Do I need to worry?

[gallina]

I have a goiter and have had uptake scans and ultrasounds on my thyroid.  Everything is fine according to my doctor and the specialist.  I have three nodules on either side of the thyroid and they plan to monitor growth annually.  Anything else I should do or consider?   I know someone who went to the same specialist clinic I went to - was give the everything-is-okay message and then she had thyoid cancer.

[898]

If this "fat band" moves up during swallowing it is enlarged thyroid, if it does notmove, it is fat.

[gallina]

Thank you so much -- I'm pretty sure the nodules were under 1cm -- we'll see what happens with the ultrasound I had the other day.  

I had looked up goiter the moment I was told I had one -- asked my GP and she said it was this band across my neck  - but the specialist says that this band of "fat" across by neck / throat is not the goiter that it's just fat --  I googled goiter and it's a growth caused by lack of iodine and that it's not necessarily cancerous - could be Hashimotos' disease etc.  

My daughter says my neck looks enlarged just the other day so I don't know -- I don't want to it to get to a point where I'm at risk or like what you experienced

[898]

Many small nodules size are usually not posing increased risk of cancer then solitary [only one nodule] is found or if there is a larger nodule [called dominant nodule] is present in addition to the smaller ones.
The biopsy is recommended for SOLID nodules larger then 1 cm (AACE, 2006).
The small nodules may never grow; if ultrasound had revealed heterogeneous echotexture of the gland, it indicates thyroid inflammation that may lead to nodule formation.

[Totie]

If they show growth then they may be able to do a biopsy of the nodules if they are big enough. I think 95% of all nodules in the thyroid area are bening.

I had a goiter (15yrs ago) , but mine was beyond the "wait and watch" status. Mine went undiagnosed for six months, (all my symptoms and I was treated for depression) the only reason my doctor finally believed me was because out of the blue my neck one afternoon looked like a football players neck ( I am 5'2 at the time weighed 88 lbs) so it was pretty obvious. Ended up with goiter/graves/hyperthyroidism, had hit two thyroid storms before surgery.  Did survive, was so mad at my doctor, lets just say, she is no longer my dr.

I have had enlarged lymph nodes surgically removed from my neck  last year, but only because they had grown so rapidily, they were bening as well.

Just make sure about the growth, and if you are not comfortable with the answers they give you, you have every right to get second opinion....it is your health...

Have you looked up goiter?

[gallina]

I forgot to say that the nodules were small -- not big enough to remove

[gallina]

No plans -- though I just had another ultrasound done and I wam aiting for results -- in a week or so ... to see if the nodules have grown...

After I went to the specialist last April , I wanted to get a second opinion but my G.P. said she's satisfied with the results and course of action....

I'm still not understanding what a goiter is.  At first I thought it was this band of fat across my throat but then I was told no, that it was a growth on my thyroid....G.P. believed the first, specialist believes the latter

[Totie]

Are they planning to do any biopsy on the nodules, are they big enough?