How common is thyroid cancer?

I’m now 49 years old. I started gaining weight more than normal in ‘17. I didn’t think much of it. Then in February of ‘18 my dog knocked my feet out from under me and I ended up with 2 herniated discs which resulted in cervical spine fusion last July. Since then I have put on 15lbs. You would think it was because of my surgery and being sedate. No. After physical therapy ending in September I joined a gym. Since then I’ve been going for an hour at a time 3-5x’s a week. I’ve done a low carb diet for 2 months. No weight loss.

So I decided to get my thyroid checked. My TSH is within normal limits. My FT4 is .2 below of the normal range and I was advised to follow up in 3 months. However, the very same day as my blood work I had an appt with my ENT. He put a scope in my nose and I found that I am severely inflamed from my vocal chords to my thyroid from acid reflux. I have a cyst at the bottom of my tongue preventing the flap closing all the way. I’m now on 2 anti-acid medications. I also had a thyroid ultrasound the same day and they found a benign 3mm cyst on my left thyroid but a .9cm solid nodule on my right thyroid.

My father died of stage 4 esophagel/thyroid cancer and to be honest after getting the results of my ultrasound, I’m quite scared. So actually, how common is thyroid cancer and I need to know what you think my odds are. I have a follow up appt with my ENT on Friday and even if he doesn’t suggest it. I’m going to demand a FNA.

Sherry, I read your post & wanted to see how your appt with the ENT went Friday. If you are checking in, I hope you will come back & give an update.

Take care.