I have an appointment to see thyroid surgeon for evaluation

hopeing and praying
well lets see if i can try to answer some of your questions

it sounds like you have an enlarged thyroid or thyroid node.

yes a large amount of enlarged thyroid nodes are non cancerous time to quote from sites..
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http://www.mythyroid.com/thyroidnodules.html

Nodules may be solid or filled with fluid (cystic). Thyroid cysts are less likely to be malignant, although cystic nodules with significant solid components (referred to as complex nodules) should be evaluated as solid nodules. Generally, the larger the nodule, the greater possibility that thyroid cancer may be present. Nevertheless, more than 90% of solid thyroid nodules are usually benign. Nodules may occur as single isolated occurrences (single or solitary nodules), or several nodules may be present (a multinodular gland). Having more than one nodule in the thyroid does not imply a more worrisome problem.
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Blood tests http://thyroid.about.com/library/howto/htthyroid-test.htm
# Find out your thyroid test results from your doctor's office.
# If you can, get a hard copy printout for your own review and home medical files.
# If "normal" or "reference" ranges are not indicated on the lab results, ask your doctor's office to tell you what these ranges are.
# Note the level of your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). At most labs in the U.S., up until late 2002, the normal range is from around 0.5 to 5.5. That range changed to .3 to 3 as of early 2003.
# If the TSH level is below normal, your doctor may determine that you are hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid.)
# If the TSH level is above normal, your doctor may determine that you are hypothyroid (underactive thyroid.)
# If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a high TSH, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
# If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a low TSH, your doctor might look into a pituitary problem.
# If your doctor ran a test called Free T4, or Free Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 0.7 to 2.0. If your result was less than 0.7, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
# If your doctor ran a test called Total T3, normal range is approximately 80 to 220. If your result was less than 80, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
# If your doctor ran a test called Free T3, normal range is approximately 2.3 to 4.2. If your result was less than 2.3, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
# If your test results come back "normal" but you have many of the symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, make sure you ask for an antibodies test. Some doctors believe in treating thyroid symptoms in the presence of elevated antibodies and normal TSH levels.
# If your test results come back "normal" but you have many of the symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, consider going to a reputable holistic M.D. or alternative physician for further interpretation and diagnosis.
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is the thyroid bothering you.. when i had mine removed one of the nodes was 7+cm (think pool ball) and was making it harder to breath.

yes they will probably do a fine needle biopsy
it will either come back clean, positive for cancer, or inconclusive
but they will be able to tell what type of thyroid cells they are.

mine showed up inconclusive and it turned out when they removed 1/2 my thyroid that i had 2 different types of thyroid cancer. so they removed the rest of it.

in my case if it wasn't making it harder to breath they would have waited a few months and watched it.

they can either remove 1/2 the thyroid or the entire thyroid with either surgery it is probably that you will be on thyroid replacement for the rest of your life 1 small pill a day.

if it is inoperable they may use Radioactive iodine to shrink it to make it easier to operate.

if they find out it is cancerous get it removed and do the Radioactive iodine treatment. (from what i know its a breeze compared to chemo)

my year experience is listed in a forum below http://csn.cancer.org/node/204377

I recommend www.thyca.org they have a real good listing of everything.

if they leave it, and its non cancerous it will probably go back to normal size in a few months.

thyroid cancer has a normal life expectancy cause you can be on thyroid replacement pills for the rest of your life with minimal problems and lead a normal life

please ask questions we will try to give you answers. If you don't understand what the doc says get a printout of it ask them to explain it and then ask us we might have some good questions to ask your doctor.

good luck and keep us informed please

Craig

I know exactly how you're feeling right now!!!
I just went through the very exact same thing you are going through! I had one very large “Cold” mass tissue nodule and several very small nodules. We decided not to do a biopsy because I was having problems breathing and the nodules were only going to continue to grow, causing my airways to eventually shut off completely. Most of the signs I had also pointed to cancerous; cold mass tissues, they say a more likely to be cancerous. I had a total thyroidectomy (TT) as you will see people refer to it as that on this site, on Jan 3rd just 1 week ago today. I was so scared I was going out of my mind. I knew about all these things for about 4 or 5 months prior to the actual surgery, so I had a lot of time to research, ponder and worry myself to death. I done most of my research through the National Cancer Society website because I wanted to be positive I was reading legitimate sources! I got my results back just the other day and I am Cancer Free! So you see dear, no matter what the odds point to, you really never know until you know for sure. Just trust in your Doc, and if you don’t find another one that you do. Let them guide you and I am sure they will take great care of you. I know it is hard but you will make it through I am sure of that!

To be honest with you I was freaking out so bad I went to my general Doc about a month b4 the surgery complaining and winning around scared and all. She decided it would be in my best interest to start Prozac once a day and xanax twice a day to help me relax and focus on schooling; I am in college and it was really affecting my concentration with all the worries and also having 3 children and a husband to deal with (might as well say 4 children if ya count him, lol). It really helped me and I am still on the medz as long as I need them. Maybe this might be something that you might want to talk to your Doc about and maybe not I just thought I’d share my experience with you. I hope all goes well with you!

Sincerely,
~Christy~