Non Cancerous Adenoma!

What the crap is that you ask?  That is the cause of this nasty lump on my thyroid. Symptoms are usually indistinguishable from cancer until tests are done to confirm benign cells in the tumour.  It will be removed and the symptoms should retreat.  No word on when surgery is, or if I will be keeping my left thyroid lobe, but my joy, at the non cancerous diagnosis, is big.

more information follows below, via: http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/adenoma?print=true

Adenoma


Definition : A benign (noncancerous) tumor that forms from the cells lining the inside or the surface of an organ.

Description
Adenomas arise from cells that are specialized for secretion. These cells, called epithelial cells, are found throughout the body, but only a fraction is designed for secretion. This type of epithelial cell makes up specific organs and structures in the body known as glands. Glands produce sweat, saliva, mucus, milk, digestive juices, hormones, and an array of other substances. Hormone-secreting (endocrine) glands include the thyroid, pituitary, parathyroids, adrenals, and the ovaries and testes. Gland cells that secrete material outward through a duct, such as sweat glands and glands secreting digestive juices into the stomach and intestines, are called exocrine glands. Adenomas can arise from most of the gland cells in the body.

Adenomas result from excessive growth of normal epithelial cells. They arise in much the same way as malignant (cancerous) tumors but do not spread (metastasize) to nearby tissue or other parts of the body. New cells are normally created only when they are needed by the body. When the body does not need new cells and cell division continues, a mass or tumor is formed.

Tumors found on some glands are more likely to be adenomas than malignant tumors (carcinomas), including adrenal tumors, pituitary tumors, and salivary gland tumors.

The occurrence of an adenoma rarely indicates an increased chance for the later development of a carcinoma. However, colon cancer and rectal cancer are thought to arise from adenomas, and one type of lung adenoma—called a bronchial adenoma—can potentially develop into lung cancer.

Most adenomas secrete hormones, leading to elevated hormone levels in the blood and causing uncomfortable and sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Causes and symptoms

The cause of adenomas is often unknown. Liver adenomas in women are linked to the use of oral contraceptives, and some conditions, such as pheochromocytomas and colon adenomas, can be inherited.

No single set of symptoms can be applied to all adenomas. Some disorders have similar or identical symptoms whether due to an adenoma or carcinoma. Ultimately, the signs and symptoms depend on the location of the adenoma:

Thyroid: a lump in the neck region accompanied by a cough and difficulty swallowing or breathing often indicates a benign thyroid nodule; however, these are the same symptoms for thyroid cancer.

Diagnosis

A variety of techniques is used to diagnose adenomas. Blood and urine samples are taken to detect elevated levels of hormones or other substances associated with a specific adenoma. Tumors are located using a combination of ultrasonography, computed tomography scan (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and possibly radionuclide imaging. A biopsy is performed to determine whether a tumor is benign or malignant.

Clinical staging, treatments, and prognosis
Surgical removal is the recommended treatment for most adenomas, although the symptoms of some adenomas, such as pituitary tumors, can be treated with medication. In most cases, treatment cures the condition.