A good friend of mine posed this excellent question. For about 1.5 years my throat has been scratchy…my doctor (primary care) decided it was sinus and gave me antibiotics and decongestants. I insisted on an ENT visit and the ENT IMMEDIATELY felt a 2 cm nodule. Now, 95% of thyroid nodules are benign, but because of its size, they did and ultrasound, then a biopsy, which came back as papillary carcinoma. (See...I am uncommon after all! Only about 20,000 cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed in the US per year!)By the way, if you ever have to have a fine needle aspirate (type of biopsy) done, it really is no big deal.I have to admit, I am sort of put out about the fact that my primary care physician didn't feel the nodule, as it was palpable and she did the whole neck exam in March.
Moral...if you don't agree with your doctor, insist on a visit to a specialist.
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