Thyroid nodule anyone?

[Anonymous]

My Endo found a pea-sized nodule on my thyroid today and is sending me for a follow-up sonogram. He said most of these are benign, though I have a somewhat high TSH and a strong family history of hypothyroidism.

Anyone have any experience with something like this?

[Anonymous]

Yes. I've been monitoring several much larger nodules for eight years now. I am supposed to get annual fine needle aspirations (with sonograms). Results are always negative but inconclusive since they can't 100 percent rule out cancer.

I don't like living with this stress, so I'm going to get the thyroid removed this year.

I would not worry about a pea-sized nodule. I think the sonogram will tell you if it is "hot" or "cold" and you can go from there.

Also, I think about twenty percent of women have nodules. Thyroid cancer in middle-aged women is very rare, and it's one of the slowest-growing cancers anyhow.

Feel free to post more questions if you like.

[Anonymous]

They discovered several nodules on my thyroid about 5 years ago. I then had the scan with the radioactive iodine but the nodules do not show up on that scan as hot or cold, and they were not able to biopsy the nodules because they were so small. Because my thyroid blood work is normal, and because the nodules have not grown, nothing has been done but to monitor them.

My grandmother had thyroid cancer (both papillary and follicular) which is why they were following mine closely. She did well with the surgery and radiation and lived for years cancer free without any long-term complications.

I was scarred at the beginning but when I realized how common thyroid nodules are, I was comfortable with close follow up for now.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thank you for these reassuring responses. I'm going to try to chill out until I get my sonogram. Glass of wine here I come!

[Anonymous]

I have a few in both sides. To the PP who is getting annual aspirations ... did you get a second opinion about whether you need the aspirations? I have seen 3 endos and only the first (least qualified) said I needed aspirations, the other 2 have only asked for annual scans to check the size and consistency. OP, if you have Hashimotos, just know that they change frequently in size and consistency. Also, while it's unlikely this would be the case, thyroid cancer is one of the easiest to treat!

[Anonymous]

20:29 here again - that said, I still get anxious every time I get a scan, so that's normal, too! And I've had my nodules for about 5 years (that I know of - possible they were there before but undiagnosed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a few in both sides. To the PP who is getting annual aspirations ... did you get a second opinion about whether you need the aspirations? I have seen 3 endos and only the first (least qualified) said I needed aspirations, the other 2 have only asked for annual scans to check the size and consistency. OP, if you have Hashimotos, just know that they change frequently in size and consistency. Also, while it's unlikely this would be the case, thyroid cancer is one of the easiest to treat!

Thank you for this info. I think I see probably the most experienced/well-known endo in this area. I had one second opinion, and that doctor agreed with the first. Unfortunately.

My nodules are huge. You can see the bulge in my neck from across the room (if you're looking for it). Even with the fna's, they can only say with 80 percent accuracy that I don't have cancer. So I think I really need the fna's.

In my case, the debate is whether or not I need a thyroidectomy asap or if I can wait and see. The surgeon wanted to take it out years ago. The endo is more conservative but says it must go too. Interestingly, the radiologist says he closely monitors people like me, and that it doesn't necessarily need to come out immediately.

I'm inclined to have it removed this year. I don't want to walk around anymore with a 20 percent of cancer - even slow-growing thyroid cancer. I am worried about the risk of surgery and living on synthetic thyroid hormones for the rest of my life, but I'm more afraid of cancer.

[Anonymous]

NP here. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos a year ago. Will I be more likely to get nodules or cancer, and have to have the thyroid removed?

[Anonymous]

My uncle died of thyroid cancer. Back in 2003 I had nodules on the left side of my thyroid. I went for a sonogram, they couldnt tell if it was cancer. Then I had a fine needle aspiration, they still couldnt tell if it was cancer. My doctor said I could wait and see or have that half taken out. I opted to have that half of my thyroid removed. I needed to know for sure. I had half removed, it was analyzed. I did not have cancer. I have half of my thyroid and it works normally so I dont have to take medication. Would I have the surgery again? Yes. I needed to know 100%.

[Anonymous]

OP again - my Endo also gave me the option of treating my subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH = 3.5), but didn't push the issue and suggested that I could wait until my TSH goes up to 6 or 7. I'm inclined to treat it...but am uncertain, especially given the presence of the nodule.

Sigh.

[Anonymous]

I've got 4 nodules that I just had checked by an endo. They are less than 1.5 cm which is her threshhold for larger concerns. I still get ultrasounds every 6 months though.

I do have a friend who just died from thyroid cancer. So I'm freaked out about the whole thing. But it's VERY rare. And if it is cancer, it's apparently one of the "best" to get. Highly treatable in almost all circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Most of them turn out to be nothing. Mine did turn out to be thyroid cancer (at age 32) --- but it is a very curable cancer, and at this point, I'm in the best statistical category such that it is very very unlikely it would ever come back (e.g., less than the general population's risk). Anyway, get it checked. It is a rare cancer, but it is most common in women of child bearing age.