Hi everyone!
I need some input on the situation I have found myself in regarding my thyroid.
In December, I had an MRI on my neck and upper spine to try to determine the source of the chronic pain I had been experiencing. A incidental, one inch mass was found on my right thyroid with several tiny nodules on the left.
I had the ultrasound and FNA, which showed some follicular and hurthle cells. The ENT told me that the chance of it being malignant was small but it was best to go ahead and remove it and that she planned to only take out the right half unless the frozen section indicated cancer, or she saw something she didn’t like when she operated. (She actually put things in more technical terms, but I am aiming for brevity so as not to bore the pants off of you)
I had the partial thyroidectomy last week. We were told that the frozen section did not show any cancer and that she did not anticipate any surprises in the final pathology report. I went to have my stitches out yesterday and...you guessed it....surprise! Follicular carcinoma. The ENT says the nodules on the left are “just specks, think BB size” and at this point she feels that the risk of another surgery to remove the left side out weighs the benefit of removing it and that the chances of it being cancer are small. (hmm, was that an echo?)
Her plan is to treat with synthroid to stop the thyroid from producing it’s own hormone, and therefor shrink the remaining gland.
I am scheduled for a bone scan and a neck/lung scan next week to make sure there is no mets.(sorry, can’t spell the whole word!)
I will of course keep the appointment for the scans, but I am a little concerned about her lack of concern about the left lobe having nodules. Even if it is only a few small, BB sized ones.
Does anyone else have any experience with a similar situation?
Would you be comfortable with leaving the left half in?
Thanks in advance for your input.
