Hello, I'm new here and need some advice and/or comfort. My doctor just diagnosed me with a hyperactive thyroid. She also told me that most of the time a hyperactive thyroid is caused by a nodule on the thyroid, and they're sending me in for a scan tomorrow. She also told me that I'll need radiation therapy to kill off the thyroid and be on meds for the rest of my life. I've never been really sick before, and now she is basically saying I may have cancer. Any advice?
Better than 95% of nodules are not cancer. But sometimes the nodule puts out thyroid hormone of its own, like another little thyroid gland, and that results in hyperthyroidism. Sometimes the nodule is malignant, however. If it is, it's almost totally curable... fatal thyroid cancer is almost nonexistent.
If the nodule is not cancerous, there are thyroid-suppressing drugs that can be tried before surgical removal is done. The success rate for the drug treatment isn't all that great; but if it were me, I'd definitely try that before I'd have my gland removed.
Seems your doctor may have one agenda. Read up on this thoroughly before you accept his opinion.
__________________ "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." Abraham Lincoln
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supermom, Hi neighbor! I spent my high school years in Romeo*****. I live in Crest Hill now, just a block away from Joliet.
What I want to say is don't worry. First of all, chances are you DON'T have cancer. And even if you are one of the unlucky 5%, there is a greater than 95% success rate with the treatment of thyroid cancer.
My problem is the opposite of yours. I am hypo. But I have been educating myself on both hypo and hyper because of the tendency to fluctuate. I believe I went hyper for a period of time before I went hypo.
Are you on any meds now? Is your doctor an endo? I've been looking around for a good endo. I do know there's an endo in Channahon that comes with good recomendations. I hear he's one of those doctors who treats according to the symptoms. Unfortunately, due to momentary brain fog (or early-onset altzheimers, lol), I can't remember the doctor's name.
I hope this relieves your fear some. Try not to worry until you get the results back.
Barb
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"Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things".
[This message has been edited by Bosmom (edited 09-18-2003).]
It sounds like your doctor is making alot of assumptions. First you will need to see if you even have a nodule. Cross one bridge at a time. There is no sense in panicking yet.
I agree with Midwest-1 about your doctor having an agenda.
It is very important to keep in mind that 95% are non-cancerous. I have a single nodule and it was benign, I am not hyper though, I am hypo. I panicked myself to the point that I had to stop reading about nodules. Try to remain calm in the meantime. (I know it's hard, but it isn't worth stressing yourself out anymore than your body already is) Good Luck to you.
Hey, I had graves disease i got surgery monday and had a goiter removed that was 8 times the normal size of a thyroid. i wouldn't worry too much about your nod being cancer. they usually aren't. Be sure to get a 2nd even 3rd opinion. There are other options beside radation.
when i'd never been ill before and discovered that i had to take a pill the rest of my life, i was appalled ... then one thing after another and hola: i'm on five pills now, each for a different ailment, and hope i don't have to take one more because i don't have tha time to take them, or something ...
my message is simple: we all get sick as we age (some of us, with luck, less ill than others) but IF you have cancer, it's the best kind to have ... you'll have non-painful treatment and have to take a pill the rest of your life and be totally cured, and that's that -- perhaps there'll be some ups and downs along the way, but you're strong and you can take it, nothing but a piddling little gland -- that's not gonna get you down, is it? nah ... too much interesting stuff going on in the world! nothing that a gal from bolingbrook can't take!
Thank you everybody, my doctor made it sound like I was about to die or something. You guys made me feel a lot better. Of course, I'm still gonna worry, and nobody can stop me. It just really sucks because I'm only 24, and I have 2 kids I need to take care of, and it's hard being sick all the time. I originally went to the doctor for chronic headaches (which, by the way STILL won't go away) and I told her i was shaking and stuttering all the time so she ordered the blood tests.. and voila, here I am. But thanks again for the support... I sure could use it right now.
Please help, I'm scared...... 
