thyroid nodule-worried sick

I am going in for thyroid surgery this week to have half of my thyroid removed due to a 4.7cm. nodule that came back as suspicious follicular from a fna biopsy. PCP felt a goiter in Oct. 2008 during a physical and sent me for bloodwork(was fine) an ultrasound and the fna. In August of 2007, went for a physical (was pregnant at the time) and then too he felt a goiter and sent me just for bloodtest and everyting was fine.  My concern is that this should have been maybe ultrasound last year.  How long do these nodules usually take to grow this big?  I'm worried this should have been biopsied last year and not just maybe pushed off as the goiter was possible due to the pregnancy, as sometimes thyroids do enlarge during pregnancy .  Worried sick!
Anyone else hear of thyroid nodules increasing in size during pregnancy....any truth to that?

Thanks for any responses.

[nissah46]

I had 5 growths on my thyroid, the largest being 4.8cm.  My endo said they were very slow growing and had probably been there for a long time.  My FNA confirmed cancer..papillary with follicular properties..so I had a total thyroidectomy. I'm not sure about your question about nodules growing during pregnancy. I guess they may be affected by hormones, which increase during pregnancy. Good luck with your surgery.
Trish

[glorbry]

I had a thyroid nodule that grew gradually for 13 years.  Every endocrinologist said leave it alone until it gets big (doing biopsies every 3 years or so).  Finally it got bigger and I had it out.  The only one who every said get it out was a surgeon (of course).  I did NOT go to him when I decided to do the surgery several years later!  The surgery is easy...don't be afraid of that.  So you see...not all nodules are the bad kind.  Good luck.