@dunroamin
Hi! In my opinion, surgery should be the last option and since thyroid cancer tends to stay encapsulated, monitoring it might give you more information. Years ago, the common practice seemed to be to remove the thyroid to DETERMINE if you had cancer. I believe there are much better tools to give the doctors a better idea about the status of nodules so they don’t just rush for thyroid removal. From what I have read and experienced there is a test with a very high probability for predicting cancer. When you have a FNA they send the specimens out for AFFIRMA testing and it gives a probability for cancer. A second opinion with AFFIRMA testing might help you make an informed decision. Also, if you have a large nodule that might cause “crushing issues,” you might want to be evaluated to see if you are a candidate for Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) to see if the nodule can be ablated….shrinking the nodule seems better than removing an organ that our system relies on to function. I had a partial thyroidectomy but the remaining thyroid did not pick up the work so I had to start medication. FOR SOME PEOPLE, finding the right medicine and the right dose can be very difficult. I have been dealing with side effects from medication that are hard to manage (even though my thyroid numbers are in the normal range). If the doctor left the decision up to you, it sounds like there isn’t an urgency, so waiting to see if there is significant growth might be a better option. Of course, if you have a significant family history with thyroid cancer, I would suggest a second opinion to be sure your probability is low. Good luck!