Follicular Tumor

[ACNSC]

Has anyone had a "bland follicular tumor" that turned out to be cancer? I had the FNB that stated it was begnin, but my surgeon (otolaryngologist) said that because follicular looks the same to the pathologist we can not be sure. My TT is in 11 days, and the closer it gets the more questions I have.

[MANmom]

When they opened me up, they still couldn't tell until the specimin was sent to Pathology. Chemo won't do it and is more dangerous.  The only thing that uses iodine in your body is your thyroid, thus, giving you RAI kills only your thyroid.  You will usually only be given RAI if you have a tumor over 1.5 cm, that is the norm.  Yes, they have to wait until several weeks after to starve the remaining tissue of iodine and thyroid hormone so that it ***** up the maximum amount of RAI.  It takes 4-6 weeks to fully starve the remaining tissue.  But let's not get ahead of the curve.  Get the surgery, see if it is cancer, then go from there.  In regard to cost, I am a military dependent, so I don't know, but my sister had the same surgery and RAI, her RAI was 1/2 the dose of mine, her insurance was billed over $4,000 just for the pill.  A lot of that cost goes to the handling of the materials, the pill comes in a lead-lined box and must be handled by a nuclear specialist.

[ACNSC]

I'm thinking that is what my surgeon must be doing. He said he would know when he "opened me up", and that if the left side looked good we would keep it, but of course if it is cancer then the left side would be removed also. I've read that most RAI doesn't start until 6 wks ~after~ TT. Jan. 1 my insurance will flip (deductible and out of pocket resets), and I've reached my deductible and out of pocket for this year, so now I'm wondering and worried about how much that may cost me. I have BC BS PPO. UGH! Can I choose to have a quick dose of chemo instead?

[redheadaussie]

Some surgeons send off to pathology whilst you are still on the table, to double check a suspicious nodule, if they are considering leaving half or more of the thyroid. You should ask your surgeon if that is what they will do.

[MANmom]

Sometimes they can tell during the surgery, mine they couldn't.  I had the right side removed hoping to keep the left, but after a week they told me of the cancer, so I chose to have the rest removed, that side had the biggest tumor.  

[4lynnie]

I had a cold thyroid nodule found in 2001.   FNB was negative.   This nodule grew slightly and additional nodules found in 2008.   TT performed in 2008 and was told it all looked good after surgery.   Went in to have stitches removed and found out pathology said (a week after TT) I had papillary thryoid cancer - two small specks on the gland itself, but the nodules were all OK.   Two cancer spots were small, .3 and .2 cm.  I had RAI and am fine today.   I was rechecked in 2008 6 months after TT, and now just annually.   Best of luck with this.

[ACNSC]

So, during my TT the surgeon will be able to tell if it is cancer or not? Or will I have to wait?

[MANmom]

My FNA results were "benign follicular clusters", I still had cancer.  My tumors in the side they tested were only 2mm (think head of a pin), so hitting them with a needle is almost impossible.  The fact that there were follicular cells and that they were clustering was suspicious, but they couldn't tell until the thyroid came out.  If they had tested the other side, (that tumor was 1.5 cm),  they probably would have gotten the correct diagnosis.  They can't be sure unless they hit the tumor or take it out and send it to pathology.  Hope this helps.