynecologist appointment.

During her visit, Pugh-Kelley’s gynecologist conducted a thorough examination, including a breast exam and other typical gynecological assessments, but also checked her throat unexpectedly.

“I had never noticed anything abnormal with my thyroid or had an abnormal neck check,” Pugh-Kelley remarked. During a casual conversation, her gynecologist recommended an ultrasound and thyroid panel after suspecting a swollen nodule and potential thyroiditis.

Pugh-Kelley was diagnosed with oncocytic thyroid cancer, or Hurthle cell carcinoma, which often remains undetected until it grows large enough to impact other areas. The Cleveland Clinic states that this aggressive cancer is generally identified during routine checkups.

Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, a painful lump below the Adam’s apple, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and weight loss.

Pugh-Kelley expressed uncertainty about when it would have been discovered if not for her gynecologist’s vigilance. She had returned to her regular practitioner after dissatisfaction with other healthcare providers and was surprised at the tumor’s size.

Following her diagnosis, Pugh-Kelley noticed symptoms such as discomfort when swallowing and progressive raspiness in her voice.

She underwent a robotic thyroidectomy, revealing a solid Hurthle cell carcinoma. Currently, further tests are being conducted to check thyroid levels, but no further treatment is expected.

Pugh-Kelley acknowledged how easily she could have skipped her appointment, noting it is common for women, especially mothers, to neglect their own health while focusing on their children.

Her biopsy results, with prominent oncocytic changes, shocked her gynecologist.

Grateful for the thoroughness of her gynecologist, Pugh-Kelley hopes her story encourages others to schedule every necessary health appointment.

“Specialists are trained to look for things that you may not even know to look for,” she advised.

Pugh-Kelley pointed out racial disparities in thyroid cancer, noting that while less common in Black women, these patients face higher risks of advanced disease and lower survival rates.

A study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism underlines the disparity in thyroid care and calls for action to address these inequities.

The American Cancer Society highlights that thyroid cancer is significantly more common in women and less prevalent among Black people compared to other groups.

Pugh-Kelley’s message for healthcare professionals emphasized the value of thoroughness.

“To the physicians who wonder whether taking the extra minute, asking the extra question, or looking a little closer really matters: it does,” she stated.