Should I look for a new Endo?

[TwistedHelix]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first time posting to this forum (though I have been lurking for awhile).

Here's my situation:  On June 4, my gynecologist found a nodule on my thyroid and referred me out for an ultrasound.  The ultrasound was performed on June 8, and confirmed that I have a 2.5 cm nodule on the right lobe of my thyroid.  I was then referred out to an endocrinologist.  

Unfortunately, I am a grad student living in a college town, so it appears we have only one endocrinologist to whom the university health center refers out.  My appointment was scheduled for July 13, but I am really concerned about this nodule, so I called to be put on the waiting list if someone canceled.  The endo was able to see me yesterday on short notice.  However, after a very cursory exam, with some blood drawn, he declared that there was clearly nothing wrong with me or my thyroid--except that I had this mass on it.  Any symptoms I have noticed (voice hoarseness, profound fatigue, headaches, nausea, appetite decrease, weight gain) clearly have nothing to do with my thyroid because I don't "look" like there's anything wrong with me (the blood work isn't back yet, but whatever).  Therefore, the mass on my thyroid is either nothing or cancer.  The mass will have to be biopsied, but the soonest he could do it is August 13--but that doesn't matter because thyroid cancer is so slow growing that waiting to biopsy won't change my outcome if it is cancer.

I think this endo is kind of an a$$, but whatever.  My question(s) to you is(are): should I be concerned that he's unconcerned about the nodule?  Or is it a good sign?  Is it typical to wait this long to have a biopsy for a nodule?  Should I just (try) to be patient, or should I fight to see someone else?  I understand that doctors are busy, and perhaps this is no big deal to him--but to me, it means everything.  I am trying to prevent this nodule from hijacking my life, but if it's cancer, I'd rather know NOW.  Isn't it true that there's really no way of knowing how long I've had the nodule, and if it is cancer, when or if it could metastasize?  Should we EVER be laissez faire about a potential cancer?

Okay, this has gone on longer than I intended, so if you made it to here, I appreciate it.

Thank you,
TwistedHelix

[SkatKat]

I feel your pain.  I, too, am in a college town.  I have really good insurance and the PCs I've had over the years never diagnosed my hypothyroidism.  So I wanted to cut out the middle man and go right to the endo (because I believe I might have some pituitary issue).  

First place told me the endo only sees diabetes patients.  

Second place told me I couldn't get an appointment the rest of this year!  And to call a hospital 100 miles away (which I ultimately decided to do).

Those are the two endos in our town.  

If you have some options, I would explore them.  A 2nd opinion never hurts.

[898_1]

Does that nodule have a blood flow in it?
Even so the risk of cancer is about 20 to 25 %
What the ultrasouind report says about that nodule?
(solid, cystic, complex, well defined)
If that nodule is fixed it can affect the voice quality.