THY3F and hemithyroidectomy

Hi,

This my first post here, I have been a long time lurker. I was hoping I could get some thoughts on my current situation; here is the background:

I had an ultrasound for a neck lump, which turned out to be a U3 nodule; I then had an ultrasound guided FNA biopsy, which came back as THY3F, with the recommendation to have a diagnostic partial thyroidectomy (remove the half of the thyroid with the nodule), as they cannot say whether the nodule is cancerous or benign, based on cytology alone - the surgery is needed to distinguish between the two. I am scheduled to have this next week.

However, I am now having second thoughts...I keep wondering what if the biopsy isn't representative of the entire nodule? I don't know, my mind is a bit frazzled. I'm worried that I'll have the surgery and then regret it afterwards, by thinking I didn't do everything in my power to avoid surgery. I find myself in a tough predicament, and thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you so much for listening to me unload! 

Best wishes to you all.

Parents
  • It's very very likely the surgery will be fine. And if the nodule is benign, as it probably is, you will get reassurance. If it is cancerous, then they will likely take out the rest of your thyroid and the situation will be dealt with. 

    I think we all have second thoughts about surgery. In my case, there was no doubts about the cancer. The biopsy came up as malignant, but I still had a few fleeting thoughts of "hey, some studies show thyroid cancer rarely causes harm, so could I just leave it?" Of course, that would not have been a good idea, but I think it is natural to think of alternatives.

    If its any reassurance, I got my entire thyroid and 57 lymph nodes removed and was back at work a month after the operation.

Reply
  • It's very very likely the surgery will be fine. And if the nodule is benign, as it probably is, you will get reassurance. If it is cancerous, then they will likely take out the rest of your thyroid and the situation will be dealt with. 

    I think we all have second thoughts about surgery. In my case, there was no doubts about the cancer. The biopsy came up as malignant, but I still had a few fleeting thoughts of "hey, some studies show thyroid cancer rarely causes harm, so could I just leave it?" Of course, that would not have been a good idea, but I think it is natural to think of alternatives.

    If its any reassurance, I got my entire thyroid and 57 lymph nodes removed and was back at work a month after the operation.

Children
  • Hi Margaret,

    Thank you so much for your kind response and reassurance. I am so glad to hear that you have recovered well; well done to you for getting through such a tough period! 

    That is true, I feel like with the surgery so close now, my judgement is being clouded a little! All of the thoughts are coming to a surface, and I feel like I am running out of time to get answers to these before the surgery!

  • Hi Margaret, I hope you are doing well. I had my hemithyroidectomy 10 days ago now, and had a few post-op questions, if you don't mind :happy: My voice seems to sound ok, however I am unable to make high pitched sounds and I'm a bit worried it won't come back; I wondered if you experienced anything similar?