Surgery for benign tumors?

[2asdmommy]

If you've had surgery for a benign tumor(s), how big was it?  I'm just curious as to what size a tumor has to get to before a doc will recommend surgery.  My FNA results are Friday so of course I'm obsessing.  Mine are only a bit over a cm but they're on both sides of my windpipe which is sort of uncomfortable.  
Thanks!
Gina

[imedicmommy]

Not so odd if it's benign...I had a goiter since my late teens and it didn't come out until this year (I'm 29 now) Surgery can be a scary prospect and truthfully if it's functioning well it might be better to leave it alone and wait and watch. Mine finally had to come out because of the size right lobe was also HUGE measured 8x 11cm also had substernal issues. so out it had to go. I think that if I had another option I would have tried it.
Keep us posted on how you're doing.

[Nyxie63]

Cheryl - Maybe we're odd anyway?  Thyroid stuff has nuthin' to do with it. ;)

Dac - He seems to be.  I no longer have this huge lump on my neck.  He's now down to a smallish lump and feels much softer than he did.  Find out for sure if all this is working next month when I get the ultrasound.  Having the double whammy of an endoscopy and colonoscopy tomorrow morning.  Wheee!  I'd kill for a sesame bagel with cream cheese right now.  Or some fried chicken.  I see Methusaluh some time next week for another round of blood tests.  Everything's in a holding pattern until all the various testing comes in.  If it makes you feel any better, I'm going crazy for wondering too! ;D

Shelly - I'm currently on the highly-controversial iodine protocol.  I take 8 drops of 5% Lugol's solution every day, along with a slew of other nutritional supplements.  Its not recommended for everyone.  I studied it for 4 months and found an alternative medicine practitioner to supervise me before starting.  You can read more about it at www.iodine4health.org.

[shelly45]

What kind of alternate treatment did you use? I am wondering how did it shrink with alternate therapy?

[DLA]

So Herbie is actually shrinking?  That is soooo great!  Congratulations.  Have you found out anything else yet?  Get on here and let us know something!!!  You're driving me crazy wondering!  =}{

Dac

[TOLD YOU]

I had one on the right 5.2cm and the one on the left was 5.0cm the doc said when he took it out it was HUGE.  Mine was benign it was just a multinodular goiter.  Glad it is out and over with though, I did not have a FNA because they knew it was coming out no matter what.  Waiting it the pitts, I hated that worse than anything.
Dana

[shelly45]

Mine were 1.7cm and the others just mm's. My FNA came back benign but with my strong family history I opted to take it out instead of waiting. I was glad that I took it out because it was growing within a short time. It was never there before or during my last check up for my lymph node. It appeared out of nowhere. Matter of fact I was getting a ct of my lymph node and that's when they stumpled upon it. Last year's ct scan it was not there.

[ChitChatNine]

I'm another oddball here . not wanting the other side out after the small microcarcinomas were found on the first side .. mine were fully encapsulated and small w/no lymph node involvement.

So you think maybe two oddballs make us maybe not so odd?  """ LOL """"""

Cheryl

[ChitChatNine]

Mine were 1.9cm's and I never knew I had them!  The FNA were atypical so that is why 1/2 the thyroid came out.  

Cheryl

PS:  Hang in there ... the waiting is the worst ..

[Nyxie63]

For benign nodules, the usual rule of thumb for removal is if they're 4cm in size or larger or if they're compressing something.  Now before you start worrying about the compression, an ultrasound (which you've probably already had) will show if they're pressing on something or not.  Its entirely possible the discomfort you're having could be caused by acid reflux, which is very common in thyroid folks.  Many don't even know they have it unless it gets to a certain point.

My primary nodule's 4.7cm, benign as of the last FNA, and am currenly on wait & watch.  I fought back against surgery because I couldn't see the point in losing a perfectly good body part just because it was enlarged.  Bear in mind that I'm the oddball here and most other thyroid boards.  I'm currently on an alternative treatment to try to shrink my nodules and it seems to be working.  I'm due for follow-up ultrasounds and FNAs every 6 months, the next one being in October.

Wishing you the best and hoping for good results back on your FNA.  Please keep us posted. :)