Hurthle cell tumor

[Karen362]

I had a biopsy done on the 22 of June. It came back with having the hurthle cell. The doctor is saying that I can wait 3 months before having surgery. This has been going on since Nov of 2010. The tumor is 4cm in size.Can someone tell me if I should wait. I also have 5 small tumor on the right side should they whole thyroid be taken out? AT times I feel like my throat is closing.

[Karen362]

Thank you for the information. I'm having surgery on the 28 of July. The doctor dont want to take the whole thyroid out unless he find something.He says it better for me

[blsdnsvd]

My experience: Surgery went well....calcium level drops after surgery and will normally show signs 1-2 days afterward (tingling in the fingers, legs, lips) supplements should be given either when leaving the hospital or with prescription....stiff neck and very hard to turn left or right...hoarness in voice which will improve within a week of surgery if talking is minimal...I started thyroid med"s about 4weeks after surgery (that is based on what ur surgeon says),Recovery is up to the patient whereas most will recover from 1 week to a few weeks after surgery.  I had extreme exhaustion on 25mcgs of synthroid and that increased over a period of time due to my lab results..I am now on 100mcgs and i'm still exhausted amongst other issues however thats just me and everyone else is different. You will see ur endocrin doc every more frequently after the surgery until ur levels are all normal and then the visits will become less frequent...I had more energy one year after surgery and was very active with working out whereas at this point im not energetic at all but as far as results of the labs, they are normal in the eyes of the doctor but not in mine....Bottom line you will spend one nite in the hospital after surgery and will go home the next morning as long as there are no setbacks...you will recoop at home in bed until you are able to move around some....the most important things to look out for are low calcium and hoarseness that does not improve...

[Karen362]

I'm happy to hear that the results were benign.  I'm just trying to find out everything I need to know about this surgery? How long was the recovery from the surgery? What is it like not having a thyroid? What do you have to do different? What type of diet do you follow? How often do you have to follow with the doctor? Is there anything I need to know for after their surgery?

[blsdnsvd]

I had a very similiar diagnosis back in 09 however I also had "follicular Cells" on the other side and had to have a Total Thyroidectomy...Waiting 3mos will not make a difference verses waiting 9mos...whatever is there is already there. It took me 6mos to make a decision after going to 3 different surgeons for opinions and that's what's important as well. You need to find a very experience surgeon to perform your very delicate surgery.

Thank God, my results were benign, and now I have to live and cope without a thyroid. Be Blessed.

[Karen362]

Thank you.I have a call into the doctors to talk about this.I I want to have the surgery as soon as I can.

[MANmom]

I would try to have the surgery soon, however if there is a reason you must wait 3 months, you can.  Thyroid cancer is usually slow growing and does not metastisize, so you have some time.  If it is bothering you, then have it removed.