Help please?! Now I dont know what to do.

[emmymatt]

A little background first, I had a big goiter removed on July 3rd.  They only took out the one side.  The path report showed a very small 2mm papillary cancer.  The surgeon and the endocrinoligist both say the guidlines say the other side doesn't need to come out, and no other treatment is needed.  The surgeon said that she would to the 2nd surgery if I decied that I wanted it.  She said that she understands that the "guidlines"  are not always works best for everyone.  The endocrinoligist, says that he see no reason for a 2nd surgery.  But, he also told me that my thyroid is not functioning normal and it is only a matter of time till he puts me on medication for my thyroid.  I dont like the idea of not doing the second surgery.  They found the first 2mm cancer by accident, when they removed the goiter.  Whos to say there is no other small cancers in the other side.  I know thyroid cancer grows slowly, and I understand all the reasons why I should keep my thyroid if I can.  But, who wants to live the rest of their life with the possibility of cancer growing  in them, slowly or not.  I would love some guidence and wisdom please!!!

[emmymatt]

Just bumping up my post.

Thanks

[Totie]

To me, and this is just me. If they are both saying that the remainer of the thyroid will completely be destroyed anyway, and can not be 100% sure that there is not any more cancer, (now just me here, I would get the 2nd surgery).

Some people can't deal with the prospect of cancer remotely being in their body.

I had a tumor removed when they could not tell me if it was cancer or not, having a biopsy was not an option due to location. When I spoke with the surgeon and he basically said, "look we do not know what it is, whose to say five yrs down the road the tumor is cancerous after all and it has spread". His recommendation was to have it removed. Not cancerous, just a weird tumor in a strange location. (Laparotomy).

Now I have a brother who has a tumor in his head, but refuses to get any thing done about it because he says he does not want to know.

It all depends on what you feel comfortable with, you have to live with the ideas that will go through your mind. It could be nothing, like mine, or not. We just never know.

You will make the right choice that makes you happy.