Worried about thyroid nodule size

[Eternity6]

Just had letter back from hosp stating that my recent thyroid biopsy didn’t obtain any cells so I’m due another biopsy. Waiting to hear now of the appointment date. Said in the letter the last measurement in 2012 was 2.5cmx1.5cm. But measured last week it was 2.6cm x1.9cm .i had two needle biopsies in 2012 they were benign just hoping n praying this next one is too

[Greekchick]

Hi Ruby,

The good news is that your nodule has not increased in size by much. Please keep in mind that 95% of all nodules are benign and that’s the other good news.

To give you a contrasting example, the cold nodule (sometimes cancer) I had before my surgery grew by 50% in two months and was the size of a grapefruit. And even that one was not cancer.

Thinking of you and sending a prayer your way - wishing you all the best! Keep us posted. And hope you get a better result and a better doctor doing the biopsy this time. 🙏🏻

[Eternity6 in reply to Greekchick]

Thanks so much for your reply. I just received a hosp letter stating that I have a follow up appointment with ENT in few months time. I’m going to have to contact ENT again to let them know that I will go for another FNA . As it seems my consultant hasn’t received the message sent last week that I agreed to do this. Maybe the letter was sent out before he received the message

[Greekchick in reply to Eternity6]

Hi Ruby,

Keep us posted. By the way, don’t let anyone rush you into a decision about next steps regardless of the outcome of your biopsy. Thyroid conditions move very slowly, whether they are cancer or not. Also remember that a suspicious nodule is not confirmatory of cancer either. A friend of mine had a suspicious result, and within 2 months her nodule shrunk in half from 2.5 cm to 1.5 cm.

Yours has not increased much in size. So you are in reasonable shape. You haven’t mentioned if it is bothering you - does it interfere with breathing or talking?

Good luck with everything and sending good thoughts your way today.

[Eternity6 in reply to Greekchick]

Thank you for replying. It feels like a lump in throat funny sensation does affect my breathing if I’m doing something like lifting or bending. Or say changing the bedding I feel as though I’m having to stop n rest. But when I’m relaxing my breathing is fine. I suppose it’s more to do with exercion .

[Eternity6 in reply to Greekchick]

Doesn’t affect my talking but I did notice when singing away. That my singing isn’t the same hope that doesn’t sound funny. But when I sing certain notes I can’t reach them. Yet could easily before this

[Greekchick in reply to Eternity6]

Ruby,

Does not sound funny at all. Your nodule may be pressing on your vocal cords a little bit. Also, the breathing could be from exertion or nodule could be pressing a little bit on trachea. You may want to ask your ENT to check with a laryngoscope since you will be seeing him anyway. He may have done it already for you, if not, ask and tell him what you are feeling.

[Eternity6 in reply to Greekchick]

He’s done a not sure what it’s called but had the camera down nose procedure,is that what you mean.one of my big fears is camera down the throat procedure, as have an awful fear of choking and being sick:

[Greekchick in reply to Eternity6]

I understand completely - I myself have a strong gag reflex so I don’t like anything down the throat either - but the nasal laryngoscope didn’t bother me since it doesn’t go there - they just look through the nose.

[Eternity6 in reply to Greekchick]

I’ve had two of those one in 2012 n one ten days ago approx he did say it was nice and clear though I remember those words

[Hidden]

Whatever the size of the goitre, growing inwards and constricting your breathing,or outwards as a huge lump hanging from your neck, you should be aware that any surgery you may have is dangerous. Therefore, unless it is a particular danger to you, no surgeon is likely to undertake the operation. However, you must also take into account that the longer any surgery is postponed, the more difficult the surgery becomes.

Unlike endocrinologists I have found that surgeons really are marvellous and you can put your trust in them implicitly. Also,they are reluctant to offer information concerning your case unless to specifically ask them, so read up about goitres and discover what questions you would like them to answer. Try asking them, for example, what your postoperative state of health will be after a total thyroidectomy on levothyroxine monotherapy.

[Greekchick in reply to Hidden]

You are right, Panda, about surgeons not wanting to undertake an operation unless there is danger to you. And having just had TT myself 4 months ago for that very reason, I can also attest to the fact that it is a tough surgery. And you are so right on the mark too - the larger the thyroid gets the more complex and difficult the surgery is. Mine was considered a high risk surgery because I had very large nodules.

