No Metastatic Disease but Tg elevated

mano1962

I was diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer in 2009 and had a Thyrodectomy in May 2009 followed by RAI. Agian I had a lateral neck dissection in Dec 2009 followed by RAI. My Tg was undetectable in May 2010. I had follow up appointments every 6 months with my Endo. Back in April 2012, my Tg started inceasing to 0.6. I was closely monitored every 3 months. In Nov 2013, my Tg became 13.2. My endo ordered WBS scan. It was negative. Immediately PET/CT was done and they found lesions in 4 places (one on right lower scalp, 2 in neck, 1 in upper chest). The scalp lesion was immediately removed. Consulted with Surgeons and they wanted to follow a wait and see approach since the lesions (mostly lymp nodes) were in difficult locations. Repeated CT in Feb 2014. The lesions were stable and Tg was 13.2 again. Had another Tg measurenet in May 2014 and it went upto 15.4.

In the mean time I researched about alternate medicines.  I read several research papers on Turmeric (Curcumin). Started taking Turmeric powder in Jan 2014 (2 tbl spoons boiled in water + pepper). Then switched to Turmeric Supplement (std 95% curcuminoids) during first week of June 2014. I consumed about 2.7 gms each 3 times/day on empty stomach.

I went for CT (Head/Neck/Thorax) on 8/11/2014. The results were encouraging.. CT could not find any lesion and it said there is no evidence of metastatic disease. However my Tg came back as 25.2 which disappointed me. I was expecting a decrease in Tg but that didn't happen.

I have an appointment with my endo next week so I can discuss the results. I wanted to share my expereince here to see if any one had no metastatic disease or stable disease but still had increasing Tg. I was also told by some of my doctor friends that I should wait longer to make any sense on the Tg since multiple measurements may be required.

areeder36

Hi! I am 26 currently being

Hi! I am 26 currently being treated for thyroid cancer too. I had mine removed in 2009 and then had abother surgery this year since my tg kept going up. Scans didn't show it neither did the rai. I am non avid to it. I'm currently receiving radiation because of my elevated tg level. It is a horrible experience. But don't let your tg get too high I would talk to a radiation oncologist bevause thyroid cancer can spread but still be undetected by the scans. Radiation is the only thing that can kill it (exrernal beam). Hopefully they find out what's causing your levels to go up. Mine went up after surgery too

mano1962

areeder36 said:

Hi! I am 26 currently being

Hi! I am 26 currently being treated for thyroid cancer too. I had mine removed in 2009 and then had abother surgery this year since my tg kept going up. Scans didn't show it neither did the rai. I am non avid to it. I'm currently receiving radiation because of my elevated tg level. It is a horrible experience. But don't let your tg get too high I would talk to a radiation oncologist bevause thyroid cancer can spread but still be undetected by the scans. Radiation is the only thing that can kill it (exrernal beam). Hopefully they find out what's causing your levels to go up. Mine went up after surgery too

Talked to my Endo/Oncologist.

Talked to my Endo/Oncologist. She asked me to repeat the blood test next week. If it still shows high then she would recommend PET/CT again to reconfirm.

@areeder36. I am currently 55. What kind of scan you had. Was it just WBS or you had CT or PET/CT. Did you have your second surgery in Neck? What was your Tg level before the second surgery if you don't mind.

cjwyatt

Spots on US

I had a TT in August of 2013, did RIA and all has been going good, but had an US last month and a spot showed up on both sides of my thyroid bed.  My TG is <0.1  My Endo. wants me to have a CT scan to see what it is.  Has anyone else had this happen?  With low TG levels but spots show up?