What if I forego treatment for the Papillary cancer??

I had papillary cancer in ‘21. They did a total thyroidectomy and removed 2 lymph nodes. I get scans every year and blood tests. I think thyroid cancer is one of the most curable. I did not have to do a RI treatment after consulting with Cancer Center. No further problems.
You have to find a Dr you trust implicitly. Do a consult with an endocrinologist that works at a cancer center. Surgeons are surgeons and want to remove it. I had already had mine removed when I consulted with a cancer center. They told me they would have watched me and not done surgery. Whoops too late. Many of them you can send them slides, and all reports then do a telehealth call after they do a tumor board meeting on your case. That’s how I got set up at Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa. Papillary is slow growing usually but they can tell if they see your slides. Tell them your concerns. Just see an endocrinologist at a cancer center, not a general surgeon is my suggestion.

Hi, I was always told that you cannot definitely diagnose thyroid cancer until surgery. When I had a nodule I waited before having surgery because of the potential for voice issues and I didn’t believe in the practice of removing an organ to diagnose cancer…..it’s one thing if it is definitely diagnosed, another with a suspicion. Biopsy’s often give false positives so I waited. While waiting with monitoring by a cancer hospital ( 10 years), a new procedure evolved called Radiofrequency Ablation ( RFA). They use ablation to shrink the nodule so it goes away, while preserving the thyroid. You might want to see if you would be a candidate. You would have to do a search to find a doctor who does this procedure.
When I went to be evaluated for RFA the doctor did an ultrasound and another fine needle biopsy which was sent for Affirma testing. From what I was told ( and read) Affirma testing has the highest percentage of accuracy for predicting cancer. Unfortunately, my results came back with over 50% chance of having Hurthle Cell Carcinoma and with that type of cancer, I was not a candidate for RFA. The doctor told me that with Hurthle Cell Carcinoma, the cells could migrate when they withdraw the needle. Some types of cancer can still have RFA but not mine.
I had a very large nodule which was causing issues due to the size so I had a lobectomy; and was diagnosed with Hurthle Cell Carcinoma.
From what I have been told and read, most thyroid cancers stay contained so waiting and watching can be done. If the nodule grows quickly, it is often indicative of cancer. On a “ good” note, most thyroid cancers stays contained to the thyroid.
As for the coincidence of having prostate cancer too…… your oncologist should be able able to tell you if this is coincidental or a possible connection. Good luck!

Check out “Save Your Thyroid” with Jennifer Holkem (available on her website, podcast, YouTube, and Substack). She’s a passionate patient advocate who shares information on modern options for treating thyroid conditions without sacrificing the gland through surgery.
There are now several minimally invasive ablation methods available that preserve the thyroid, including established ones like radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and emerging innovations. One exciting new approach is n-Pulse (also referred to as nsPFA or nanosecond pulsed field ablation from Pulse Biosciences), a non-thermal technique that targets and ablates thyroid nodules or tissue effectively.
Treating thyroid cancer while preserving the gland is becoming an increasingly promising and up-and-coming field, with ongoing research (including studies at places like MD Anderson) exploring these gland-sparing options for both benign nodules and certain cancers like papillary microcarcinoma.
This shift emphasizes patient-friendly alternatives to traditional thyroidectomy, helping maintain natural thyroid function and avoid lifelong hormone replacement in many cases. If you’re dealing with a thyroid issue, resources like Jennifer’s content can be a great starting point to learn more and discuss with your doctor.

The worst case scenario is that your PTC will metastasize to your lymph nodes, and then, instead of just having a lobectomy, you'll need a total thyroidectomy along with a neck dissection - not to mention worry about metastasis to lungs or bones.
Nobody enjoys surgery, but it is still the gold standard for thyroid cancer. I have metastatic PTC, had the total thyroidectomy, and a lateral and central neck dissection as well as radioactive iodine treatment, and am now dealing with recurrent malignant lymph nodes. If I had been lucky enough to catch my cancer at your stage, I would have jumped at the chance for lobectomy!

@jbus, I can understand the reluctance to go under the knife. Have you discussed the pros and cons of surgery with the specialist? Specifically, have you been able to have a frank conversation about the risks of surgery as well as the progression and management of disease without surgery?

@jbus, did you see this related discussion:
- Experiences,age 65+ - recent papillary cancer on active surveillance https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/experiencesage-65-recent-papillary-cancer-on-active-surveillance/