Thyroid Nodules And Possible Cancer.

[frenchiemama]

A few weeks ago, a doctor found one very large and two small nodules on my thyroid. The large one on the left is roughly an inch in diameter, and the two on the right are very small still.

I have had two biopsies of the larger lump (the smaller ones are too small to attempt) and both have come back showing abnormal cell growth but were ruled inconclusive.

This doctor has told me that the only options left to me are to either go ahead and have the surgery to find out for sure, or to just wait and see with additional biopsies periodically.

I haven't really had a second opinion by a specialist, but I had copies of everything sent to my regular doctor and she said that she agreed with doc #1. I've been trying to get in touch with her again to ask more questions, but I can't get her to call me back. I finally just made an appt for next monday (13th).

I'm just not sure what to do. My family is on me to get a second opinion, which of course I can't do until I can get a referral. I have read a TON of info that my aunt (medical librarian) sent me, and it all does seem to support the idea that the only choice remaining is the lobectomy (I guess I don't consider the "wait and see" to be much of an option. I'm uncomfortable with that idea.). Is it worth waiting a month or possibly more to get a second opinion? Are they actually going to tell me anything new?

One of my main questions is what is causing these nodules, but of course, if they are cancerous it doesn't much matter because I'd be getting rid of the entire thing anyway. I'm just not sure if it's worth it to wait and get a referral to another doctor (and what kind of other doctor? would an endocrinologist be helpful if it's cancer?) or if I should just bite the bullet and have the lobectomy. Is it possible that another doctor is going to have something radically different to tell me or is this pretty much my only option?

[mommida]

I am in no way a doctor, so this is just my opinion. The doctor will look at the tests all ready done and say there is no way to tell unless the procedure is performed and the tissue can be biopsied.

L.

[AmandaD]

Just from my experiences with medical things (and family members who've had to make decisions like this). Go in, get that thing out, figure out what's going on for sure and get on with your life. Thyroid cancer is incredibly curable/treatable.

Sounds like you have a good doc, also - that doc found the lumps and is working with you.

[sspitzer5]

Have you been diagnosed with Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid condition)? Nodules are common with Hashimoto's. I would definitely see an endocrinologist.

S

[AmandaD]

Frenchiemama - You're in Wisconsin, right (I am too...)

What group of docs do you see?

[Rusla]

Here is a story on nodules. Mine were inconclusive and I killed them with synthroid. However, a friend of mine had them and before they got them out one broke and spread down into her uterus and she had to have a hysterectomy at 28.

I suggest you get them out.

[frenchiemama]

Rusla - duly noted. That is precisely why I am not comfortable with "wait and see". Sure, it's rare to have it spread...but rare doesn't mean impossible. What if I am that one person on a thousand that has complications?

AmandaD - I am in the Marshfield system. Have been for years, and I've always been very happy. When I lived in the Madison area it was Dean Care.

And I've thought about the Hashimoto's thing, but I guess in my mind, the possible cancer trumps that. I mean, if I have potential cancer and I get my thyroid removed, no more Hashimoto's right? It's just gone? Does that affect any other part of the body if the thyroid is removed?

[georgie]

I have Hashimotos Thyroid and nodules. Armour and Iodine should shrink them. You may try that ? The larger nodule is a concern. Have you joined a Thyroid List to get info ?

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[frenchiemama]

I have Hashimotos Thyroid and nodules. Armour and Iodine should shrink them. You may try that ? The larger nodule is a concern. Have you joined a Thyroid List to get info ?

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No, I haven't joined any other group. I've been going by all of the medical journal articles and textbook excerpts that my auntie has been supplying me with.

At this point I don't know if I have some kind of thyroid disease like Hashimoto's. I very well may. But is it even worth pursuing? I mean, no more thyroid = no more thyroid disease, doesn't it? Or are there thyroid diseases that would attack other tissues if thyroid tissue is no longer present? This is what I don't really understand. The bottom line is that I may have cancer. I'm not going to wait around and find out the hard way, I'm going to go ahead and have the surgery. So do I still have to think about other thyroid conditions? I'm leaning toward not, but I'm no expert.

[georgie]

Carolyn, Nodules are common with some Thyroid conditions like Hashimotos. Cancer can happen too. I sent you a pm yesterday re a personal story of a lady in a situation like yours. She regretted ever having her Thyroid removed. Her advise was to be really sure before you take that step. Have another biopsy. The Thyroid is the master endocrine gland of the body and without it you will feel very ill. Other illnesses may occur. Please do your research on this and not from text books that may be 30 years old. If you do have to have your Thyroid removed then you will need replacement Thyroid forever , and it has to be the complete replacement. One girl I know that had her Thyroid removed - went from size 6 to size 18, and nearly died. She found the Thyroid List and saved her own life 'cos the Dr wasn't. She now take 11 grains of Armour and is back to health. But she lost 15 years of her life. Shall I get you in contact with her - she can talk of her experience. She has helped many people like you.

[frenchiemama]

Have another biopsy.

I've had two already. The nodule also grew 3 mm in one week between ultrasounds.

