thyroid nodule found to be papillary carcinoma

[kaye96]

During my check up,the doctor noticed a lump or a nodule on my right lobe.She send me for an ultrasound to be sure of it. the result was "complex nodule in the lower pole which measures 1.5x0.8x1.3cm.". She send me to an endocrinologist and FNAB was done and to my surprise the result was papillary carcinoma. The doctor said that i need to undergo surgery and RAI. I did a second opinion another FNAB but there is no result yet. Do i need to take the first slide to check. what if the second opinion is benign? what will i believe? if ever it is a papillary carcinoma, do i need to have RAI immediately? im working abroad i only have 30days vacation each year. is it ok to do the surgery after six months. Please give me an advice.

[kaye96]

Thanks for the advice! I really appreciate it. I have another question that i forgot to mention. The first endocrinologist gave me euthyrox 100g because I told her that probably i will have the surgery after six months so I ask for a medicine. But I'm afraid to take the meds until I will have the result in my second opinion. Maybe the result was ok and i won't need the surgery coz I'm afraid. Anyway, you mean after surgery and RAI , I can go back to my work like the way i'm doing now. thanks. God bless..

[MANmom]

You could have a lobectomy, that way if they get the nodule out they can send it to the lab.  If there is no spread, you could keep the other half and watch for changes.  If it is for sure cancer, then you should have the thyroid removed.  The surgery itself is pretty easy, one night in the hospital due to a drain in the neck, I hardly had any pain, was up and feeling normal after a few days.  RAI is recommended if the cancer is 1.5 cm or bigger, your nodule might have a smaller cancer, you may not need it.  the worst thing if you do need RAI is the few weeks before the RAI is given to you, they must get you really hypo and iodine starved for the treatment to be effective, so you feel crappy for three or four weeks, you can still function depending on your job, but near the RAI dosing, you will be extremely tired and confused, so you probably shouldn't work.  About a week after RAI you will be OK to go to work, you won't be radioactive after that but you shouldn't be around pregnant women and small children during this time and 10 days after RAI you should have an all clear.  You will feel better the day after RAI, they start giving you hormone then.  Keep looking for an answer.