Thyroid Surgery When Pregnant?

I would wait. My husband had thyroid cancer which we found out it was cancer from a 'fine needle aspiration'. You said he did a biopsy but to find out for sure if it is cancer and which kind, you need to have a radiologist do the fine needle aspiration. That should be safe while you are pregnant as you are fully awake. I think my husband had this for years and like Hollie wrote, most kinds are fully treatable and curable. There are 5 kinds of thyroid cancer and most are fully curable and there is no huge hurry if you don't have other lumps in your neck where it is spreading. Send me a msg. if you have questions. I would definately ask for the fine needle aspiration test. My husband said it pinched but wasn't too painful and then they had a sample to know for sure that it was cancer and what kind.
Sending prayers your way!

Just on the subject of surgery itself... my sister-in-law was in a car accident when she was about 25 weeks pregnant. They did emergency back surgery on her, lasted about 4 hours. She & baby were just fine. The worry we had was that they didn't monitor baby while she had her surgery (again, emergency)-they had to get her back fixed before she was paralyzed from thrashing around in pain. My nephew is fine, an 8 year old little poop & sweetheart (like all boys are). Since you're able to plan this, I don't see why you could ask for them to monitor baby & you both. Based on the fact that they can't tell you 100% it's benign I'd opt for having the surgery now-who knows what could happen in the next 20 weeks. On the off chance that it's not benign that's 20 weeks longer that you'd have to let it infest your body, possibly causing other damage. Talk to your doc, talk to the surgeon, see what they recommend. If it's relatively safe to do this now, I'd do it personally.

I had a nodule with my 2nd pregnancy and they found out I was hyperactive thyroid and waited til Igave birth. I was nursing but they said it was OK to take these PTU pills that reversed the situation. Maybe see if that's an option? Are you going to a specialist...endocrinologist? Make sure you are.

Dear J.,
I would wait to have the surgery until after the birth of your child. Thyroid cancer IF that's what it is, is the slowest growing form of cancer. I know I had my thyroid removed years ago because it was cancerous. Of course I was not pregnant at the time. They deduced from the size of the tumors on my thyroid that the cancer had started 8 years previously. Now I know that everyone is different, but I do know that waiting 20 more weeks is not going to make that much difference, in the size or spread of this. I would put off surgery until after you give birth, it will be easier on you and on the baby. That's just my thoughts.

Good luck and God bless,

A. J

I had surgery when I was about 20 weeks pregnant, I had my gallbladder removed so that I would not end up with pancreatitis while pregnant (I had gallstones in my bile duct). Though it would not be the first choice to have surgery while pregnant, it is completely safe and an option. Both you and the baby would be monitored during the surgery, and after as well. They would need to be careful in choosing some of the pain medications and anti-nausea medications but that is easily done. Good luck! Do what you feel is best.

My sister had 3 surgeries which required anesthesia while she was pregnant. She had terrible kidney stones and had to keep having her stents replaced. Then in the end she had to be induced 3 weeks early because of the kidney stones. She had a beautiful, healthy, baby girl. The anesthesia didn’t affect the baby at all. She was well monitored during each surgery and in fact my sister told me the baby was very active during the surgeries. Just thought you might want to hear a success story! Good luck!

I'll put in a wait until after you deliver vote. I had a nodule on my thyroid that was discovered right after I delivered my second child, and had a fine needle aspiration that turned up inconclusive, but I waited until my baby girl was six months old to have surgery. When they got in there they had to remove the nodule and half my thyroid. Thankfully it wasn't cancer. But I waited six months because I had had a gut feeling that it was going to be okay and I wanted to wait until my baby was starting on other foods and wasn't relying on breast milk as much in case the surgery stopped my milk supply. I also wanted to make it easier on all those who helped me recover- although that was pretty quick.
Check with Dr.s and go with your intuition. I wish you all the best!

As someone who had this surgery and did have cancer, I hope that I can help you make this decision. Wait for the surgery until after your baby is born. The thyriod affects way more in your body then most people understand. I would hate for the changes and surgery to cause something to happen to your child. Also MOST types of thyriod cancer(if it is cancer) are easily treated with surgery and then followed up with radioactive iodine...so even if you wait 20 weeks for the surgery the RAI will help get rid of the cancer no matter if it has spread. But only you can decided what is best for you. I will be sending prayers your way. And if you need anyone to talk about it please feel free to send me a msg.

I would talk to your OB. Together (and maybe with the input of the endocrinologist) you can weight the benefits and risks of each option. I have heard of surgury under general anesthesia during pregnancy, but if it's safe enough to wait (that you're not risking a possible cancer spreading) it might be a better route. But if the potential malignancy could spread fast, it might be a better option for both you and the baby to have it removed.

i am sorry I have no info for you. That is a hard decision sand in the end it is up to you? Which decision can you handle the best? It is most likely nothing, but what if it isnt? The surgery is most likely safe for your baby but what if it isnt? I dont think anyone can help you with this decision, but you. Did you ask the doc about the dangers of waiting a few months? Good luck and I wish you the best!

I don't know anything about safety of surgery while pregnant - I just wonder how hard it would be to have it with a newborn baby. Do you have a lot of family and friends to turn to if you have an elongated hospital stay?

Good luck! Praying it's benign.

Hi, J.,

I would also echo waiting if you can, but definitely talk to you MD about it. If you can do the fine needle to get better info, do that as well.

I had a CYST on my neck BEFORE I got pregnant, but shortly after they discovered it, I got pregnant. My MD had me wait (almost 3 months) AFTER I delivered before they removed it. So I went much longer than you before surgery, but it was nice that I had delivered already. Turns out, the cyst had a little piece of papillary thryoid cancer in it. I was monitored with numerous U/S afterward, and Glory Be to God, I have not had any other cancer show up. So I was lucky because they did not have to remove my thyroid or do RAI. HOWEVER, like many ladies said, even if it IS cancer, most forms of thyroid cancer are super slow growing, and CURABLE!

Talk to your MD, and see if you can talk to an Endocrinologist if possible. They deal with this ALL the time.

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.

Chrissy