Thryglobulin test result

MLG

Simpson said:

Don't stay confused
I suggest you to consult to the specialists soon. Don't stay confused it will make the situation much worser. Visit as many specialists as you can and get through it. I wish you all the best for your health progress.
MNUI

What to do
I had papillary thyroid cancer and had a TT in August 2008,with 6 lymph nodes taken out of my neck, 4 of them being cancerous. RAI 6 weeks after.
My thyroglobulin level has always been 0.2 (virtually nondetectible),and I've gone every 4 months to have that done since my surgery.
Just found out the thyroglobulin is now at 14. I am having the two thyrogen injections next week, low dose of RAI then two days later a whole body scan.
The doctor who always checks my bloodwork and neck is still my surgeon (an ENT surgeon) who is highly recommended (even by most nurses)and he has been highly recommended as far as the thyroid cancer surgeon.
I've read where some people are going to an oncologist. Do most areas have one who specializes in thyroid cancer?
After reading posts, I pretty much know there is either thyroid tissue regrowth or cancer cells, both of which should be removed, but I am afraid that if the body scan doesn't show anything then my doctor won't do anything. I always thought an ultrasound was done first and then the body scan.
If it doesn't show anything should I request an ultrasound? But wouldn't they only be doing the ultrasound around my neck and what if it is someplace else, the ultrasound wouldn't show it.
I know I wouldn't be able to stand the thought of my thyroglobulin levels being higher, and if the scan doesn't show anything then just sitting around for another 3-6 months until he would want to do another scan.
Plus, this surgeon doesn't feel the need to be put on a low iodine diet, either for the scan plus he told me that I didn't need to do it before my ablation, 1 1/2 years ago.
Should I be seeing an oncologist instead of a highly experienced ENT surgeon?
I live in central Illinois and in my city there is an facility called Cancer Center of Peoria, my surgeon is the head doctor of the thyroid cancer part of that facility.
Thanks for any insight on thyroglobulin and body scans.

Michelle

miladyx

MLG said:

What to do
I had papillary thyroid cancer and had a TT in August 2008,with 6 lymph nodes taken out of my neck, 4 of them being cancerous. RAI 6 weeks after.
My thyroglobulin level has always been 0.2 (virtually nondetectible),and I've gone every 4 months to have that done since my surgery.
Just found out the thyroglobulin is now at 14. I am having the two thyrogen injections next week, low dose of RAI then two days later a whole body scan.
The doctor who always checks my bloodwork and neck is still my surgeon (an ENT surgeon) who is highly recommended (even by most nurses)and he has been highly recommended as far as the thyroid cancer surgeon.
I've read where some people are going to an oncologist. Do most areas have one who specializes in thyroid cancer?
After reading posts, I pretty much know there is either thyroid tissue regrowth or cancer cells, both of which should be removed, but I am afraid that if the body scan doesn't show anything then my doctor won't do anything. I always thought an ultrasound was done first and then the body scan.
If it doesn't show anything should I request an ultrasound? But wouldn't they only be doing the ultrasound around my neck and what if it is someplace else, the ultrasound wouldn't show it.
I know I wouldn't be able to stand the thought of my thyroglobulin levels being higher, and if the scan doesn't show anything then just sitting around for another 3-6 months until he would want to do another scan.
Plus, this surgeon doesn't feel the need to be put on a low iodine diet, either for the scan plus he told me that I didn't need to do it before my ablation, 1 1/2 years ago.
Should I be seeing an oncologist instead of a highly experienced ENT surgeon?
I live in central Illinois and in my city there is an facility called Cancer Center of Peoria, my surgeon is the head doctor of the thyroid cancer part of that facility.
Thanks for any insight on thyroglobulin and body scans.

Michelle

Hi MLG - is your tg of 14
while you are on your thyroid meds??? if so, did the tg go up from 0.2 to 14 in just 4 months? This is quite a jump. Do you know if the same lab was used to measure your blood work results? IF the WBS does not show anything i would definitely request an ultrasound and/or a PET/CT.

... and yes, in my humble opinion you do need an endocrinologist as that is the type of doctor that specializes in thyroid cancer treatment. Most people do not see their surgeons much after their operation...

MLG

miladyx said:

Hi MLG - is your tg of 14
while you are on your thyroid meds??? if so, did the tg go up from 0.2 to 14 in just 4 months? This is quite a jump. Do you know if the same lab was used to measure your blood work results? IF the WBS does not show anything i would definitely request an ultrasound and/or a PET/CT.

