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Enlarged thyroid and surgery

I have had problems in the past with diffuse swelling of my thyroid (8 years ago). An uptake was done and no problems found.  Jump ahead to last month when I got a flu bug and noticed a lump on the right side of my thyroid. I had ultrasound which looked "ok" and a surgeon drained the fluid which was green.  He said yellow was usually a good sign and blood a bad sign.  He called two days later saying the green fluid had old blood under a microscope.  He said there was 2:1 odds that it wasn't cancer, but recommended the right lobe be removed.  I'm concerned that problems in the past were missed and now I'm paying the price.  What I'm wondering, too, is what else besides cancer would make blood show up in a cyst?  I wonder, too, what are my odds of having cancer really?  I'm worried that waiting all these years has somehow hurt me.

Any insights people have into similar experiences would be really helpful. Also, I've never had surgery in my life (38) so I'm a little panicked right now....and would like to know more about the surgery itself...recovery times, size of incision, reactions to anesthesia, etc.  Thanks!!  Your prayers are appreciated :)
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Avatar universal
Thank you for writing.  I'm scheduled for 9/29.  I am getting it done just because I'm tired of the heavy feeling in my neck (down to my collarbone).  Today it looked like a lymph node was swollen.  I think I'm going nuts!  I think the goiter and that whole right side is just "filling up" after he drained the nodule.  I'm going to check in with my GP to make sure everything seems okay with what the surgeon has told me.  I really trust my surgeon.  He seems like a good guy.  He says I have a 33% chance it's cancer.  As long as it's something that hasn't spread.  I promise I'll post when it's over.  Thanks for telling me it was okay.  Cross your fingers!!  I'm worried the opposite side won't take over like you're going to have checked.  My surgeon says it'll probably be fine in operating alone unless (obviouslY) it all comes out and then it's meds.  Again, thanks for making me feel better.  (Late at night is too much think time!)
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Avatar universal
HI! I am 4 days post-op had left side of thyroid removed. It was very scary because I have never had surgery before. But every thing went fine! I had a 6mm domaint mass that was causing compression symptoms tsh levels were fine so I had a hard time deciding, I just decided to go through with it cause it wasnt getting smaller, I also let mine go for quite awhile about 7 years, They did a biopsy before I had surgery and all that came out was blood they scheaduled surgery before the results even came back cause they said regardless of results it needed to come out he said during surgery did not look like cancer about 5 percent chance. recovery isnt so bad of course you are a little sore but its only been 4 days doing good! I go on the 6th for blood test I just pray the right side will work by itself, My advice is just get it taken out and they youwont have to worry so much.
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Avatar universal
There is about a 10 to 20% it's cancerous. Since you've had this nodule this long your chances are probably even better that it's benign. It certainly doesn't help matters however that your parents died of cancer. It boils down to whether or not you want to be entirely safe and have it removed. In todays world that means the minimum they will take is one full lobe of your Thyroid. The surgery isn't difficult but there are possible downsides. Your doctor can explain them or you can go to Google and look up Thyroid nodules.
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Avatar universal
PS:  Any chance this is "subacute thyroiditis" since I was sick?  If so, would that produce any of the FNA results I got?  Second opinion?  Any way to differentiate without surgery?
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Avatar universal
For a excellant description of thyroid surgery go to http://www.endocrineweb.com/surthyroid.html
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Avatar universal
The possible downsides are the parathyroid and vocal cord nerves. The surgeon must be extremely careful while removing your thyroid lobe. These nerves set right beneath the lobe on each side. Damage to either one can be big trouble. Plus there is the possibility that you will be on meds the rest of your life. Your doctor has already told you no problem with meds but I don't know how he can be sure until after you lose your lobe.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for writing.  I've looked online and can't find any "downsides".  My dr. feels comfortable that the left side can pump out enough hormone for all of me so I won't need meds.  Any downsides you know of...I would like to know about!  It's scheduled for Sept. 29th.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the prayers.  I've slowly been telling my family and they're worried.  (Both parents died of cancer so I think they're fearing the worst...our minds get ahead us especially at night).  I called today to schedule the surgery-- 2 and 1/2 hours long!  They act like it's no big deal.  Of course not, it's not them! Thanks for your support :) I'll keep you posted.  Any info is still appreciated.
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Avatar universal
Worrywart123, I'm sorry I don't have knowlege in those areas but certainly will be praying for you!
Anyne else have advice.
Drmark we understand your shedule is tight but comment for worrywart123 would be appreciated!
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