[georgie]

Carolyn, This is the reply from my friend. I have just read your last mail.... agree that it doesn't sound good but anyway - read Sam's mail. You will need good replacement Thyroid med if you take the surgery option. Sam can help you with that too.

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I'm not on the Celiac list, so could you cut and paste this to this

gal? Thanx - Sam

"Inconclusive" does NOT mean cancer. "Inconclusive" means they don't know

if it is or if it isn't which, to me means it's not. Thyroid cancer is

RARE, so please keep hat in mind. Also, from my own experience at being

without a thyroid, being without a thyroid is DREADFUL and definitely

worse than anything you can imagine, or are experiencing now. Believe me.

I've been without a thyroid since 1990.

What I do know is that nodules/goiter/thyroid problems are usually due to

Iodine Deficiency. Know that thyroid hormoens are made from iodine atoms

and when there isn't enough iodine in the body to go around, there isn't

enough to make enough thyroid hormones. The thyroid gland ends up

stressing and straining to make enough thyroid hormoens to keep the body

functining and alive, but failing, and as a result this causes nodules

(like a weight lifter lifting weights to make muscles bigger).

So what do we do? Give the body enough of ALL the thyroid hormones (via

desiccated porcine thyroid) so that the thyroid can rest and address the

iodine deficiency, and possibly take adrenal support if needed. Nodules

reduce and usually go away when this course is taken.

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Sam

[Jestgar]

I've had two already. The nodule also grew 3 mm in one week between ultrasounds.

That doesn't sound good.

When I had my thyroid removed I asked the surgeon to leave as much of it as possible. He said no problem, cut out everything that looked abnormal and ended up leaving just a little tiny piece. I take synthroid to suppress it, but I don't believe that that little gland only produces thyroxin (or whatever form it is). I have had no problems, even with fluctuating synthroid needs.

[frenchiemama]

"Inconclusive" does NOT mean cancer. "Inconclusive" means they don't know

if it is or if it isn't which, to me means it's not. Thyroid cancer is

RARE, so please keep hat in mind.

I'm sorry, but I have to completely disagree with this. I am well aware of the meaning of "inconclusive" and while it doesn't mean positive, it most certainly doesn't mean negative either. People with inconclusive biopsy results can and DO get positive results from the sections taken after surgery. As a celiac, I have more than 22 times the risk of getting papillary thyroid cancer as compared to the general population (this is from a recent study, I would be happy to provide references). I appreciate the fact that this person is trying to help me, but I'm just not willing to assume that I don't have cancer when I very well might. No matter how "rare" something is, it happens to someone.

The fact is, that this growth was not palpable at my last check up in March but was an inch across in October. That's just no good no matter who you are.

I will, however, look into those links regarding various thyroid replacement methods. Thank you for posting those, and thank your friend for providing them also.

[chrissy]

carolyn---i think i may have already told you this---but just in case......my husband also had an inconclusive biopsy on a thyroid nodule. he had surgery to remove half of his thyroid and do a frozen sample test---if positive the whole thyroid was going to come out. it was negative, so they left half his thyroid, but he takes thyroid meds to suppress his thyroid function, which is to help prevent anymore thyroid nodules. a few years later i ended up with thyroid nodules also. i did not have surgery--mine nodules were numerous and small---but i also take thyroid meds to suppress my thyroid function for the same reason as my husband. if we chose to, we could both stop meds and our thyroids would begin to function on their own again---but then we would be risking more nodule growth----and having to do the same thing all over again.

thyroid cancer is usually self-contained and very treatable---if that helps any.

[sspitzer5]

No, I haven't joined any other group. I've been going by all of the medical journal articles and textbook excerpts that my auntie has been supplying me with.

At this point I don't know if I have some kind of thyroid disease like Hashimoto's. I very well may. But is it even worth pursuing? I mean, no more thyroid = no more thyroid disease, doesn't it? Or are there thyroid diseases that would attack other tissues if thyroid tissue is no longer present? This is what I don't really understand. The bottom line is that I may have cancer. I'm not going to wait around and find out the hard way, I'm going to go ahead and have the surgery. So do I still have to think about other thyroid conditions? I'm leaning toward not, but I'm no expert.

Yes, it's worth checking. Getting a second opinion from an experienced endo is a must. Speaking from the view of someone with a thyroid problem, getting rid of it could create huge problems for your system. I would see that as an absolute last resort.

S

[key]

I have a friend's husband going through the same thing right now. He has decided to have the nodules out and his thyroid. He doesn't want to sit around worrying that it could be cancer. His has grown, but his biopsies were negative. I think that is the risk. The biopsies aren't always 100% accurate and they would rather make sure it isn't cancer.

He is having his surgery the 16th of this month. He is a worrier, so there is no chance he could sit around and "wait and see".

Hope you get everything figured out.

Monica

[frenchiemama]

He is a worrier, so there is no chance he could sit around and "wait and see".

Me too. Having had close family die from cancer, I just can't possibly "wait and see". It's just too much worry for me.