... and yes, in my humble opinion you do need an endocrinologist as that is the type of doctor that specializes in thyroid cancer treatment. Most people do not see their surgeons much after their operation...

For 1 1/2 years my
For 1 1/2 years my thyroglobulin has been 0.2 while on Synthroid.
I had my bloodwork done last Nov. 2009, still 0.2

Now, in March it is 14.

How does someone find a good endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid cancer?

miladyx

MLG said:

For 1 1/2 years my
For 1 1/2 years my thyroglobulin has been 0.2 while on Synthroid.
I had my bloodwork done last Nov. 2009, still 0.2

Now, in March it is 14.

How does someone find a good endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid cancer?

there is a ...
... yahoo group (thyca) for thyroid cancer patients... here is the link: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/messages?o=1

You will have to subscribe to become a member but it has many many members and gets heavy traffic. if you post a question in that group asking for endocrinologists in the Chicago area, i would think you have a very good chance of getting recommendations...

By the way do you mind if i ask how old were you when diagnosed?

MLG

miladyx said:

there is a ...
... yahoo group (thyca) for thyroid cancer patients... here is the link: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/messages?o=1

You will have to subscribe to become a member but it has many many members and gets heavy traffic. if you post a question in that group asking for endocrinologists in the Chicago area, i would think you have a very good chance of getting recommendations...

By the way do you mind if i ask how old were you when diagnosed?

I found out 3 days after my
I found out 3 days after my 40th birthday and I am not even 42 yet.

I was supposed to start nursing school and had to have a school physical and that is how they found it.
Put nursing school off a year and started school this past August.

Looks like I might have to put it aside again.

Thanks a lot for your tips.

Michelle

miladyx

MLG said:

I found out 3 days after my
I found out 3 days after my 40th birthday and I am not even 42 yet.

I was supposed to start nursing school and had to have a school physical and that is how they found it.
Put nursing school off a year and started school this past August.

Looks like I might have to put it aside again.

Thanks a lot for your tips.

Michelle

also, please try this website...
http://www.thyca.org/

it has a ton of vital information.

butterfly123

MLG said:

I found out 3 days after my
I found out 3 days after my 40th birthday and I am not even 42 yet.

I was supposed to start nursing school and had to have a school physical and that is how they found it.
Put nursing school off a year and started school this past August.

Looks like I might have to put it aside again.

Thanks a lot for your tips.

Michelle

elevated Tg while on thryoid meds
Hi Michelle-
I had the same thing. I was diagnosed 5 years ago with papillary TC and my Tg shot up a year ago. Before my Tg was always less than 1 while on thyroid meds and even with Tg stimulated. My tg jumped to 6 while on thyroid meds.

I do not want to scare you but I was told that a detection of tg (in the absense of antibodies) and post-RAI treamtent is a clear indicator of residual disease/recurent thyroid cancer. I hope you are able to find a good doctor or endo. I am so fortunate to have a doctor that would not give up trying to find the cancer. BTW, my thyrogen Tg is 50 and my hypo Tg is 150. My ultrasounds are always clean. I have had a lot of tests to find the Tg source including Ultrasounds, RAI tracer dose, Cts, MRIs and Pet/CT. Do not give up looking for the Tg source...although with your history of thyroid cancer in the lymph nodes then it is probably another lymph node that is affected. All my diagnostic tests were negative except the PET. If your doctor does not do anything then you should find another doctor that will.

Wishing you the best and make sure you find a doctor willing to help you. I have had a bad endo in the past and if I was still under that drs care I would really have problems. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

MLG

butterfly123 said:

elevated Tg while on thryoid meds
Hi Michelle-
I had the same thing. I was diagnosed 5 years ago with papillary TC and my Tg shot up a year ago. Before my Tg was always less than 1 while on thyroid meds and even with Tg stimulated. My tg jumped to 6 while on thyroid meds.

I do not want to scare you but I was told that a detection of tg (in the absense of antibodies) and post-RAI treamtent is a clear indicator of residual disease/recurent thyroid cancer. I hope you are able to find a good doctor or endo. I am so fortunate to have a doctor that would not give up trying to find the cancer. BTW, my thyrogen Tg is 50 and my hypo Tg is 150. My ultrasounds are always clean. I have had a lot of tests to find the Tg source including Ultrasounds, RAI tracer dose, Cts, MRIs and Pet/CT. Do not give up looking for the Tg source...although with your history of thyroid cancer in the lymph nodes then it is probably another lymph node that is affected. All my diagnostic tests were negative except the PET. If your doctor does not do anything then you should find another doctor that will.

