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Don't want to remove the rest! What to do??? What is this ?

 
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MightyJo
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Joined: 30 Jul 2008
Posts: 1
PostPosted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:41 am    Post subject: Don't want to remove the rest! What to do??? Reply with quote
Hi,

I'm new here and have some questions. I'm a week and a half out from having the right side of my thyroid removed due to a very large mass. I got the call today that pathology has determined it's cancer.

I've asked for a copy of the pathology report for my personal review. Surgeon initially wanted to remove entire thyroid, but I decided against because left side is not affected at all at this point and they could not determine cancer prior to surgery. When I left the hospital, he even thought it wasn't cancer, but then said lab could not decide and was taking a second look and doing some additional tests. They still couldn't make a conclusive determination, so my thyroid was sent out to the Mayo clinic for further analysis. I want to review the report myself to determine whether they're just erring on the side of caution or whether they have conclusively determined there was cancer.

Either way, my question is----> Has anyone else had just one side of their thyroid removed due to actual cancer and decided not to remove the other side? The left side of my thyroid is completely normal at this point and I don't want to remove on the chance that it may eventually develop the cancer. What are the chances that it will? Is a wait and see approach a legitimate option or am I being irrational? I would prefer not to lose the rest of my thyroid and be on medication the rest of my life if there's good evidence that it may never be affected.

All insight appreciated!

Thanks, MightyJo
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brainman
Site Admin


Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 5613
Location: Tennessee
PostPosted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:39 am    Post subject: Re: Don't want to remove the rest! What to do??? Reply with quote
Hi MightyJo. I am very sorry about your cancer. I am not in any way an expert on Thyroid cancer so this is just my rambling thoughts.

The thyroid is just one organ. It is not like there is a right thyroid and a left thyroid (as me have two breasts, two lungs, or two kidneys). My hunch is that there is a significant cancer that the other side of your thyroid has some microscopic cancer cells that will some day grow. In addition, all the thyroid functions can be easily replaced with medications. The choice is really very personal and you made a judgment call. I might have chosen to just remove the whole thyroid than possibly having to go through surgery twice.

You can prove me wrong by living a wonderful, productive life free of thyroid cancer Wink Very Happy.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Jim
Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2405
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