1. < Thyroid Cancer

Thyroidectomy or not?

Posted by hugov @hugov, Jun 14 1:22pm

As the date set draws near, I am left wondering whether having the thyroidectomy (and related I-131 fun) is at all necessary. Saw a study which showed 99% who had surgery survived 20 years and 97% of (a much smaller number) who opted out also survived. I have one inadvertently discovery 1.5cm nodule with papillary carcinoma. I'm thinking of opting out of treatment. Input? If I'm having no symptoms, it almost seems like, "okay, something will get you sometime."

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gillsden | @gillsden | Aug 9 9:21am
In reply to @hugov "Thank you for this. I had them take the whole thing. The pathology is back, confirming..." + (show)
@hugov

Thank you for this.

I had them take the whole thing. The pathology is back, confirming the
1.5cm nodule with NO cancer on the margins, no spread to any nodes---so,
they 'got it.', it would seem, which of course is great. No regrets (as it
wouldn't matter) re holding out for a lobectomy though in retrospect it
sure appears that might save me the medication not to mention the
possibility of radioactive iodine treatment, which I still hope to avoid.
I hope this fretting and thinking is of some value to those who are
contemplating action. I am supposing I 'got lucky' with the contained
nodule. The surgeon certainly did a clean job. Only pain is the
to-be-expected sore throat from the damned air tube.

Best to all out there.

Hugo

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Hi Hugo - how are you feeling since your surgery? Are you taking thyroid medication? If so how is that working? I am scheduled for surgery in 3 weeks for total thyroid removal and still on the fence. Going for a third opinion next week. Genetic testing came back 70% chance of cancer. I think I just don’t want to accept it. Thank you - take care.

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