Nodes on the Thyroid

[Tuckamore]

Greetings to All,

I am a first time poster in your community although I am not new to MedHelp's wonderful site. I do have some questions that I hope you can address.

Last Friday I took my 77 year old mother for an ultra-sound of her thyroid. She is a diabetic, has COPD and two years ago she underwent open heart surgery with 4 by-passes. She has complained for about five years of difficultly swallowing. Her mother had a familiar type of thyroid cancer therefore they have been scanning and watching my mother. Her physician diagnosed her with a small goiter approximately six or seven years ago..

This ultra-sound revealed three irregularly shaped nodes, all over 1cm in size. Her PCP has recommended a consult with a endocrinologist for a possible needle biopsy. The appointment is being made as I type this post. The information has come completely through his nurse therefore I have not been able to ask any questions.

What can these nodes mean? Are they most likely cancerous? Does anyone have information or personal experience to share with me?

I thank you in advance for any and all responses.

Warmest Regards,
Tuckamore

[MANmom]

Tuck, I suggest you call the doctor and explain the family history and request a immediate ultrasound.  

[Tuckamore]

I want to thank you both for your prompt responses and the information.

Yes my mom is a smoker. I know that makes it more likely that this is cancer and it concerns me. Her mother never touched a cigarette in her life and hers was still cancer but it was cured by removal of the thyroid. We also lost her nephew (22) to throat/thyroid cancer. He never smoked in his short life. We also lost a first cousin, (53) to throat cancer who was a smoker and a non-smoking great aunt at 44. Her granddaughter had a thyroid tumor (apparently precancerous cells) at just 17 and had to have her thyroid removed. She is a non-smoker. So family history is very strong but it's both ways.  

Sunshine you made a wise choice, one I think I would have made also. I am so glad that it is behind you.

What I learned after I posted was the nodes have been present for a few years and have been very tiny. They have just increased in size since her last ultra-sound almost 12 months ago. The nurse said they were still relatively tiny and that this was just a precautionary measure. However with my medical background I know that can be a pat answer from a busy nurse.  

MANmom, we do not know or I have not been told what kind of nodes these may be. I was hoping the biopsies can tell us that or the endocrinologist. Unfortunately the appointment isn't for two months!! I am not happy with that length of time. Should I be concerned and be trying to get her in sooner?  

Thanks to both of you so very much.
~Tuck

[sunshine106]

I have had nodules on my thyroid and I too also had trouble swallowing...My endocrinologist set up a fine needle aspiration(fine needle biopsy),the first time I had a total of 4 needles and the results came back inconclusive because they didnt get enough of a sample to biopsy.I went for a second time and had a total of 6 needles and once again the results came back inconclusive due to not having enough to biopsy.Thyroid Cancer is the most treatable cancer from what I have heard.I myself decided to have a total thyroidectomy because they were not able to biopsy and for my own mental wellbeing I wanted to know if it was cancerous or not....I had the total thyroidectomy in November of 09 and it turned out that the nodule was cancerous...I am so happy that I decided to have it removed because if I didnt,I would still have cancer as we speak.My endocrinologist said it was up to me on having it taken out or having it monitored by ultrasound every 6 months...once again I am so happy that I made the right decision.If the nodule had grown,It would have had to be removed anyway so I figured I would save myself the worries.Good luck with everything!

[MANmom]

Well, the fact that they are irregularly shaped is of concern, most of the time nice round nodules are not cancer, although mine were nice and round, I had cancer.  I, too, had difficulty swallowing and hoarseness.  A nerve runs through the thyroid that controls vocal function, so any nodule pressing on the nerve might cause the hoarseness.   Any nodules over 1 cm should be biopsied.  The odds for her without all the other medical problems are about 20% with the irregular borders...are they vascular?  The fact that her mother had thyroid cancer is also a concern, for me thyroid problems run in my family, my sister has cancer, three of my brothers have hashimotos, as did my dad, another sister has nodules and is being watched.  I don't know about the COPD, is or was she a smoker?  Thyroid cancer if it spreads goes to the lungs and bones.  Hopefully it will not be cancer, but if it is, it is usually highly curable...it depends on the type of cancer and the stage.  I hope this helps.