← Return to Thyroidectomy: What to choose based on 70% cancer probability?

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@livi05

Hello, I am really sorry you’re going through this, but I definitely understand your concerns as I went through an simular situation about a year ago. I had a 3 cm nodule on my right thyroid was FNA biopsied and it came back inconclusive. They did genetic testing and it came back 90% with BRCA mutation.
We decided to do the full thyroidectomy, and after surgery they found two similar nodules on my left that didn’t show in the ultrasound. All nodules came back positive for papillary cancer and I had 7 lymph nodes positive for papillary as well.
I would listen to your surgeon as you don’t know how advanced the cancer could be until surgery. I didn’t think it was spread and into my lymph nodes because of the inconclusive biopsy. Luckily it is a slow growing cancer, but I would be precautionary as it may be more advanced like mine. Since it was in my lymph nodes I had to do the Radioactive Iodine Therapy. If I could have had my thyroid out earlier to avoid the treatment I would have.
Just my two cents from my current experience. Best of luck to you!

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Thank you so much for your reply! It was very helpful. How was it determined that your lymph nodes were affected? During the surgery?

I am going through the same situation. I am hoping that it has not spread to my lymph nodes. I am having surgery to remove the entire thyroid on May 21st. I was blown away when this diagnosis was told to me because I had been going for routine ultrasounds on these benign nodules. Two nodules have grown and become cancerous on the right side. On the left side, there is a tiny nodule that is too small to biopsy, so the surgeon left it up to me as far as removal of half the thyroid or the entire thyroid. I am having him remove the entire thyroid because I don’t want to take any chances if that left half remains and then something develops. I have an excellent Boston surgeon who has made me feel very reassured that I will be okay. I am grateful for that, but still dread undergoing this surgery. Thank God that it is a slow growing cancer and curable! MaryAnn from Boston