Thyroid Nodules, pain, tightness...scared...

Hi, I am so glad I found this place...I have been freaking out since last night when I had a u/s of my thyroid which showed two nodules. One is on the left lobe and about 1 cm, the other is on the right lobe and about 2 mm. I have an apt with my ENT on Monday, but in the mean-time, I am petrified. I am having some pain and a tight feeling in my neck. I also have an enlarged lymph node on the back side of my left neck, but that has been there for years and hasnt gotten any bigger, so maybe not related at all? I am so scared that I have cancer and am going to die. I have 4 kids and they are my world and I cannot imagine not being around to see them grow up...my youngest is only 14 months old and very dependent on me. I was reading on-line that most nodules are benign, but the risk of them being cancerous goes up if they cause pain. Has anyone else experienced this? I have never been so scared in my whole life.  Another thing that really worries me is that my thyroid tests came back normal.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

Calm down!  Your fear is also contributed to by just find out about the nodules now and fearing the worst possible.  But the great majority of nodules are benign.  Really!    Also the size of the nodules is small - they tend not to worry very much about nodules of 10 mm (1 cm) and less.  Although they do like to observe.

The fact that your thyroid tests came back normal is excellent.   it is very possible to have nodules (they are quite common) with normal thyroid function.

It is good to get this checked out, but most likely there is not a major problem and they will just want to observe.

Even if it were totally the worst case and it were cancer (NOT LIKELY), thyroid cancer is one of the easier ones to treat.  

Relax and enjoy your family.  You will be with them for a very long time yet.  Stress can also make your neck feel painful....  Hang in there. :)

[don222]

to the ladt at the top i woldnt worry you seem to have worry less noduels i have 6 noduels biggest 5mm and 6mm at last scan and they wernt cancer i have huge swelling down left side of neck face swellinfg severe pain in neck and body tired drawn out all time really ill and mine isant cancer i understand you worring but nothing to worry you noduels seem fine just keep haveing scans regulary to keep eye on them i had been told noduels can shrink and dissapear

[Fuel1212]

I was 33 when I was Dx with a small nodule that was cancerous. I think the odds are like 5% or something, so I was real lucky :)

BTW - I had my surgery 3 days before the birth of my first child. So, I was more than freaked wondering if I would see my newborn son grow up.

To make a long story short the surgery is easy, getting the treatment hormone levels is a tad tricky and would recommend a dessicated (Armour, Nature Thyroid, or ERFA) But seriously, you will be completely fine....

I am not sure if you are a spiritual person, but I will say some prayers and bet you will be just fine.

Keep in touch!
Fuel

[1uvakindmom]

Thanks so much...I had my biopsy this morning....should get the results back Tuesday or Wednesday...

[Lucy4550]

I just came back from the doctor's office because I had a lump in my neck for three years.  He did tests and said the lump is not a problem but my thyroid is because there is a nodule  and the gland itself is enlarged.  I'm glad that I had the lump in my neck or I would not have found out about my thyroid problem.  How did your boipsy turn out and was it a painful procedure?

[1uvakindmom]

I will get my biopsy results on Tuesday, so I don't know what the results are yet....crossing my fingers they are benign. The procedure wasn't too bad, I am just a little achy today. Good luck to you!

[buying]

I am 45and I had a biopsy 6 months ago.  mine was 2.3cm solid but it is now 2.6cm. My doc says ..it's a rapid growth over 6 month. He uses the term volume which is 4.2cm3 something.. He referred me to an ENT for surgery. Highly suspicious for CA. I am thinking the worst because I also have a chronic shoulder pain. what if the cancer spread to my shoulder or C-spine?

[SpecialTeacher95]

My doctor found a nodule 18 years ago and it was the size of a golf ball.  I had a needle biopsy and it was fine.  Three weeks ago I went to the dr and was told it had to be taken out. The nodule is significantly larger.  A CT scan was done and there are cold spots and calcifications. My surgeon told me that a thyroidectomy has to be done. I am worried because I too have tightness in my neck.  Is this a bad sign or could the nodule be putting pressure?