I just got a call that my dr. detected a nodule on my thyroid through an ultrasound and would like me to have a biopsy. i am a young mom of 2 and i can't stop being upset. please advise me re your expertise on this subject. my dr. is away.

Even : Even nodules that prove to be cancerous if less than one to one and a half centimeters in general, do not affect life span. Most common thyroid cancers are easily curable. And most nodules about 85% are benign. Nodules less than 1 cm are usually not clinically important but some doctors still biopsy them. We do not use chemotherapy for most thyroid cancers. If you can, i would advise seeing an endocrinologist before even going for the biopsy. Depending on many factors, about 10% of biopsies do not give a clear cut answer. See the link below and click on thyroid nodules.

Most : Most thyroid nodules in adults are of benign nature and having a biopsy or fine needle aspiration certainly does not imply that you are in danger. It has been the standard approach that any individual with a thyroid nodule that is greater than 1 cm to have it biopsied to make sure the lesion is benign (which again will likely be so). Best of luck. Cayce t. Jehaimi, M.D., faap pediatric endocrinology & diabetes the children's hospital of southwest florida fort myers, fl usa.