Hi I forgot. The lady is well and is able to speak well with no loss of voice or tone and no chemical (calcium) imbalance. The pathology report however revealed a type of thyroid cancer growing within the left lobe. The type of cancer is called Papillary Cancer of the Thyroid Gland. My decision to remove the whole gland was definitely called for.
So what is this cancer?

Papillary Cancer of the Thyroid

    It is the commonest cancer of the thyroid making for more than 70% of cases.

    High cure rate with ten year survival rates for all patients with papillary thyroid cancer estimated at 80-90%.

    Peak onset ages 30 through 50

    Females more common than males by 3 to 1 ratio

    Spread to lymph nodes of the neck present in more than 50% of cases

    Distant spread (to lungs or bones) is very uncommon

    The etiology of papillary carcinoma is yet to be elucidated

    associations:
    1.Molecular – Activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RET/PTC, TRK, MET)
    – A 10-fold increased risk of thyroid cancer in relatives of patients
    with thyroid cancer

    2. Iodine excess

    3. Radiation

1
Papillary cancer (low resolution). Notice the frond-like projections.

2
Psammoma body within a papillary cancer. Optically clear nuclei are circled in blue.

However, her treatment does not stop here. She would need serum thyroglobulin levels, body scan and if any remnant thyroid tissue is present, then she would require radioiodine ablation.