total body scan as a 1-year follow up

mlxhk
mlxhk Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Thyroid Cancer #1
I had my thyroid removed in November 2008 with a RAI ablation in December 2008 to treat Papillary carcinoma. I am now in a very confused state after my 6 month routine check-up with my endo yesterday. She has prescribed a two shot Thyrogen treatment and then a total body scan a day later. What will the TBS show with no RAI? Is she concerned the cancer is coming back? After reading many of the posts so far, I now realize that I was in a very rose-colored world. I was a true believer that once the thyroid was removed, so was the cancer, but now I realize this may not be the case. Thanks in advance for any accurate information you can provide. My thyroglobulin results will be back next week.

Comments

  • usljh10
    usljh10 Member Posts: 85 Member
    #2
    thyrogen shots
    When I took my thyrogens shots for my 1 year wbs this is how it happened. I was on the low iodine diet the week before and the week of, I had one shot on a Monday, one on Tuesday, took a low dose of RAI .5mci on Wednesday skipped a day and had my WBS on Friday. I would ask my Doctor about it. Find out why?

    Lisa
  • murphbill
    murphbill Member Posts: 2
    #3
    Thyrogen treatment is the first step when thyroglobulin shows up
    I believe my treatment(1999) was standard. After the ablation, the thyroglobulin was zero. Two years later, small measurements of 5-10ng developed. Thyrogen is used to stimulate tsh and thus provoke any thyroid cells remaining. After the treatment the thyroglobulin may be elevated which indicates the very beginning of a metastasis. Then they know to start examinations in search of the site. It took 7 years, one thyrogen treatment, and 3 RAI scans for mine to become visible so there is no need for immediate alarm. However, I would start copying your blood work and keeping track of your thyroglobulin and TSH levels. Hopefully, this will go very slow and offer alternatives to treatment. Your doctor is hoping to avoid the problems that occur with levothyroxine withdrawal and going "hypo" but I would suspect that your scan will be negative and an MRI/sonogram of the neck may be in order.
  • murphbill
    murphbill Member Posts: 2
    #4
    Thyrogen treatment is the first step when thyroglobulin shows up
    I believe my treatment(1999) was standard. After the ablation, the thyroglobulin was zero. Two years later, small measurements of 5-10ng developed. Thyrogen is used to stimulate tsh and thus provoke any thyroid cells remaining. After the treatment the thyroglobulin may be elevated which indicates the very beginning of a metastasis. Then they know to start examinations in search of the site. It took 7 years, one thyrogen treatment, and 3 RAI scans for mine to become visible so there is no need for immediate alarm. However, I would start copying your blood work and keeping track of your thyroglobulin and TSH levels. Hopefully, this will go very slow and offer alternatives to treatment. Your doctor is hoping to avoid the problems that occur with levothyroxine withdrawal and going "hypo" but I would suspect that your scan will be negative and an MRI/sonogram of the neck may be in order.
  • miladyx
    miladyx Member Posts: 85
    #5
    murphbill said:

    Thyrogen treatment is the first step when thyroglobulin shows up
    I believe my treatment(1999) was standard. After the ablation, the thyroglobulin was zero. Two years later, small measurements of 5-10ng developed. Thyrogen is used to stimulate tsh and thus provoke any thyroid cells remaining. After the treatment the thyroglobulin may be elevated which indicates the very beginning of a metastasis. Then they know to start examinations in search of the site. It took 7 years, one thyrogen treatment, and 3 RAI scans for mine to become visible so there is no need for immediate alarm. However, I would start copying your blood work and keeping track of your thyroglobulin and TSH levels. Hopefully, this will go very slow and offer alternatives to treatment. Your doctor is hoping to avoid the problems that occur with levothyroxine withdrawal and going "hypo" but I would suspect that your scan will be negative and an MRI/sonogram of the neck may be in order.

    murphbill...
    where was your metastasis?

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