1. < Thyroid Cancer

Is Radioactive Iodine treatment used for all types of Thyroid Cancer?

Posted by trosborn21 @trosborn21, Feb 21 3:24am

Quick question..
I haven’t received a solidified diagnosis yet as to which kind of thyroid cancer I have yet but does everyone go through radioactive iodine treatment?
If my doctor suggests that there is no need for it… should I push to have RAI?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Thyroid Cancer Support Group.

Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 18 11:37am
In reply to @nash59 "that is great news. Hope you are recovering well. I had Follicular carcinoma with vascular invasion...." + (show)
@nash59

that is great news. Hope you are recovering well. I had Follicular carcinoma with vascular invasion. My lump came up quickly and grew fast. A fine needle biopsy revealed no cancer, however it was large (luckily) so it needed to come out. A month later the path came back and I had surgery to remove my left thyroid as well. Because of my age, 64, the size and the kind I did have RAI. My surgery was June and July. I'm still trying to recover. I'm glad no other surgery or meds needed!! And my condolences to you on your mom. I know this journey for you had to be so full of anxiety. Happy day!

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Hi @nash59. welcome. You mention that post surgery, you're still in recovery. What part of recovery are you finding challenging? What tips would you offer others about to have surgery and RAI?

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trosborn21 | @trosborn21 | Mar 18 11:54am
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @nash59. welcome. You mention that post surgery, you're still in recovery. What part of recovery..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @nash59. welcome. You mention that post surgery, you're still in recovery. What part of recovery are you finding challenging? What tips would you offer others about to have surgery and RAI?

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Luckily, they only ended up taking my right lobe so I don’t need any radioactive iodine! You need to take the two weeks off they recommend and I think I ate a little bit too early …stick with the soft food as long as you can and give your voice box a break too. I’m still having a little bit of trouble speaking louder than a normal voice level.
I have some neck pain due to overcompensating for my incision and surgery so make sure you stretch your neck and shoulders after.

So far it’s been a decent recovery, but I would stay on top of the pain the first few days.

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hugov | @hugov | May 18 9:32am
In reply to @trosborn21 "I hope all is going well with you and you have a 100% healthy recovery! My..." + (show)
@trosborn21

I hope all is going well with you and you have a 100% healthy recovery!
My surgeon called yesterday and the pathology report came back that I had Papillary thyroid cancer.. all markers looked good. The left side nodule doesn’t appear to have cancer. The right lobe is out and I’m recovering well!
Good vibes and prayers for you!

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how did you reach the lobectomy versus thyroidectomy decision? I seem to have papillary in a medium sized nodule on right side, nothing in the nodes. Surgeon wishes to do the thyroidectomy followed by radioactive iodine treatment. I'm sure that would squish the cancer. But then I enter the endocrine management game, which sounds far from certain here.

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trosborn21 | @trosborn21 | May 18 3:35pm

My surgeon decided to just take the right lobe.. even though I have a nodule in the left lobe hoping the left side of my thyroid would take over but unfortunately it didn’t and I’m on Synthroid now.
my TSH numbers were a little elevated, but not enough to have to do the radioactive iodine. The numbers were enough to give me 20% chance of cancer returning that’s why I’m on Synthroid I also have hypothyroidism… something I’ve never had in my life, but the Synthroid will eventually counteract that!

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hugov | @hugov | May 19 5:19pm
In reply to @trosborn21 "My surgeon decided to just take the right lobe.. even though I have a nodule in..." + (show)
@trosborn21

My surgeon decided to just take the right lobe.. even though I have a nodule in the left lobe hoping the left side of my thyroid would take over but unfortunately it didn’t and I’m on Synthroid now.
my TSH numbers were a little elevated, but not enough to have to do the radioactive iodine. The numbers were enough to give me 20% chance of cancer returning that’s why I’m on Synthroid I also have hypothyroidism… something I’ve never had in my life, but the Synthroid will eventually counteract that!

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Thank you. Is “managing “ the new hypothyroidism difficult, lots of hit or miss?

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trosborn21 | @trosborn21 | May 20 5:14am

Well, I’m usually a very energetic person, but having hypothyroidism for the first time in my life slowed me down a bit!
I work out every day and eat a healthy diet so that truly helps!
I’m hoping next month when I get my blood work done, it shows that the Synthroid is taking over for my thyroid function:)

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