ask: dr found a tumor on my thyroid. now he says lets wait a year. is this a normal approach?
I had a MRI for headaches that I have been having that just don`t go away. They found a tumor that is 2.7cm x 2.3cm x 1.? cm , they did a fine needle biopsy and the result was found to be inconclusive. (I supose that means that they don`t know) and now the dr says to wait a year. I asked him at that time what about what you said to take it out? He just blew me off. I am so mad and frusterated. In our initial visit he told me that its cancer. there is nothing smooth or round about it. you have 3 choices, 1 take it out., 2 take it out and do RAI treatment.,
3 wait? what is that supose to mean.
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onesickcookie - Thanks for writing. If I had been treated the way you were treated I would be very frustrated too.
First, you are entitled to know the results of your biopsy and I suggest you contact your doctor's office and ask for a copy of the report. This will provide you with clearer information on the findings.
Second, I would seek a second opinion from another physician, and would bring the biopsy report to that appointment.
The majority of thyroid tumors, or nodules, are noncancerous. Even noncancerous ones, however, can cause complications, and in order to protect your health it would be a good idea to become more familiar with thyroid conditions and treatments. This link from the Mayo Clinic provides a lot of helpful information. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thyroid-nodules/DS00491
It's not clear why your doctor would tell you that you had cancer, and then tell you something else.
The following link will give you more information about thyroid cancer, which is a highly treatable condition. http://www.medicinenet.com/thyroid_cancer/article.htm
When he mentioned RAI he was referring to radioactive iodine therapy, which is one of the treatment options for thyroid cancer. You can learn more about it here: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/thyroidcancer/detailedguide/thyroid-cancer-...
You should not spend the next year being frustrated and anxious and wondering what's going on in your body. It will take some research, time and inconvenience, but it's in the best interest of your health to follow up on this and determine exactly what you're dealing with. Thyroid issues can be complex, whether or not cancer is present, and if your doctor isn't helping you understand exactly what you have and how you can take care of yourself then it's time to find another doctor. Please stay in touch, and let me know if you have additional questions or concerns.
January 17, 2011 - 6:30pmPat
This Comment
Please do not wait a year to determine if it is cancer or not. With thyroid cancer the survival rate is very good especially with early detection. That is why it is so important to get the right diagnosis so you can have peace of mind if it is not cancer or deal with the treatment if it is.
January 18, 2011 - 1:19pmThanks for your support!I have been studying up on Thyroid Cancer and trying to educate myself as much as I can so that I understand what is going on. I went to my regular dr. yesterday. I told him what happened he read through the test results and says that I should get a second opinion too, he has given me the name of an ERT specialist he feels can find the answers that I need. I know that eventually I will need an endocrinolgist. But will wait on that for now.
January 20, 2011 - 9:55amOne thing that confuses me is what triggered it? I had a radioactive heart scan a few years ago. Am wondering if this may have been the cause. Or as my oldest sister claims that our parents went to southern Utah to watch the atomic testing that went on in the 50`s.
I can`t believe that people actually went to watch and see the mushroom cloud.
I am so glad you are finding doctors who are wiling and interested to help you in more caring ways. Congratulations on advocating for yourself!
There are some risk factors for thyroid cancer (and all cancers) that are lifestyle related, hereditary...or neither. Some people have cancer with no increased risk factors; others who do have increased risk factors do not develop cancer. There may have been no trigger for you, or you may have one (or more) of these risk factors below (again, I want to stress that having a risk factor does not mean you are predestined for cancer, just as having no risk factors does not mean you are "immune" from cancer, either).
These factors increase your risk of developing thyroid cancer:
* Diet low in iodine
* History of radiation to the head, neck, or chest, especially in infancy or childhood
* Family history of thyroid cancer
* Sex: female
* Age: 30 and over
* Exposure to radioactive fallout (seen in patients exposed to radiation from nuclear accidents in Europe or as a result of being near nuclear testing during childhood)
Please keep us updated after your second opinion!
January 20, 2011 - 10:57amI don't know if it is 'normal', but when they found my lumps, with my huge family history of thyroid cancer, they still made me wait around 7 months for surgery. The endocrinologist said the it wasn't a big deal, because thyroid cancer grows slow, and is.. what did he say.... oh! "the Cadillac of cancers"...
>.<
it's not right.
February 9, 2011 - 11:06pmHow are you doing now? Did you have surgery for your thyroid?
February 10, 2011 - 10:23amI did get in to surgery after the 7 month waiting period, about 3 years ago. Full Thyroidectomy. The thyroid itself was riddled with cancer, and had grown out from the normal "butterfly" shape to resemble misshapen fingers, wrapping around my windpipe and vocal chords- Yuck.
February 10, 2011 - 12:36pmglad I got it out when I did.
:D
Did you require any radioactive treatments? If so did you have any side effects?
February 10, 2011 - 1:11pmI passed on the treatments. The doctors said that it wasn't necessary. I, at the time, couldn't swallow pills very well, and the doctor couldn't order a liquid version at the time, so we just skipped it and opted for monitoring my blood and hormone levels for any sign of growth, (monthly thyroid-tracker blood tests for the first year, then every six months every year following.)
February 10, 2011 - 3:29pmNo returning cancer yet.
I went and got a second opinion and he also said to wait 6 mos. to a year. That they are not too concerned until it reaches 4 cm.
February 11, 2011 - 9:55amHow good for them its not in their body. I wonder what the cancer centers would say about this. It is so stressful to not even know if it is cancer or not. Is there a blood test?