should I get a thyroidectemy

[bakerbaker]

Hi after reading other posts I am wondering if I should have my entire thyroid removed?

My left lobe has a 3.9 x 2.3 x 3.0 cm mass. The overall size of this lobe was 6.7 x 3.2 x 3.3 cm. I had an FNA on this mass and 'abnormal cells' were found. They did not call them cancerous. The FNA was difficult because he kept retrieving mostly blood.

My right lobe has multiple hypoechoic nodules, range from 4-9 mm, scattered within the lobe. A couple of cysts of 4mm and a 10 x 9 x5 mm were noted. The over all size was 5 x 2 x 2.2 cm. The isthmus was 2.4mm thick and unremarkable.

My TSH is 0.3 uIU/mL six months ago it was .6



My T4 FREE is 1.2 ng/dL


I have the following Symptoms ( not necessarily related):

fatigue
dizziness
difficulty swallowing/ something stuck in throat
dry skin
migraines
ringing in ear
eye twitch
difficulty concentrating
IBS
muscle aches
weight gain
4 miscarriages in the last year and 1/2
reoccurring rash
life long anemia

My Dr. suggested a thyroidectemy incase it's cancer. He seems to think I will probably need meds anyway so why risk having to go back in, having the nodules grow on the other side, etc.

So what is the advantage to a lobectomy if I will need meds. Are there advantages? I am very freaked about cancer at this time. I just lost a life long friend to brain cancer and a good friend of mine just found out she has stage IV pancreatic cancer. There is a part of me that just wants it out. I'm afraid I have a time bomb in my neck and I don't want to find out later that I kept part only to have it turn cancerous and spread. Am I just paranoid? I obviously don't want to just freak out and throw a part of my body away if it is useful.
Thanks you for any help!
Tracy

[bakerbaker]

So after much research and thought I removed 1/2 my thyroid. I just got back my results and I DO NOT have cancer. My remaining 1/2 is working fine and at this time I do not need meds. So why did the majority of dr.s tell me to remove my entire thyroid when it was not 100% that I had cancer. Why are we being so agressive with a cancer that is treatable? I am 39 and extreamly active. I travel all over the world. If I had riped out my entire thyroid my life would have changed. Thank you for this site! I was very helpful
Tracy

[RodeoQueen]

What ever you decide to do good luck. I had surgery to remove part of my thyroid and came out with 90%  of it gone, it went well, still waiting for the pathology. BUT sometimes they go in in with one intent, and come out with another due to circumstances out of the dr.s control. for me it was easy. 2 Tumors. WELL NODULES they are older tumors as he said they had calsifiacations as well as hyprechoic foci. That was it I had NORMAL hormone levels but high thyroglobulin. I freaked so he said ok he would take it out. I am 5 days post operation and I have NO REGRETS!!! GOOD luck in whatever you choose to do.
Rodeo Queen

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

With a relatively large nodule w/ atypical cells -- that usually comes out -- again, it really depends on who is calling the cells atypical (ie, is it an expert in thyroid cytopathology?).  If the  L is removed and is benign, then the R would need to be monitored over time for change in those nodules, but all else being equal, the chance of needing thyroid meds would be about 30%.  If the entire thyroid comes out, then all the nodules are studied and following the R lobe is not necessary but you would definitely need thyroid hormone.