Wishing you the best and make sure you find a doctor willing to help you. I have had a bad endo in the past and if I was still under that drs care I would really have problems. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

You said that yours came
You said that yours came back and the PET found it. Did you have to go through another ablation and was your Tg a 6 when you had that done?
I might have spoken ahead of what I should but my dr is very, very good at what he does. I was only looking at the "what ifs", what if the scan shows nothing and he does nothing...

That might not be the case.

I wonder, if it is in more lymph nodes if ablation usually takes care of that or if that would be something that they would want to remove with surgery and then do ablation.

Here I go again...I just need to wait until I have the scan and then go from there.

It is really hard though to concentrate. I am in school and haven't been able to really concentrate on studying. I'm sure I'll flunk my test that I have next Wed. considering that is the time I have my thyrogen shots and RAI pill.
Thanks!
Michelle

butterfly123

MLG said:

You said that yours came
You said that yours came back and the PET found it. Did you have to go through another ablation and was your Tg a 6 when you had that done?
I might have spoken ahead of what I should but my dr is very, very good at what he does. I was only looking at the "what ifs", what if the scan shows nothing and he does nothing...

That might not be the case.

I wonder, if it is in more lymph nodes if ablation usually takes care of that or if that would be something that they would want to remove with surgery and then do ablation.

Here I go again...I just need to wait until I have the scan and then go from there.

It is really hard though to concentrate. I am in school and haven't been able to really concentrate on studying. I'm sure I'll flunk my test that I have next Wed. considering that is the time I have my thyrogen shots and RAI pill.
Thanks!
Michelle

Pet and thryoid cancer
Sorry i did not mean to day that your doctor was not good. I wanted to stress the point that an elevated Tg is something that needs to be dealth with. I read all kinds of posts about endos that want to watch and wait. What are they watching? And what are they waiting for?

My Tg of 6 was while I was thyroid meds so it definetly meant that it would be higher with thyrogen or while hypo. My Tg was not stimulated for my PET exam. Tg was 50 with thyrogen and then Tg was 150 while hypo.

When I was going through all the diagnostic testing I did have a tracer dose of RAI (with thyrogen shots). Some times the tracer is not enough to make things "light up" or a tumor/lymph node could be RAI-resistant. Also, when thyroid cancer lights up on a PET it usually does not take up on the RAI WBS...it's a flip flop effect. I actually had both things occur..... When we found the thyroid cancer tumor, I was then treated with a full dose of RAI in the hopes that it would take up RAI (eventhough it lit up on the PET). The tumor is RAI resistent but I also had other areas that did take up the RAI. I have more than one area of concern.

Insurance, at least my insurance, will only cover a PET if RAI tracer dose scan is negative and stimulated Tg is above 10. So depending....you may be able to have a PET done. But hopefully the RAI tracer dose will reveal the source. A PET also means that the tumor is more hungry since it took up the sugar and therefore considered more "agressive."

My lymph nodes were never invloved with my thyroid cancer. I believe the most patients, if they have a recurrent thyroid cancer lymph node, sugery is preferred then RAI.

I know how hard it is to deal with cancer and the unknown. It took about 5 months to find my Tg source and I still have thryoid cancer in my body (18 months later). I hope to start treatment in the next months then take things from there.

Let me know if I can help. I would be interested to know your Tg result after you have the thyrogen injections.

Do you have pure papillary thyroid cancer or a variant of papillary?

Good luck on your exams. I know it's hard and wishing you the best.

BellsAngel69

alapah said:

Just wanted to point out
Just wanted to point out that TSH and Thyroglobulin are two different things. It seems like everyone responding here, even if they say "TSH" really is speaking of thyroglobulin. Thyroglobulin is a tumor indicator but it also may merely indicate the presence of non-cancerous thyroid cells within the body. RAI ablation is intended to kill of all thyroid cells, cancerous or otherwise. Sometimes patients require more than one round of RAI to do this. The aim is to have a very low Tg number, as others have stated. If you have thyroglobulin antibodies (as i do) thyroglobulin is a less effective indicator.

