@cocha I was the same -- zero signs or symptoms, which I guess isn't uncommon. I was doing a routine recheck ultrasound on a small benign nodule on the right side that has been there for ages, and was absolutely blindsided when I was told there was a very suspicious nodule on the left. I came very close to cancelling the appointment because of a scheduling conflict and who knows when I might have made a new one ...

Active surveillance has been widely accepted and practiced in Japan for some time now and there is a growing acceptance of that approach for small, low risk nodules in this country. There are also studies/trials going on that are looking at active surveillance on PTC nodules up to 2 cm. They can stop growing, and even shrink sometimes, and never pose a problem. My doctor was telling me that the actual number of cases of PTC annually is likely drastically higher than reported cases -- without symptoms they go undetected, and often don't pose any risk to health or survival.

One of the reasons I picked my surgeon is because he, like some of the top of the field doctors and researchers in this country (Dr. Michael Tuttle at MSK, for one -- https://www.mskcc.org/news/msk-study-bolsters-use-active-surveillance-papillary-thyroid-cancer), believes that thyroid cancer is, broadly speaking, over-treated. From all that I have read there are some pretty rigid criteria for active surveillance to be a consideration -- some nodules just don't fit the requirements. We tried active surveillance, which I was totally on board with, but when my nodule grew a little my doctor changed his mind and felt more comfortable proceeding with the lobectomy.

Before I found out I would need the surgery I was going to participate in a study that Dr. James Wu (https://www.uclahealth.org/providers/james-wu) at UCLA Medical Center has been conducting , following patients opting for active surveillance. He's an endocrinologist there. For the study they need participants to go to LA once or twice a year for ultrasounds. I figured it would be a good way to get an extra set of eyes on this thing twice a year, plus be able to contribute to research. Not sure if you want to deal with LA, but just another resource, if you want to get a consult from someone who knows a lot about it, to see if you fit the criteria for that approach.

Re: natural remedies, I was already taking pretty much everything on the list you mentioned ... plus I don't drink or smoke, am pescatarian, exercise regularly, eat organic/tons of fruits and veggies and avoid the bad fats and refined sugar ... and I still got this. 🙁 I don't doubt that the alt remedies are good, but how much they can prevent thyroid nodules from growing or spreading, I just don't know ... but I am definitely being hyper-vigilant about keeping up the healthy stuff!