In need of some reassurance

[Smesayinhi]

Hi I am 43 yrs old & I am getting quite worried!!!
I have been suffering from being hoarse, fatigue, cough, dizziness, and sinus issues for the past 2+ months...
A few weeks ago I saw a PA at an ENT office, was told I have GERD (no symptoms however)...
I saw a ENT doctor today that did a complete exam, and he thinks my goiter is large enough to impede on my voice box & esophagus.. He noted no lumps on my thyroid, but wants me to get a CT scan w/ contrast..
I have noticed the past month my neck has become larger..  What are the chances that this could be cancerous??? I am literally terrified!!!
Thank you in advise

[Smesayinhi]

Got the CT results
Appears my thyroid is so enlarged that is wrapping around my windpipe??? I have never heard of this, but is shedding light on all these symptoms!!!
Surgery is not for another 6 weeks, any suggestions to limit further growth and these awful symptoms??

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

The CT will help determine the extent of the thyroid enlargement as well as the impact on neighboring structures (trachea, esophagus, etc).  Goiter is not usually cancer but this should be evaluated with ultrasound and FNA biopsy of any worrisome nodule.  Would also test thyroid function - TSH, T4 and possibly TPO antibodies if you have goiter.

[Smesayinhi]

Hi thank you for your reply!!!
I'm scheduled for the ct scan Monday, which I cannot wait for.... I noticed last night my night is grotesquely swollen!!! I have known most of my life about the goiter but only the past few months I have noticed issues... Hoarse voice is the worst complaint along w/ fatigue :-s

[Gibbon1]

Well there are three separate issues with the thyroid.  Hormones, Goiter and Lumps.

Auto-immune thyroid disease can results in low (or high) thyroid hormones and cause the thyroid to enlarge. Auto-immune disease (Hashimoto's or Graves) is diagnosed via blood tests, TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), T4/T3 (Actual thyroid hormones), and thyroid antibodies. If you haven't had these done, you should have them done.

Your ENT didn't find any lumps but thinks your thyroid is large. Thus the CT scan because he wants to see what's going on in your neck.

BTW: Thyroid cancer is generally one of the least aggressive cancers and survival rates for 40 year old men is basically 100%.