Help-Should I do Surgery...or not

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Help-Should I do Surgery...or not
8
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 11:41am
I have a 3.8cm colloid nodule on my thyroid. It is a cold nodule. All my levels are fine however. It doesn't seem to be doing any harm, other than I can somewhat feel it inside my throat, which causes me to gag. It's also pretty large, comparitively, from what I understand. I found out all this last month, and dr recommended I come back in one month to see if it has increased in size. At this point, I don't know how fast this has developed, or if it's been this way for years..no symptoms really. Dr would do surgery only due to the size, and any discomfort related. He is however comfortable (if after this 1 month appt-appears everything is the same), in just getting checked every 6 mos. Last month I had it in my head that no matter what I was going to say I want the surgery. I am a cancer freak, and scared of it. My mom has had cancer 2x, and is once again in the process of possibly being diagnosed with cancer again (horribly enough, possible bone cancer, which has already dissolved a large portion of her femer bone). Any advice from experience, or knowledge? Tips? I'm second guessing the surgery now, for one, I can't really afford to have this done (I have horrible health insurance), and for two, I'm scared of surgery. ANY responses are more than appreciated.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-26-2006
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 12:29pm

I am sure you are scared and confused but hopefully these boards will help alittle bit. My levels were fine and I had a small cold nodule but still had cancer. If this cancer is caught early, you can be CURED.. I can't give you medical advise but from my experience and others on the board, so with your instinct. You can survive without a thyroid and be just fine. That nodule has a 20% chance to becoming cancer in the future. I would discuss it with your dr more and share your concerns. THe surgery itself is not bad at all and my scar is so nice and unnoticeable. I also side on the cautious side and become proactive. I personnally wouldn't feel comfortable with the wait and see game. As soon as I found out I had to have my thyroid removed, I was in surgery in a week. Even though it is VERY slow growing, I didn't want to waste anytime.
Let us know what you decide...

Hugs to you!!

Dyan :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 2:05pm
Thanks for your reply! I should add that I have had the nuclear scan, and a fine needle biopsy, and it is non-cancerous at the present time. I don't want anyone to think that I haven't had that testing done so far. I just don't know what to do..
Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 8:08pm

Hi Mistyjks,


That's a tough decision especially since your biopsy came back benign.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 12:39pm
I went back for the follow up today. Expressed my concerns, and the minimal discomfort. Dr went over some pros/cons about my situation and surgery. I opted for the surgery. It is scheduled on 2/8. I did have one question that I didn't get to really ask about..as we were leaving dr said he was sending my biopsy for freeze______(something or other), to determine if there was any cancer, and that if there was, we would have to remove the other side of my thryoid. I don't understand, I thought the fine needle aspiration and biopsy (that came back benign) determined no cancer. (Of course I know there is always a chance), but I don't understand why if there was more testing that could be done, it wasn't at that point in time.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-26-2006
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 2:24pm

My FNA came back benign also but when I had the nodule and 1/2 my thyroid removed, it came back benign again, BUT when they sent it to a high tech lab for a second opinion, that's when it came back cancer. Insist on them sending it our for a second opinion. Usually the hospitals path is accurate but when caught extremely early like mine, sometime you need an extra test.

Good luck and you will be fine...
Dyan :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-10-2007
Wed, 01-10-2007 - 6:35pm

Hi,

I am sorry to hear what you are going thru, but I can completely understand I have a 3cm cold nodule on my right lobe and 1.7 cm on my left I have had them for two years 1 1/2 yrs ago my FNA biopsy was benign now is sucpicious though it has not grown, and my labs have alwyas been normal but cells have changed. They say that 85% of all nodules are benign, but my docs have suggested mine come out so next week I am scheduled for my right lobe to be removed. I have had extenstive testing on my nodules (3 biopsys FNA, 3ultrasounds, radio uptake) PLease make sure your docs does the FNA biopsy very important and honestly if I could go back and do it over I would of had mine removed two years. I am scared to pieces about the surgery and finding out what it is but the waiting and the unknown is the worst!!!!, dont let it sit in there. I have had to changed docs so dont be afraid to get a second opinion your is very large, please don't take chances try and get answers not lets just watch it. Best of lucko nyour decision, let me know if I can answer any questions for you :).

Kelly

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2006
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 10:48pm

Hi,

I went every 6 months to have my thyroid checked because of nodules in the right and left lobes. Lab work, FNA, uptake all normal. But the nodule on the right about 3cm was causing discomfort in my neck and throat so I opted for the surgery and only the right was removed. Still have a 1.5cm nodule on the left but it is benign. It really was okay - it was painful for a couple of days and then tylenol worked just fine. Peace of mind is well worth having the surgery. Now I have a scar that is very small and the left lobe is compensating so no meds so far. It is important to be confident with your surgeon. Prayers are sent your way to help with your decison.

lrkay

Avatar for daggs170
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 01-12-2007 - 11:04am

I can relate to your problem as I went through the same thing a few years back--my testing didn't show anything except benign and I was told not to worry. Testing went on every year, and 14 years later the nodule started to swell up in my neck everytime I lifted something, even my pocketbook. So I happened to tell my dr. and he sent me for more testing, (my original testing for 14 years was through my pcp, and now I was talking to my surgeon) and he didn't see anything wrong with the test results, but the hospital looked up my records and told him I have had this for 14 years, and wow, did he have a different attitude about the whole thing. Benign, as it showed, he insisted that I have it taken out.

Don't play the wait and see game, as I am a firm believer that it can turn bad in time, and I had a partial and when tested it did show ca but the surgeon said not to worry because he got it all out. Uh huh, 6 months later, normal routine testing now showed that I still had ca cells in the bed of my thyroid--so back for a TT but this time I went to a thyroid oncologist surgeon in Boston and my own surgeon sent me in there as he knew he couldn't handle it the way a specialist in that field could. Anyway, by waiting, the nodule grew into quite a size those 14 years, and because of that it was wrapped around one of my vocal cords so now I have a permanently paralyzed vocal cord; it was so close to my parathyroids that two parathyroids had to be taken out; it was wrapped around a "strap" to my clavicle so that had to be taken out. I am fine now, and have passed 10½ yrs since the TT, my 2nd surgery.

My advice--don't wait, get it done. You will be fine and can live without a thyroid, and sometimes even with all the testing the ca cells still don't show up. Good luck. Bea

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