I'm sorry to hear you've had some unsettling news. I had half of my thyroid removed 2 years ago due to a 4cm lump. I had the FNA prior to this which came back as "suspicious" . Luckily my hurthle cell adenoma was benign.
Nobody would choose to have an operation , however your surgeon has your best interest at heart.
Why does your surgeon think it could be cancerous?
Thyroid cancer is easily treated if caught in time . Surely it's a no brainer Brenda ? Have it removed and get rid of it . The operation is not to bad at all, and my scar is almost invisible . Good luck!
Recovery was very quick actually. Just a very sore throat when I are/swallowed for the first few days. I was back to work in a fortnight . You will be fine . I was in hospital for a day . I went in at 07.30 and was allowed home at 1900 . Some surgeons like a stay overnight , but I felt fine . I have just started thyroxine , nearly three years later. Don't be fobbed off if you feel tired etc all the time after your op. After seeing alot of GP 's who insisted my bloods were 'normal' I paid to see and endo consultant who started me on thyroxine . He was amazing . Treat the patient not the numbers! ... Good luck Hun , let me know how it goes
Surgeons know one thing: how to operate. I haven't yet met one surgeon who wouldtell someone not to go under the scalpel. Hope there are members in our forum who have more experience than me who would be able to advice you but at the end of the day it's your body, your decision. I was told that thyroid cancer is easily treatable. Being under total anaesthetics has its own risks. I don't understand why one can't have an MRI instead of having an operation.
I'm on the south coast ... West Sussex. š bit far for you to come and see my endo consultant. Truly an amazing guy. Professor Michael Cummings . Keep well Brenda and let me know how you get on! X Lisa
I know it is a scan but my message says 'instead' of an operation. I mean that one should be able to have an MRI and be sure if we're dealing with cancer or not. I asked my doctor why can't MRI be used but I am not sure I understood the reason why.
Clutter, I mean exactly that: to help with the diagnosis. It will be by far less invasive than an operation with all the eventual side effects. If no cancer is to be found after an operation, then the patient has already lost half of the thyroid and maybe also two of the parathyroid glands as well (according to what my endo warned me about).
Rebec, I would have suggested further FNA testing may be preferable to rushing to surgery but CentralParkLady has also had a nuclear scan indicating potential malignancy.
Thyroid surgery is complicated and there is always a risk of parathyroid damage or loss and of damage to the vocal chords but that has to be balanced against the danger of malignancy spreading outside of the thyroid gland to nearby lymph nodes and organs.
So sorry to hear that you will have to have surgery. It must be so worrying. I can't really comment as I have never known anybody have the operation. If the surgeon says that this is the case I'm afraid you will have to go ahead with it. I believe it is quite a straight forward op so grit your teeth and go for it. Not a nice decision, but if you are otherwise healthy I am sure you will get through it with flying colours. The very best of luck to you.
CentralParkLady, Ultrasound scans can show that a nodule looks suspicious but a fine needle aspiration biopsy is needed to confirm the presence of malignant cells.
Have you had an FNA? What was the result? Also, does the nodule cause you any pain or make swallowing or breathing difficult?
Sorry for all the questions but it will help advise you if you can answer them.
In the meantime, IF there is malignancy, thyCa is very slow growing so you have time to consider options and don't have to be rushed into making a decision.
I have had the FNA and it was inconclusive, so I had the nuclear medicine scan. So have had all the tests and the surgeon wants to operate, so as everyone is saying its a no brainer. Will I end up being hypo clutter?
I had a total thyroidectomy last December, my sister had half hers out few weeks before mine as an urgent case 're a suspect biopsy. Both our ops were fine and both clear of cancer. However at the moment she is having no problems with thyroid levels and doesn't need tablets while I've been struggling and still not back to normal. She was given the choice of hemi or full thyroidectomy with the consultant recommending the half removal which she reluctantly chose (as worried about having to have a second op if cancer found) Shes
Sorry didn't finish. Was going to say my sister is happy with choice now as would b struggling to cope with 3kids and a house move if she felt like me. I've only been up few hours doing light housework and now back in bed as shattered.
Anyway so I suppose you should take your circumstances into account when making your decision.
I wish you well, sure you will b fine it's a very common op these days so they know what they're doing.
RFU, there's no need for total thyroidectomy for micropapillary thyroid cancer. If a surgeon agreed to prescribe NDT that wouldn't be binding on the endocrinologist or GP who took over the patient's care.
I guess I'm also a warning story, as I had mine out almost exactly 2 ago, and am still off work and struggling.
Unfortunately I don't really know know what alternatives the are, but think Clutter is right, that you have plenty of of time.
10 to 20% chance of cancer sounds very low. I was sure mine was cancer at the the time I had it out, and I think I would feel very cheated to have lost two years of my life, thousands of pounds in income, relationships, etc, and it had turned out not to be cancer!
Another funny issue that shouldn't be important but in the the end is - if you've had cancer you do have an easier time making your case with later doctors, benefits people, work, etc. You will be legally disabled. But if you lose your thyroid, are very sick, but didn't have cancer, will you still have those entitlements? I fear the stereotype is that it's quite an easy op, with few long term consequences.
Another big question I would ask, is are you unwell today? I started to get a lot more tired in the months leading up to my op, was having to leave the gym early, getting headaches and dizziness at the end of the work day, etc.
If you don't have any symptoms, you really are free to take some time over it. If I were you I would definitely get a second opinion - not from just anyone, look at the Thyroid UK list of recommended doctors - be prepared to pay for private if necessary . And if it's possible to wait and get another FNA later to confirm, do that. As others up - thread have said, surgeons are knife happy. I've heard many stories of people with any little lump going under the knife and losing their precious thyroid forever !
You might also ask your surgeon if they are willing to to prescribe Liothyronine. It's the faster acting, active form of thyroxine, and most people with no thyroid really need need some of it in addition to the the levothyroxine they will always give out.
I was 33 and pretty fit when I went in in for my op. The op itself is quite straightforward. My fitness has definitely helped me cope with being bedbound - I'm flexible and can still feel strength in in my muscles even though I am very weak. But it definitely didn't prevent it!
Sorry to hear this. I'm in a similar situation & have a 3 cm nodule on my right side, still waiting to find out if it's cancerous. A fellow sufferer has recommended ethanol injections (PEI) as a safer alternative to surgery & RAI. She had this done in Italy & fully recovered quite quickly. I'm looking into this now but can't find much about it in UK. It's mostly done in Italy apparently.
Please watch the video by someone who truthfully relates that your body has certain reasons for doing what it does. It makes sense that a doctor should respect the body before destroying part of it. There is too much ignorance regarding thyroid conditions.
Brenda, lots of good advice especially Clutter, please please get a Fine Needle Aspiration. I had (and still have ) multinodular thryoid and am in remission from Graves. I was told about cancer suspicion but after initial shock chose fna, so glad I did it was fine. I am now free of drugs (touching wood) and take more responsibility for my health.... surgeons will cut and go, you have to live forever with results so decide with all knowledge and trepidation.
Keep a Positive Attitude and if Cancer is Diagnosed and You Would Use Medical Cannabis, Look into Getting Ricky Simpson Oil, It Attacks and KILLS CANCER CELLS! ! STAY POSITIVE ALWAYS! ! GOOD LUCK AND I WILL SAY A PRAYER FOR YOU! !
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