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

I just found out a week or so ago that the nodules that I have been monitoring for five or six years have grown and turned cancerous. I was shocked to hear this news because I have been having ultrasounds every two years, and the nodules have stayed stable and benign. When this last ultrasound detected growth, I had to have a biopsy, and cancer was detected. I am fortunate to have a wonderful endocrinologist and new surgeon and my thyroid will be removed on May 21st. I am nervous about it but realize that it has to be done. The dr told me that I will have to go on thyroid medicine for the rest of my life. As long as all of the cancer will be removed, I don’t mind taking a pill every day. MaryAnn from Boston

Hi Colleen,
Thanks so much for checking in. I have had so many wonderful replies and suggestions from my original post and I want to thank all who have responded to me. Yes, I did make a decision to have the entire thyroid removed. These nodules have been there for six or seven years and have been monitored by my endocrinologist. In 2021, one of them grew and it was biopsied, but it remained benign. The last ultrasound, done in February, showed significant changes, so I returned to B&W Hospital in Boston, and had the same dr do the second biopsy. She called me, letting me know that the two nodules were cancerous. A tiny nodule, on the left side of the thyroid was too tiny to be biopsied. We are fortunate here in Boston to have some of the best medical care in the country. She recommended four surgeons and I chose the one who I felt could best answer all of my questions. I had a virtual visit with him and he was *wonderful*! He was extremely generous with his time for me and told me three times that I will “be fine” and that I will “do great”. He left the choice up to me on half the thyroid or the entire thyroid to be removed. Because I am 74 years old, I chose to have the entire thyroid removed. Because of that tiny nodule on the other half, I would not want to go back in for another surgery if that also developed into a cancer. He totally left the decision up to me and told me that it was a 50/50 decision and that I could decide. He comes *highly* recommended and he is a five star surgeon on reviews I have read. The thing that I really liked about him was that he was compassionate and kind to me, along with reassuring me that I will be fine! Thank you, Colleen, for reaching out to me. My surgery will be on Tuesday, May 21st.

@gillsden, just checking in. Did you make a decision about getting a thyroidectomy? How are you doing?

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!

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!