Excuse me Doc!

chic1963
chic1963 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Thyroid Cancer #1
I am so darn confused. let me tell my story. Oct 7, 2009 diagnosed with metastatic pappillary carincoma. I had my total thyroid removed and a 5cm tumor that was attached to my caratiod artery, neck desstion. I had 131 rai-200 on nov. 17, 2007. it showed cancer in my left lypmph nodes too. I had my 6 month follow up in June 2010 and my thyroglblin is 12.3. I a second treatment of RAI-200. Thyriod scan is negative. Petscan is no abnormalitites. I asked the doc why is my throygulin is elevated. He says I am clear and he will see me in 6 months. I thought the thyrogulbin need to be undetectable. I am on 0.137 of synthriod for TSH suppression. I just dont understand. And he won't explain it to me. What the heck should I do...

Comments

  • MLG
    MLG Member Posts: 52
    #2
    I don't know if this is
    I don't know if this is exactly accurate, but my dr told me that it can take up to a year for the thyroglobulin level to go down to nondetectable.
  • alapah
    alapah Member Posts: 287
    #3
    do you have antibodies?
    antibodies can certainly mess with Tg results...The goal is for Tg to be undetectable.
  • chic1963
    chic1963 Member Posts: 4
    #4
    alapah said:

    do you have antibodies?
    antibodies can certainly mess with Tg results...The goal is for Tg to be undetectable.

    I don't know what are antio
    I don't know what are antio bodies. My doc doesn't explain alot to me. I think he think I look for the woest in everything... I don't. I just want to be eduacated on my disease.
  • alapah
    alapah Member Posts: 287
    #5
    alapah said:

    do you have antibodies?
    antibodies can certainly mess with Tg results...The goal is for Tg to be undetectable.

    labs
    There are a few labs that a doc will order in our situation. Thyroglobulin (Tg) basically indicates presence of thyroid tissue in the body. It doesn't necessarily mean cancerous thyroid tissue, just thyroid tissue producing Tg. In some cases, patients have antibodies to thyroglobulin (TgAb). In my case, i had undiagnosed Hashimoto's which, I believe, commonly produces TgAb. The reason I asked if you had them is because if you do, it makes it harder to rely on the Tg number - it messes with the measurements and makes that number unreliable. In that case, a doc may assess a patient's status using a variety of tests, such as you had.

    If you're interested in the labs, you might want to read this article at thyca.org. I found it helpful in understanding some of this stuff when i was diagnosed. http://www.thyca.org/thyroglobulin.htm

    Thyca.org has a lot of other useful information!
  • tgreene1008
    tgreene1008 Member Posts: 8
    #6
    Ask for earlier re-scan
    I had a CT scan showing my Thyroglobulin up from 5.4 to 6.2. I have known iodine-non-responsive mets in my neck and lungs (largest 6mm). Doctor said the increase in thyro was "in the noise" range and wanted to see increase of up to 10 or higher before beginning any new therapies. He called for re-scan in 3 months, I asked for two and he agreed.
  • miladyx
    miladyx Member Posts: 85
    #7
    tgreene1008 said:

    Ask for earlier re-scan
    I had a CT scan showing my Thyroglobulin up from 5.4 to 6.2. I have known iodine-non-responsive mets in my neck and lungs (largest 6mm). Doctor said the increase in thyro was "in the noise" range and wanted to see increase of up to 10 or higher before beginning any new therapies. He called for re-scan in 3 months, I asked for two and he agreed.

    hi, when were u diagnosed?
    Did u have lung mets from the beginning?
  • chic1963
    chic1963 Member Posts: 4
    #8
    miladyx said:

    hi, when were u diagnosed?
    Did u have lung mets from the beginning?

    time of Diagnosed: Oct 7,
    time of Diagnosed: Oct 7, age 45. I had cervical lymphatic invasion.

Discussion Boards