I wouldn't get petrified for 2 reasons. First is that while nodules are very common (especially in women), the majority of them are not cancerous. They may be toxic or autonomous nodules, meaning they produce their own thyroid hormones or interfere with thyroid function, but they're benign. Second, if they do turn out to be suspicious or straight up thyca, the treatment tends to be pretty straightforward and not terribly complicated, given 95% of thyca responds well to simply surgical removal or surgery and RAI treatment with very low rates of recurrence. I say this as a 33 year old man who was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer by accident.
As for symptoms, no two people are alike. Unfortunately, other than perhaps neck pain, headaches, or difficulty swallowing, there isn't a "standard list" of thyca symptoms one can check off and self-diagnose. In fact, the majority of patients are asymptomatic with normal TSH levels. Even though thyroid patients know their TSH readings doesn't even begin to tell the story.
Before my diagnosis, here's what I myself experienced over the course of 7 months:
-Left neck pain
-Left shoulder pain
-Left arm pain
-Left-sided headaches
-Various joint and muscle aches all over body
-Parasthesis in the fingers and toes
-Intolerance to exercise
-Intolerance to heat
-Persistent cough
-Wheezing
-Persistent allergic response that didn't respond to antihistamines or meds
-Persistent sore throat
-Various stomach ailments (gas, pressure, hiccups, indigestion, altered bowel habits)
-Appetite changes
-Rapid weight loss, then weight gain without changing diet or exercise habits
-Short term memory impairment
-Mood swings and sudden-onset anxiety
-General feeling of malaise and ill-health
All of these symptoms crept up on me insidiously over almost a year. Needless to say, without any history of thyroid problems in my family, my personal physician spent a lot of time and visits playing detective with no results (as my blood work and various testing/imaging studies came back unremarkable) until a mass was found in the left lobe of my thyroid. One partial thyroidectomy and a month later, I feel like a brand new man.
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How large are your nodules? They generally won't do an FNA biopsy unless >1 cm, or show signs on ultrasound suggesting a biopsy. Please keep us posted! C~
I've had thyroid nodules for 5 years, i had a biopsy 4yrs ago on 3 of my nodules as they were presenting irregular features, came back benign.
I was told to return annually for ultrasounds and biopsies, i decided i would skip the FNA part as i found it quite uncomfortable and believed i could shrink them with lifestyle changes.
2wks ago i went for annual ultrasound but the endo insisted on FNA due to size increase and appearances.
Turns out i now have papilliary carcinomas on both lobes.... since diagnosis i can honestly say i am feeling discomfort swallowing more than before, thats part due to the FNA and part Psycholigical i'm sure.
Its quite possible ive had this cancer for 4 years, its slow growing and has an excellent cure rate according to findings.
I am now on an alkaline diet, no animal produce, no sugar etc.
Having cancer scares me a lot less than the prospect of having no thyroid.
I was 43 when my mom noticed a lump in my throat area. She and ALL the females on her KY side have had benign goiters. I consulted with endocrinologist, had 7 fine needle aspirations (all came back inconclusive) so he sent me to surgeon. Surgeon was against total removal but called me back after reading my chart and said he felt more comfortable removing it all. I had the surgery and when I got my bandage off 4 days later it came back as CA. I was diagnosed with Hurthle Cell Carcinoma. I had a 4cm cancer growth inside my thyroid gland. I had 100mql RA131 Jan 2010 and 29mql RA131 Aug 2012. Been on 150mcg synthroid for a few years but now TSH is 0.013 and T4 free was 180. I just switched to lower synthroid 137mcg. My advice to you is #1 STOP worrying. Go to doctor and ask for FNA of goiters. My mom's and all aunts and cousins were all benign but they have had to have surgery to remove multiple nodules. Thyroid cancer is slow growing and has great prognosis if treated early. Don't be afraid to share what you have learned here from real people's stories. Good luck!
I was 26 when diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I really didn’t have any symptoms other the. My hair was falling out. Went and seen my GP and he felt my thyroid was in larger and was sent for an ultrasound and blood work. And they was one single small nodule that ended up being cancer. My husband had Similar symptoms as you and when they removed his it came back perfectly fine he had sereval larger nodules.