TSH, on the other hand, is thyroid stimulating hormone. In thyroid cancer patients, Synthroid/levothyroxine are dosed at a level high enough to suppress cancer as well as supply the body with the needed hormone. You're basically made to be slightly hyperthroid.

you are correct
I keep typing TSH when I mean TG. Elevated Thyroglobulin indicates a reocurrence. Unfortunately, sometimes even a pet scan won't show anything with elevated TG, that's what happened to me. Mine TG was 29 but the PET was clean, so they thought. Six months later my TG was 130, and a subsequent PET showed a reocurrence in my liver, very, very rare. Lucky me. I just had a liver resection and am waiting for post TG level checks, which won't be done until May.

loispol1

BellsAngel69 said:

you are correct
I keep typing TSH when I mean TG. Elevated Thyroglobulin indicates a reocurrence. Unfortunately, sometimes even a pet scan won't show anything with elevated TG, that's what happened to me. Mine TG was 29 but the PET was clean, so they thought. Six months later my TG was 130, and a subsequent PET showed a reocurrence in my liver, very, very rare. Lucky me. I just had a liver resection and am waiting for post TG level checks, which won't be done until May.

thyroglobulin prior to TT
I had my surgery from April 9 postponed because of a blood clot. My GP/internist ordered a complete thyroid panel for comparison for tests after my surgery. I just got the results and it says my thyroglobulin is 43.6 (H) and the normal range is 1.3-31.8. Of course I still have the thyroid. My doc said the elevation could be coming from the hurthle cell tumor (whether or not it is malignant?). I have hasimotos, FNA hurthle cell neoplasm, multinodular goiter since 1993. Hurthle cell neoplasm was still on small side in February, I think .7x.7x.7 cm. I have over 8 nodules -some are 1.5 cm others smaller. The two other nodules (1.5 cm and another) FNA biopsied came back benign. I read that having this test before is very helpful for post-surgery comparison as it indicated thyroglobulin levels can be relied on to gauge any returning of cancer? My thyroglobulin ab was <.9 range 0,0-4.0 IU/mL. This test done previously in 2007 by the same lab came back as < 3.0 with a lab range of 0.0-14.4 IU/mL? Did the lab range change? My TPO thyroid peroxidase was 41.0 which indicate antibodies, previously it was 40.0 in 2007. Now the lab range is 0-60 u/mL but my two different doctors told me this range is not accurate and I looked up this test online and saw two other labs showed ranges as normal being <20 IU/mL & the another said a positive result was >9.0 IU/mL. My FT3 & FT4 were right in the middle range and my doctor said they were perfect. My TSH has always been very low and on thyroid medication it has remained around .002 or so with no negative side effects. It did suppress my goiter and nodules; perhaps it has been keeping things at bay? I also had a reverse T3 result of 442 (H) normal ranges 90-350. My doctor told me there is still controversy concerning this test, and that having my thyroid out will change everything so we are just going to keep things the way they are for now. Anyone know anything about all this?

JESSCLARK30

loispol1 said:

thyroglobulin prior to TT
I had my surgery from April 9 postponed because of a blood clot. My GP/internist ordered a complete thyroid panel for comparison for tests after my surgery. I just got the results and it says my thyroglobulin is 43.6 (H) and the normal range is 1.3-31.8. Of course I still have the thyroid. My doc said the elevation could be coming from the hurthle cell tumor (whether or not it is malignant?). I have hasimotos, FNA hurthle cell neoplasm, multinodular goiter since 1993. Hurthle cell neoplasm was still on small side in February, I think .7x.7x.7 cm. I have over 8 nodules -some are 1.5 cm others smaller. The two other nodules (1.5 cm and another) FNA biopsied came back benign. I read that having this test before is very helpful for post-surgery comparison as it indicated thyroglobulin levels can be relied on to gauge any returning of cancer? My thyroglobulin ab was <.9 range 0,0-4.0 IU/mL. This test done previously in 2007 by the same lab came back as < 3.0 with a lab range of 0.0-14.4 IU/mL? Did the lab range change? My TPO thyroid peroxidase was 41.0 which indicate antibodies, previously it was 40.0 in 2007. Now the lab range is 0-60 u/mL but my two different doctors told me this range is not accurate and I looked up this test online and saw two other labs showed ranges as normal being <20 IU/mL & the another said a positive result was >9.0 IU/mL. My FT3 & FT4 were right in the middle range and my doctor said they were perfect. My TSH has always been very low and on thyroid medication it has remained around .002 or so with no negative side effects. It did suppress my goiter and nodules; perhaps it has been keeping things at bay? I also had a reverse T3 result of 442 (H) normal ranges 90-350. My doctor told me there is still controversy concerning this test, and that having my thyroid out will change everything so we are just going to keep things the way they are for now. Anyone know anything about all this?