If your surgeon specializes in thyroid, as did mine, they are great sources of information. But my endo is really great and has helped me enormously post op, so I have had a very different experience with my doctors than you. I’m not sure I would generalize about either speciality - I think you have the good and the bad in all areas of life, and medicine is a place with the excellent, the average and the truly incompetent. I have read on this forum about good surgeons and terrible surgeons, as well as helpful endos and very unhelpful ones. I think you have to take each doctor as an individual. Your questions to ask are really helpful also.

Just my 2 cents for what they are worth - and what I love about this forum is that we all share our experiences with each other and can have such different thoughts on a variety of topics. We all learn either way. Sending you good wishes!

[thyroidnodules]

i also had a large nodule in my neck - very big(5 cm) i had RAI to shrink it. I also had two smaller nodules one of which was growing - i had a Biopsy but they werent able to get enough fluid to test it. i refused a second biopsy. the endo said my nodule was 2.5cm and wanted to do the surgery but i didnt want that and asked him to wait another six months. i ate healthily, took my supplements and they finally started me on levothyroxine which didnt agree with me and i now take thiroyd NDT. when i went back to endo after my scan he said it had shrunk a little and so he left it. i went back in another six months for a further scan and it is now 1.6cm. i dont have to go back to hospital for another two years. i didnt fancy the surgery and it has turned out well for me.

[Eternity6 in reply to thyroidnodules]

Oh wow my nodule is 2.6cm x1.9cm it has grown.im going to monitor my eating although I do eat quite healthy but I’m sure there’s room for improvement. I’m a non drinker non smoker I’m on levo and have been for approx 10 years or more thank you for posting this

[Greekchick in reply to Eternity6]

Hi Ruby,

You are doing all the right things - and it’s way too early for you to be thinking about the future - you don’t even have a diagnosis yet and you may not need any intervention for now. Just keep doing what you are doing and rest. And sending good thoughts your way today. 🤗

[Eternity6 in reply to Greekchick]

Exactly Greekchick. Yes that’s what I’m doing thank you love. That’s always been my motto. Never start presuming things. Always take each day as it comes.

[LAHs]

You need to know the margin of error on those measurements, if, for example, it is + or - 0.1 cm then it hasn't grown at all. Ask your doctor to find out, he will have to call the lab. Don't let them tell you it is exact - there is no such thing.

[Eternity6 in reply to LAHs]

Hi LAHs I didn’t know there was any error. I’m taking the measurements off the hospital letter which was sent to me from a consultant ENT surgeon. There is no plus sign. Nor is there 0.1 . If I’m told it’s grown and he’s sent me measurements and needs me to have another biopsy then that’s what I will do. No disrespects to you. But are you a ENT consultant

[LAHs in reply to Eternity6]

No, but I know a hell of a lot about instrumentation. Every measurement is usually quoted with a range of possible error, usually anything over 10% is not acceptable and the experiment (measurements) must be repeated with improvements to the factor causing the error.

Now if we take the error of the instrument which measured the length of your nodule to be + or - 0.1 (maximum acceptable error) your first measurement could have been anything from (2.4 to 2.6)cm X (1.4 to 1.6)cm. Your most recent measurement could have been anything from (2.5 to 2.7)cm X (1.8 to 2.0)cm. So your first measurement could have been 2.6 x 1.6 and your second measurement could have been 2.5 x 1.8 meaning it shrunk in one dimension but grew in the other, in this case it got a little squatter (perhaps it's collapsing in on itself!).

But, like I say, you have to know the error in the measurements. I am not referring to human error or sloppiness, I am referring to the intrinsic limitations of any measuring instrument. But yes, whatever shape it is, even if it didn't change do have the biopsy, that is the bottom line is it benign or cancerous, the odds are on the former and god bless your ENT consultant.

[Eternity6]

Yes I will be having a second biopsy , I would never refuse to have any test, and hopefully it will be done soon, meanwhile I will be keeping positive like I always am, thankyou

[Eternity6]

My second biopsy on goitre is booked for 3rd October not looking forward to it, but who would be, due to fact they didn’t get enough cells the first time. Let’s hope it’s second time lucky