I run a lumber yard and I have no medical experience. In January 09 I didn't even know where my thyroid was. As of April I didn't know where it was again. I assume its sitting in lab somewhere. (A little cancer humor).
My doctor who I think is a pretty good guy told me in the past they would remove half and test the rest and do a 2nd operation if needed. He said that since most of the time they had to go back and remove the other half the new standard is to remove the whole thing the 1st time. In my case the pathology report came back with Papillary Cancer on both sides. I am really glad he took the whole thing out.
Right now there is an active post about 2nd surgeries. You should look at that also.
Here is my non medical opinion:
Listen to your doctor. If you want a new deck, roof, or front door see your local independent lumber yard. If you have a medical condition see your doctor.
Don't let all the negative crap and negative people rule your decisions. I walked away from this site for a while because of all the negative crap. I came back and now just ignore it.
Don't be afraid to get a 2nd opinion. I sure did and I'm glad about it. Now I can't 2nd guess myself and say I should have.
If you haven't, log onto www. THYCA.ORG . I think they are awesome. I went to a seminar they had here in DC a few weeks after my surgery. I sat in a room with almost 100 people who were happy, alive, and leading normal lives anywhere from 2 weeks (me) to 25 years after surgery.
Understand that everyone is different and will have a unique experience. Some people here are having a rough time since surgery. I rode in a Bike A Thon 7 weeks and 1 day after my surgery, I rode 100 miles total while on vacation a few weeks ago and rode 31.5 miles last Sunday, and I just got back from a workout and a little Racquetball (tennis on steroids, awesome sport). I'm not back 100% but I'll be damned if I am going to let this cancer rule my rest of my life.

Also remember something like 99% of the time it is very treatable. It sucks, its unfair and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy but I plan on my birthday (in 2 days) being just one of many more to come.

And finally: Again I am not a doctor and haven't stayed in a Holiday In Express for a few years but I'm living proof you can beat this and go on with your life.

I got my cancer diagnosis in feb of this year and was rushed into a thyroidectomy as if it were an emergency.

The truth is most thyroid cancer is very slow growing and non lethal.
Some folks with papillary thyroid cancer live to a ripe old age never even knowing they have cancer.

Doctors get kind of extreme wanting to rush you into over- treatment.
I would not have surgery without a biopsy confirming cancer. If the cancer is so small that they can't confirm it with a fine needle biopsy then there is no need for surgery. She should insist on knowing what stage her cancer is before consenting to surgery.
They have clinical trials to treat small carcinomas without surgery and she needs to make everyone slow down and stop the madness.

My husband had a tyroid cancer they remove his tyroid completely, he had 2 surgery and I wish they did take it all in one surgery. He is taking Syntroid for the rest of his life. He get irritated and it is not very pleasant. Don't be surprised if your friend will hate you for no reason. My husband hate me and even if I did not do nothing. He yells at my children including me to get away. He is a very loving & nice person before the cancer now he doesn't love me at all, I can't even say I love you to him, he hate me when I say that word. I can't even go to his doctors appointment because He is not allowing me to go. he told the doctor that I am not allowed to give & get information.It is hard for me and the my children to cope with this circumtances but God is helping us to be strong.

I agree with icvolt. I had a needle biopsy that was inconclusive, then a lobectomy (one lobe removed)- this came back with multifocal papillary cancer and spread to lymphnodes, with recommendation of 2nd surgery and radiation. Even with this I have not rushed, consulted different doctors etc. The truth is many surgeons will not give you all the options and if your friend is under 46, and the cancer is in 1 nodule, under 1.5cm and has not spread, she may be able to get away with not having the other lobe out. I must now get the second surgery and radiation, but only because my cancer is higher risk being multifocal and with metastasis (spread). All the best to her

Hi,
I also had my whole thyroid removed and I have cancer on both sides of my thyroid. I am actually glad that I didn't have to go through 2 surgeries.

They found my Cancer in January of 2006 and I had it removed in July (I was to ill before that with other problems for the surgery) by the time they removed the Thyroid the cancer had spread. The Doctor told me it was in everything they touched. This was followed by Radio Active Iodine (going hypo for this is by far the worst part of the treatment). When talking to the Doctors I am learning that is very important to ask them what might happen after the treatment they are leading you to. I had no idea about the RAI was possible until after the sugary.

Last year I relapsed and had to have a neck Dissection. This year my blood work still shows that I have the cancer but they cannot find where it is hiding. They want to do my 3rd round of Radioactive Iodine in a few weeks but this time I will not need to go hypo (thank God)

You say your friend has probable thyroid cancer, what did the Fine Needle Aspiration show or did they do one. Is she already taking Thyroid replacement? Does she have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? I ask these questions to try and help answer the question should they just take the whole Thyroid. I pushed for the full TT because I already knew that I would have to take the meds for the rest of my life and wanted avoid the possibility of facing a 2nd surgery.

I hope this helps

Odell