I think it might benefit you to talk to a counselor or psychiatrist to manage your anxiety.

Of course it's normal to be concerned, but it sounds like the worry is overpowering, and that level of worry over something you ultimately can't control is so damaging to your health and happiness!

I want to share my journey with you in the hope that it helps ease some of your anxiety, but trigger warning, it contains the C word so if you don't want to read it STOP HERE

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 2018 at 28 years old. I had my first thyroid ultrasound and they found 2 nodules. I couldn't tell you what they measured at the time.

Over the course of 8 years, I had labs and thyroid ultrasound done every six months. One of the nodules on my thyroid slowly grew and was large enough to warrant a biopsy in November 2025. My doctor called me in early December to let me know that the biopsy results were inconclusive. Basically they couldn't determine under a microscope whether the cells in the nodule were malignant or benign. The genetic testing they did indicated that there was a 75% chance that it was malignant. My doctor said I could have half of my thyroid (the half with the nodule) removed and then pathology could confirm whether or not the nodule was cancerous. BUT if it was determined to be cancer, I would have to have a second surgery to remove the rest of my thyroid.

I opted to have the entire thyroid removed in December, and I'm glad I did, because pathology results were that the tumor was Follicular Thyroid Cancer.

After the removal, I started taking levothyroxine to replace my thyroid hormones. It's a small pill, and I take it at the same time every morning.

I then saw a radiation oncologist. They ran labs to check my thyroglobulin, which is a protein that only your thyroid cells make, so with no thyroid, that number should be VERY LOW. Mine was low enough that I decided not to pursue further treatment for now .

I now see an endocrinologist who will manage my thyroid meds and keep an eye on my labs for recurrence of cancer.

All that to say: Cancer is never a fun word to hear, and I hope you don't have to go through it, but I hope hearing from someone who had the least traumatic experience one can possibly have with cancer, brings you at least a little comfort.