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

The way I see it, if we need to take medicine, we need to take it. But if everything affects how much or how little hormones your body produces, it is hard to figure out how to figure out a dosage for
medication. The body mechanics would be a changing system and the medication is a constant. It is helpful if you keep a symptom diary with the medication and dose. I have been told that most people start medications and don’t have any concerns adjusting to it. But, if you start to notice issues and don’t feel right, you should consider the medication and dose first. It should be noted, I have had a history of side effects for medications….. no real allergies just not tolerant to medications; so issues might just be related to that. My father, Aunts and Grandmother had issue with several medications so it could just be some type of an intolerance. The doctors told me that most people do fine on medication so don’t worry. Good luck!

I can so relate to you! The side effects, the NORMAL blood test prior to finding the nodules, the list goes on. It's crazy how the thyroid can wreak such havoc without any signs of issues! It seems until you get it out, especially for hurthle (oncocytic) cell you really don't know. Wishing us all the best of health moving forward!

Hi Colleen,
Thank you for reaching out to me for an update on the removal of my thyroid. I was truly so nervous about getting this done! They have been watching two nodules for me for six or seven years. I am with the Boston hospitals, which are wonderful. Over the last few years, the nodules have grown. They were on the right side of my thyroid. There was a very tiny one on the left side of the thyroid, but it was too small to biopsy. I had a biopsy of the two nodules on the right in 2021. They had grown but were fine. I had an ultrasound in Feb and the test showed that they had grown and changed, so I needed another biopsy. The results came back as cancer on the nodules. My endocrinologist, along with the dr who did the biopsy, sent me to a wonderful surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He was kind, caring, and highly regarded for his expertise in this type of surgery. He assured me that I would do “great”! He was right! I recovered very quickly from the removal of my thyroid. He called my husband after the surgery and told him that I had made the right decision to have the entire thyroid removed because there were additional nodules present that the ultrasound had not seen. He had given me a choice to remove half of the thyroid or the entire thyroid. Because there was an additional nodule starting to grow on the left side, I made the decision to remove it all. I have to say that after two days, I felt great! I am feeling like myself now, taking the one small thyroid pill every morning, and I have my energy back. I am so grateful that this cancer was discovered before it spread to the lymph nodes. My recovery was great and I credit my surgeon for a job well done!