too soon for surgery?

[cencerned05]

I've been monitoring a thyroid nodule for about 2 years now. I had an aunt diagnosed with thyroid cancer after a negative biopsy result in December. She had a total thryoidectomy in January.

I went in for another ultrasound a few weeks ago and found that my nodule had grown (almost doubled) and I have second nodule that was too small to measure during previous scans that is almost 2cm. I've had 2 benign biopsy results, but my most recent one came back "suspicious." My doctor made an appointment with a surgeon without even discussing other options.

I'm only 24!! Am I too young to be having my thryoid removed? And is my doctor being to aggresssive?!

Note- My grandmother, maternal great-aunt, and maternal aunt have all had their thyroids removed, but over the age of 35.

[octbride]

i am 23 and am scheduled for surgery on may 6! i have a nodule (well..several), but the one they are concerned about had inconclusive biopsy results, and has gotten bigger, and now i can feel it when i swallow. my endo recommended that i have it out (but really left it up to me), and i decided to just get it over with.  i have been going back and forth with ultrasounds and the like for 3 years.  it won't hurt anything to go talk to the surgeon, its good to know all of your options

[898]

Rapid growth of the solid nodules if accompanied by normal thyroid blood test is always suspicios.
The surgery is recommended if the nodule is fixed to the near-by structures, has internal vascularity, and the patient is male.
If the FNA was inconclusive the core biopsy must be done.

[tigerkid]

I don't think you can be "too young." I was 19 (and am now) at the time of my total thyroidectomy last year. Trust me, nobody expects it at 19, or 24, or probably ever. My FNA results came back suspicious for papillary thyroid cancer and with the final pathology results after the thyroidectomy they found many other smaller nodules also harboring papillary thyroid cancer cells in addition to the main nodule.

Your doctor merely made a consultation appointment with a surgeon. That doesn't mean you have to undergo surgery. But your doctor was probably doing the right thing in referring you to someone with greater understanding who can help plan the best course of action for your situation. It's probably not too aggressive--if it's thyroid cancer, and despite the fact it's usually slow-growing, you'd best not wait too long. Because I was just 19, and since nodules in children and basically anyone under 20 grow faster and are more likely to be cancerous when they present themselves, things moved pretty quickly for me. Since you're younger too, your doctors might be particularly cautious as well.

Hope that helps! Don't be afraid--the surgeon can help you discuss further options.