(Large) thyroid nodule - what are the treatment options?

[Blottedcopybook]

Hiya,

I had an ultrasound today which showed a large (c. 3.5cm) nodule in the left lobe of my thyroid. My bloodwork showed everything within "normal" parameters, but I do feel pretty tired/anxious/sick.

The Doctor who did the ultrasound was really quite unconcerned and said they wouldn't do anything about it just now because it's not impacting on my health, but I think it is, and I'm conscious that it's already changing my voice.

Have any of you had something like this?

Yes, me. About same size, too. Just left it in place, I didn't need any further treatment.

Thanks for replying - was this recently? Did you/do you have plans for follow up checks?

I had a large nodule (10cm) back in 2011. I had it removed along with half of my thyroid as it was restricting my breathing, pushing my windpipe out of place.

It was a big op, 3 1/2 hrs of surgery and I was off work for 13 weeks. The remaining part of my thyroid has stopped working and I am now on a large dose of levothyroxine. I have many ongoing issues due to the lack of thyroid function.

Depending on what treatment options they give you, I would think very seriously as to whether surgery is worth it or not.

Due to its size I was told it had an 80% chance of being malignant. I was lucky in this respect but had no idea as to the issues the surgery would leave me with.

Feel free to ask any questions!

June2008 Thank you. When I had mine, they said that it wasn't cancerous but that it has calcified as if it's been bleeding? Were you aware of your nodule before it got to 10cm? I'm curious as to how long mine has been there for and what will happen now, will it continue to grow or will it just linger? Mine is definitely having an effect on my voice, I can't sing properly or shout (my kids are delighted at both of these!)

The Doctor at the hospital said they wouldn't do anything else with it, but I feel like it was such a brief conversation that I didn't get a chance to ask about what the short and long term plan is.

Mine's around the same size, bloods come back right on the edge of turning overactive and biopsy showed it's none cancerous. 3.5cm isn't that large, it's quite small compared to how big they can get! Mine stops me from swallowing sometimes, food gets stuck and I have choked on liquids a few times (proper not being able to breathe choking) and my voice is slightly hoarser than it used to be but I'm happy to leave it alone. Mine grows slightly and shrinks slightly but has stayed more or less the same for the last 5 years.

Now and again I request a scan to check on it, I have liver scans now and then so they usually do them at the same time.

No not recently - 10 yrs ago and no follow up. Thyroid nodules are very common. Most prople will have one or more by the time they dir.

I've got one. The consultant had me booked in for a scan 6 months from the 1st scan, there were no changes to we are leaving it alone.

I did have a lump in my neck years and years ago which got drained out but this time its hundreds of little lumps that can't be drained.

I had similar last summer when I had a mammogram and my thyroid was checked too. Now I am not in the UK but elsewhere in Europe and my experience is through private medical insurance. Protocol kicked in immediately and I had thyroid blood tests and a thyroid radioactive scan which showed the lump was benign. I had no symptoms at the time or in the past. Hope all will be ok for you.