Mermada32-
Yes, my doctor was “ monitoring” my nodule for 10 years and felt it was benign…. Unfortunately, that did not turn out to be right. Biopsies are only as good as the area the cells come from, however they are one of the ways to check for cancerous cells. When I went to another Dr to be evaluated to be a candidate for radio frequency ablation ( a procedure to shrink thyroid nodules so they go away), they also sent slides out for Affirma testing ( from my understanding it tests the genetic make up of the cells from the biopsy). This test revealed a 50 % chance of having Hurthle cell carcinoma. After hearing this and knowing the nodule was very large and causing problems, I had a partial thyroidectomy, which confirmed the cancer diagnosis.
The fine needle biopsy’s are just one tool for helping to diagnose cancer, however there are other tests that can also show an increased possibility so you can make informed decisions… my doctor did not run other tests so I think he just thought he was right…. and I just assumed the doctor knew what was necessary for monitoring.
Don’t get too stressed out about the biopsy because it really just sounds worse than it is. I really think it’s important for you to ask your doctor to refer you to an endocrinologist because they specialize in thyroids.
Try not to worry too much because most nodules are not cancer. If testing shows that it appears benign, you might want to inquire about ways to try and shrink it without surgery…. always worth a try!
Good luck!