Thyroid surgery alternative?

[Liz1969]

As part of a dental check up earlier in the year my dentist said my glands were swollen and I should get it checked out. I hadn’t noticed or felt anything. I had an ultrasound which showed 2 nodules on one half of my thyroid. I’ve now had a needle aspiration and a biopsy, both of which have been inconclusive so the hospital have recommended taking out half my thyroid. I really don’t want surgery but obviously I don’t want it to be cancer either, but once they have taken it out if it is benign it can’t be put back! I feel like the hospital are rushing me into surgery, surely if it was cancer something should have shown up in the tests/blood tests etc. Are there any alternatives? I have private medical cover through my job but haven’t used it so far but would the outcome be any different going private?(hospital is saying operation early in the new year so waiting time on the NHS isn’t an issue).

[bantam12]

Having half a thyroid isn't necessarily an issue, I had half mine removed at 18 because of Graves' disease, the other half worked perfectly well for 30 years. Personally if there was any possibility of cancer then I would be hot footing it to theatre !

[cjrsquared]

Have you had any radioactive isotope uptake scans? How big are the nodules? Have you been given the option of a ‘watch and wait’ scenario with regular ultrasounds to monitor? This can be an option depending on the results of the other tests. That said I was given a low probability of cancer, was observed for 5 years then had to have a TT due to growth of nodules and one was found to be cancerous. Don’t let the hospital rush you into surgery, see if you can make another appointment with the consultant to get more information with some facts and figures before making any definite decision.

[Liz1969 in reply to cjrsquared]

Thanks - nothing else offered which is why I feel rushed into surgery. Very much a case of well we've tried two biopsies and that didn't work so lets just cut it out.