Go through with surgery or no?

[tjarowland]

I’m a 38 year old male with an enlarged thyroid on my right side about 5.2cm. It was first noticed during a routine physical about 10 months ago. My family doctor said it developed pretty quickly because it wasn’t noticeable the year before. When the enlarged thyroid was first discovered the ultrasound I had showed the thyroid was 4.1 cm, so it has grown over the past 9 months. I’ve had 2 needle biopsies both inconclusive. The Thyroid specialist is more concerned with the wall of the enlarged thyroid rather then the liquid within it. All my blood work is normal however the thyroid specialist told me that it’s about a 15-20% chance it could be cancer.

I haven't had too many problems with the enlarged thyroid besides the fact I feel pressure when I swallow. but I worry that it will get worse and it will also affect my breathing.

My specialist has given me two options 1) Have the thyroid removed or 2) have a biopsy every 6 months and monitor it.

I've been going back and forth about having the surgery. Part of me wants to have it removed and not risk it being cancerous plus...lol it makes my neck look fat. With all joking aside surgery, any surgery makes me nervous. I’m also concerned about side effects with having all or half my thyroid taken out. Will I be always tired? Will it effect my weight? Will I get acne? Will the medication make me feel sick?

I’m having a hard time making a decision and I’m hoping to hear some insight from other men and women in similar situations.

Thanks

[chloe65]

Hi I just had my thyroid removed Sept 30th and I have hashimoto and a very large thyroid, larger than yours was, anyway I did have biopsy done before I had it removed and it came back negative for cancer well it was wrong my right side was the larger side but they found the cancer on the smaller left side, so obviously I say remove both sides because if I had just had the larger of the 2 sides out I would not have known about the cancer.

[hava]

I suggest you wait and monitor every six month. This breathing technique will stimulate the thyroid and you will start to feel the benefit in months. When you notice the swelling going down, let me know, and I will suggest more techniques to help you.
Ujjayi pranayam
Procedure: While breathing in, tighten throat(contract glotis) and there will be sound from back of throat, then drop chin(rest chin on chest), hold breath as long as possible.Then  chin up, close right nostril and slowly breath out through left nostril.
Duration: 5 – 21 times

How to do Ujjayi
When you clear your throat, you tighten your throat and breath out, twice, with a pause in between. . Now if you reverse this, that is, tighten the throat and breath in continuously for abour 8 to 12 seconds, then hold your breath for 4 seconds with the chin down, then  chin up, close right nostril and slowly breath out through left nostril, you have just done Ujjayi pranayam.You will feel like coughing initially.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

For a nodule this large with indeterminate FNA, the standard of care is typically surgery.  Removing half the thyroid often does not cause underactive thyroid requiring treatment and would not cause acne or weight gain in most cases.