RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER. THYROIDECTOMY?

MaggieBernhardt

Hello everyone, I am a 44 year old female and was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer on January 17th of this year. Is a total thyroidectomy the best option for me?! Hoping you can help!

Here's my story - In the fall of 2023 I woke up with "frozen shoulder" (adhesive capsulitis is the medical term), in my left shoulder. After dealing with the frozen shoulder for several months and hoping it would just go away, I decided to see an orthopedic doctor in March of 2024. During my initial appointment with the orthopedic doctor he asked me if I had my thyroid checked recently and explained that some cases of frozen shoulder are linked to thyroid issues. I did not think much of this and brushed it off. However, in the spring/summer of 2024 I started experiencing the following symptoms: light headedness, dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty focusing, memory loss, significant weight loss, brain fog, etc. My primary care doctor ordered bloodwork and the results showed hyperthyroidism. I was then referred to an endocrinologist and was diagnosed with Grave's disease in August of 2024.

Several years prior to this diagnosis I had genetic testing done (various forms of cancer run on both sides of my family and I wanted to be proactive). The results showed that I have a CHEK2 gene mutation. This mutation makes me at higher risk for certain types of cancer (potentially thyroid but there are not enough studies yet). With the CHEK2 gene mutation, I asked my endocrinologist if I should have an ultrasound done of my thyroid…. fast forward to January of this year… I finally had the ultrasound done. The ultrasound showed one nodule on each side of the thyroid that met the criteria for fine needle aspiration. The results of the fine needle aspiration came back as papillary thyroid cancer.

When given the results over the phone by a nurse at my endocrinologist office, I was told that my only option was to schedule surgery for a total thyroidectomy….. I have since met with two surgeons, two endocrinologists and my primary care doctor, all of which say that my best option for care is a total thyroidectomy.

I am having a hard time wrapping my head around this being my only option. Can anyone offer any advise on this?