Hi Natalie,

I was diagnosed with a follicular neoplasm about 5 months ago and had
surgery a month ago to remove half my thyroid on the side where the
thyroid nodule was located. I don't know how your mother's doctor
is, but I saw 2 different thyroid surgeons at the UCSF Thyroid clinic
and another endocrinologist recommended by Stanford University, and
all 3 of them were quite serious about the fact that I should get the
surgery because there was a 20% chance of cancer. And this 20% took
into account that the nodule was only 1cm large, had not grown at all
in the 4 months between ultrasounds, and I was only 26 years old. So
from what you're telling me, the fact that your mother is older and
has a nodule that is growing in size leads me to think that this
surgery is even more important and urgent for her.

Also, as for the scar, I'm only 1 month out from my surgery (had it
on Jan 11) and I already don't mind how it looks at all. And I
almost didn't have the surgery for the same reasons as your mother -
looks! I was so worried beforehand and loaded up on tons of sunblock
and scar cream, but honestly, I had no idea how relieved I would feel
to know with 100% certainty that I did not have cancer. I thought I
would feel immense regret for having the surgery if it turned out to
be benign, but really, it's like I can go about everything else in my
life now without any more stress over this stupid thyroid thing. I
think your mother will truly be pleasantly surprised post-surgery at
how minimal the scarring is, and more importantly, how wonderful it
is to KNOW what's going on with her body. My scar is 1.5 inches long
and in one of my neck creases. Just make sure she gets a good
thyroid surgeon (someone who performs at least 50 thyroid surgeries a
year) and she will be fine. Good luck!

- Lily

--- In ThyroidDisease2@yahoogroups.com, NatalieS <nstasiuk@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for your reply Wanda ...I forwarded it to my
> sister and I think it really scared us both ...we
> really need to sit down with my mother and talk to her
> about it and try to convince her ....
>
> We never knew it had anything to do with your heart !
> The only problem is ..my mom is real stubburn ...and
> really cares about her looks ..if it were to be a scar
> where you don't see it she wouldn't even think twice
> ...what she doesn't understand is what would you
> rather have ...a scar or your life ? I wish the
> surgeons (we had 2 opinions) would have pushed sugery
> ...she said she didn't want it and he said ok .,then
> we'll take another scan in 6 months ...it will be her
> 3rd scan ....and each time the follicular neoplasm is
> growing in size. The surgeon mentioned it could be
> cancerous so she was a nervous wreck and had a hard
> time sleeping for a few days but now she forgot all
> about it. I just feel that if we don't convince her
> and something happens, I'll feel very guilty ....I'm
> more worried about it then her ..
> I just had surgery on some female problems and I told
> her ...I didn't wait, I took care of it and so should
> you with your problem. She just ignored me. :(
>
>
>
> --- WANDA BRIDGEMAN <peacefrogsribbett@...>
> wrote:
>
> > PLEASE TELL YOUR MOM IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE IT
> > REMOVED.
> > I HAVE A FRIEND WITH THYROID CANCER AND IT ONLY
> > GETS WORSE. I WOULD RATHER LIVE WITH A SCAR THAN TO
> > GO THRU WHAT MY FRIEND IS GOING THRU.
> > I ALSO HAVE HAD THE SURGERY AND I CAN HARDLY SEE
> > MY SCAR.IT HAS BEEN A BUMPY ROAD FOR ME BUT ALL IS
> > BETTER NOW. I WILL BE BLUNT AND TELL YOU WHAT MY
> > DOCTOR TOLD ME AND MY HUSBAND "YOU DONT PLAY
> > AROUND
> > WITH THE THYROID IT WILL KILL YOU" IT CONTROLS SO
> > MANY FUNCTIONS OF THE BODY. ESPECIALLY THE
> > HEART!!!!!!! I JUST LOST A VERY DEAR FRIEND WHO WAS
> > ONLY 45 TO HEART FAILIOR DUE TO THYROID. HE IGNORED
> > THE SYMPTOMS AND PAID DEARLY WITH HIS LIFE SO YOU
> > TELL YOUR MOM TO GO AND GET IT DONE
> > SO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN HAVE HER AROUND FOR A
> > LONG TIME.ALOT OF PEOPLE THINK THE THYROID IS NOT
> > SERIOUS BUT IT IS. DO YOUR RESEARCH AND SHOW HER.I
> > AM SO THANKFUL I HAD A DOCTOR WHO WAS UP FRONT AND
> > HONEST. MINE WAS SO BAD I ALMOST DIED BECAUSE I WAS
> > GOING TO DOCTORS WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE MY PROBLEM
> > THEN FINALLY I WENT TO AN EAR NOSE AND THROAT DOCTOR
> > THANK GOD FOR I FOUND HER!!!!! SO IF YOU HAVE
> > TO,,,,,HOG TIE HER AND MAKE HER GET IT DONE
> > WANDA
> > Thanks for your reply Donna. My mother is
> > stubburn and
> > thinks it will all just go away by itself. We go
> > back
> > for a 3rd scan in April. But at our last visit the
> > doctor said he wanted to schedule surgery and she
> > refused. Has anyone heard if this surgery (thyroid
> > removal) forgot what it's called ....can be done
> > laparoscopic ? I know the only thing stopping from
> > getting anything done is the scar ...but I'm afraid
> > it
> > can lead to cancer ..I mentioned to her before but
> > she
> > denies it.
> >
> > --- Donna B <berry_berrybad@...> wrote:
> >
> > > I had a FNA (needle in the neck to take a biopsy)
> > > and because it was
> > > follicular neoplasm they couldn't really make a
> > > proper diagnosis without
> > > operating. (Although I found this out later - my
> > > original doctor led me to
> > > beleive that it was a done deal that I had
> > cancer!)
> > > I assumed this was
> > > correct because I was sent to a specialist who
> > then
> > > sent me to an oncologist
> > > who simply said the diseased thyroid must come
> > out.
> > > I had my thyroid removed and the scar is about 2.5
> > > inches across and after
> > > two years has gone to a faint white line.
> > > Mine was a mess apparently but not full blown
> > cancer
> > > - the oncologist said
> > > that if it had not have been removed that it would
> > > have turned cancerous.
> > > It has taken two years to feel a new 'normal' and
> > on
> > > Oroxin for life, but is
> > > sure better than having to face cancer down the
> > > track.
> > > I hope your Mum gets treated soon.
> > >
> > >
> > > _____
> > >
> > > From: ThyroidDisease2@yahoogroups.com
> > > [mailto:ThyroidDisease2@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
> > > Of NStasiuk
> > > Sent: Friday, 9 February 2007 12:29 PM
> > > To: ThyroidDisease2@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subject: [ThyroidDisease] Follicuar Neoplasm
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > My mom has a follicular neoplasm and the surgeon
> > > wants to remove it but
> > > of course she just wants to keep waiting because
> > she
> > > does not want a
> > > scar. It does not bother her so she really doesn't
> > > care. She's had 2 ct
> > > scans so far and it is slowlt getting bigger. Is
> > > there any test that
> > > she can have done to test it if is cancerous ? I
> > > read someone had a
> > > needle biopsy done and they could tell by it if it
> > > is cancerous...is
> > > that correct ? and I've heard other stories that
> > > they can't tell till
> > > they go in take it out and test it. I'm a bit
> > > confused. I only want
> > > what is bested for my mom. She had a needle biobsy
> > > done but they didn't
> > > say if it was or wasn't cancer. Can they really
> > tell
> > > ?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> > > removed]
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
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