I NEED SOME GOOD INFO , I
I NEED SOME GOOD INFO , I WAS DIAGNOSED W PAPILLARY W FOLLICULAR VARIANCES(WHATEVER THAT MEANS) IN JULY 09 AT 31YR. I HAVE HAD TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY IN JULY 09,ABLATION IN AUG AND GOOD SCANS IN SEPT, ANOTHER I131 SCAN IN FEB W GOOD REPORT 2, AND RECENTLY STARTED SEEING ENDO AND SHE DID THYROGLOBULIN W ANTIBODY LABS AND THEY CAME BACK HIGH ON FRI, TG-4.6 AND TGAB-5.6, BUT TG TUMOR MARKER WAS 0.1 , I GO SEE HER ON TUES BUT I'M REALLY CONFUSED AND CONCERND!!! MY MD CALLED ME 4X ON FRI W CONCERN, PLEASE HELP

miladyx

JESSCLARK30 said:

I NEED SOME GOOD INFO , I
I NEED SOME GOOD INFO , I WAS DIAGNOSED W PAPILLARY W FOLLICULAR VARIANCES(WHATEVER THAT MEANS) IN JULY 09 AT 31YR. I HAVE HAD TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY IN JULY 09,ABLATION IN AUG AND GOOD SCANS IN SEPT, ANOTHER I131 SCAN IN FEB W GOOD REPORT 2, AND RECENTLY STARTED SEEING ENDO AND SHE DID THYROGLOBULIN W ANTIBODY LABS AND THEY CAME BACK HIGH ON FRI, TG-4.6 AND TGAB-5.6, BUT TG TUMOR MARKER WAS 0.1 , I GO SEE HER ON TUES BUT I'M REALLY CONFUSED AND CONCERND!!! MY MD CALLED ME 4X ON FRI W CONCERN, PLEASE HELP

hi jessclark30
In your message you said that your tg is 4.6 and then a little later you said your tg tumor marker is 0.1 - which is it - 4.6 or 0.1? if it is 0.1 there isnt much of a problem... or was it 0.1 and now it went up to 4.6?? If that is the case has the bloodwork been done at the same lab both times?

aykt36

thanks
thanks you

butterfly123

JESSCLARK30 said:

I NEED SOME GOOD INFO , I
I NEED SOME GOOD INFO , I WAS DIAGNOSED W PAPILLARY W FOLLICULAR VARIANCES(WHATEVER THAT MEANS) IN JULY 09 AT 31YR. I HAVE HAD TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY IN JULY 09,ABLATION IN AUG AND GOOD SCANS IN SEPT, ANOTHER I131 SCAN IN FEB W GOOD REPORT 2, AND RECENTLY STARTED SEEING ENDO AND SHE DID THYROGLOBULIN W ANTIBODY LABS AND THEY CAME BACK HIGH ON FRI, TG-4.6 AND TGAB-5.6, BUT TG TUMOR MARKER WAS 0.1 , I GO SEE HER ON TUES BUT I'M REALLY CONFUSED AND CONCERND!!! MY MD CALLED ME 4X ON FRI W CONCERN, PLEASE HELP

Tg levels
Hi Jess-
Hopefully by now you have spoken to your doctor.

If you have tg antibodies, then your Tg can measure falsly high or low. I am not sure what the Tg tumor marker means? Tg is the blood test used for testing reoccurnce post RAI therapy. I too have follicular variant of papillay and had reoccurence about 2 years ago. Your doctor will probably have you get a stimulated Tg test and Ultrasound.

Good luck and please let us know what you found out.

aykt36

thanks
thanks

aykt36

lilmonkeyshine said:

the test is a marker in helping to determine if cancer has returned. I personally would request a full body scan. Hope this helps.

thanks
thanks

SFain

Too early?

I just received notice that my Thyroglobulin level is 65 without ab. It's only been 30 days since my thyroidectomy. Dr plans to repeat test in 3 weeks. Should I be concerned or is this typical so soon after a TT?

thanks, first time posting. 

4591seadub

I had TT in 2013 with

I had TT in 2013 with ablation following.  have had good blood tests since, until last month.            went in for a "thyrogen stimulated" test.  my first blood work, before stimulation showed a Tg level of 7.5; the bloodwork after stimulation showed Tg level at 29.  am I seeing radiation in my near future?