whole body scan

fsheyda88

Hello,

I was wondering if the whole body scan have to be repeated after the first year of thyroid cancer ( papillary) surgery? Or how often after surgery it is recommended?

Thanks,

Hilda51

I would like to know that too..

I am going to have a whole body scan again and also Dr. wants me to have that RAI again but only 4mcl not the 102mcl since my Thyroidglobin (can't spell it at the moment) is High..I had my RAI after my whole thyroid was removed almost a year ago. Hilda

Paulputol

Hilda51 said:

I would like to know that too..

I am going to have a whole body scan again and also Dr. wants me to have that RAI again but only 4mcl not the 102mcl since my Thyroidglobin (can't spell it at the moment) is High..I had my RAI after my whole thyroid was removed almost a year ago. Hilda

Hi! Same as your situation,

Hi! Same as your situation,  My dr. Also wants me to have RAI but for another 102mcl or more . But my concern is im planning to get merried next year and have a baby, would this be safe? Your reply is highly appreciated. 

Mangel

What I know

i had my body scan after my radioactive iodine treatment , then I had a follow up visit to check my cancer marker and my tag levels. At this point my Endo told me because my cancer markers were looking great that instead of another body scan he will send for an ultra sound. I am guessing based off the decision that the treatment is working if your blood levels are correct. 

Latvia

Paulputol said:

Hi! Same as your situation,

Hi! Same as your situation,  My dr. Also wants me to have RAI but for another 102mcl or more . But my concern is im planning to get merried next year and have a baby, would this be safe? Your reply is highly appreciated. 

To Paulputol

Hi Paulputol, I am in a similar situation as you are, except I was diagnosed right before I plannned to become pregnant. All my plans are postponed now because of the treatment (I already had RAI 5 months ago) but I will have it again, CT found something in my left lung. But before my first RAI I was told to avoid getting pregnant for at least 9 months, now I have to postpone it for at least 1-2 years (maybe even more if the second RAI will not get rid of the cancer cells in my lungs). I am only 24 years old, so I can wait, but it kinda ruined my plans a bit. 

Latvia

To fsheyda88

Did you received RAI treatment? Because I had similar experience as Mangel. I received body scan few days after RAI to see if my body stored iodine anywhere else besides neck (I had full thyroidectomy), it didn't show anything back than, but few months later, when iodine should've killed all cancer cells I had to undergo CT scan, surprisingly it showed something in my lungs, my doctor did not expect that because my cancer markers were getteng better (not perfect, but compering with the previous ones better).

breemomma90

Hi, I was diagnosed with

Hi, I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma in august. And have had my total thyroidectomy on sept 5th. I am curious after my surgery they said pathology said it hadn't traveled and I have not had a full body scan. Is this normal? I am scared that it was to easy Th my doctors have missed a step or something. 

taniaf

I was diagnosed w papillary

I was diagnosed w papillary cancer on 2008.  My second whole body scan was done on 2013 due to my high tumor marker's levels.  Today, I had my 3rd Thyroid whole body scan cause my tumor marker is 3.5 but scan didn't show anything. Now, my endo wants me to have the radiation pill tomorrow, and he wants me to repeat the Scan in 2 weeks. The Dr who read the results of my scan today, said that this is not unusual, and he agreed with my endo, that I should have the radioactive pill. I forgot to ask him, how much radiation should I have if they couldn't find anything on the body scan? Are the tumor markers reliable numbers? Do I need to request another test (Pet Scan) to rule out the possibility of  another type of cancer growing somewhere else, besides the thyroid?. Has anyone gotten a similar  situation as mine?  Thanks