Wondering About Thyroid Cancer

[poolewendi]

Should I be concerned about cancer?  I am 33, female and have not had any biopsys done yet.  Should I worry?This is off of the results:Findings:  Right lobe: 5x1.7x1.7 cm cm               Left lobe: 4.9x1.9x1.5 cm cm               Isthmus: 4mmThyroid gland is mildly enlarged with heterogeneous echo pattern.  There is a 5.8x2.4x5.2 cm cystic structure in the right lobe, towards the isthmus.  There is a complex predominantly solid mass in the lower pole of the left lobe measuring 2.7x1.4x1.2 cm.  There is a 1.4x2.7x1 cm cystic structure superior to the isthmus of the thyroid.Conclusion:  Multinodular goiter with a dominant solid nodule in the lower pole of the left lobe and a cyst in the right lobe.  Cystic structure superior to the thyroid gland may represent an exophytic cystic.  The thyroglossal duct cyst may be seen in this location.

[glorbry]

Get a needle biopsy as a benchmark.  I had a nodule that slowly grew for 13 years, getting biopsies every 3 years or so.  It always showed suspicious cells that were interpreted as goiter.  Finally got big ger and noticable so had it out...benign goiter.  Along the way, the only one who wanted to take it out was a surgeon...of course.  I did NOT go to him when I did have it out many years later.  

[898]

The cysts are likely formed of cystic degeneration of or internal bleeding into the preexisting smaller nodules; the complex nodule may undergoing degeneration process now and become cyst later.
Assuming that thyroid function is normal:
In my opinion the next step would be us-guided biopsy of the complex nodule and doppler color flow to find if any nodules have increased vascularity [blood flow].
From the ultrasound alone the nodules are not appeared cancerous, so the biopsy of the SOLID part of complex nodule is suggested.
If no malignant cells would be found the next step can be PEI procedure to shrink the cysts.

[Cherie762]

above poster is right..seen what you wrote last night on my journal...a fine needle biopsy is done on most with an enlarged thyroid or nodule its a standard test and the vast majority ( like mine) are negative...mine determined that I have Hasimotos disease.

[redheadaussie]

Your right lobe is a bit swollen which is common in multinodular goiter.  
The only way you can be sure if it is or isn't cancer will be by having a FNA which I am sure you will have since it showed on the ultra sound imaging.
  The wording sounds scary but exophytic cystic just means it is growing out wards away from the thyroid...You wish they'd speak plain english wouldn't you so not to scare us!
  Cancer is not as common as you might imagine, but when you read the stories onthis forum it can give you a chill sometimes.
Best to get a FNA done and see what it says, and try not to fore guess what it could be...as a friend of mine often says...Panic? I'll tell you when to panic! Often what we do is talk ourselves silly into a lather about things like worrying about cancer when we could have been doing something else!
Rest assured though, being sensible,if it is cancer you can be grateful for the fact it is a much better prognosis than other types and much better to treat also.
Chin up!