I had asked my oncologist at MSK why they are not considering RAI. He said it is not strong/thorough enough. I have residual cancer from TT on my trachea. So, I am having chemo enhanced radiation therapy for 6 weeks.
At MSK, I was not given options. The radiation oncologist said...do this and you will be okay. So I start this difficult journey Jan 21 for 6 weeks.

Hi

Thyroglubin serum .7 ! What are your thyroglubin antibodies?

I have never been below .99.

Like you complete thyroidectomy with right carcinoma in right lobe. My carotid arteries scan was passed around and in the end bits of papillary cancer were found in left lobe. My understanding that any thyro surgery done for one side carcinoma should be a total as re doing for the other side is at a high prevalence!
I had 12 lymph taken on right side and lymph floor on right dissected.

On last year's Feb ultra-sound showed 3 spots calcified.
2 lymphs 7mm & 8mm but showing behind on film - suspected my thymus is 19mm x 9mm area,

As ? was is there cancer was foremost in mind.

So I underwent 1 CT SCAN with contrast, 1 PET SCAN with iodine infusion, another CT Scan and because PET scan made Pituitary Gland in brain warm had a MRI. Nothing wrong there or in the brain.

My serum during all this was at 1.7, went down to 1.1 & .99, then up to 1.4. Now .99 .
Antibodies stay down at 14 - 18 only.

The above tests are inconclusive and surgeon has retired. I underline that I am not happy with RAI treatment and refused post.op.

Papillary cancer grows at a rate of 1mm per year. So like you I feel the 2 lymphs were left at surgery. The one area behind is the thymus?

The calcifications is macro. (classed). PET scan did not highlight these areas as taking in glucose which cancer does.

So another CT Scan with contrast is scheduled for May.

Negative tests are usual and if suspicious I feel should be removed.

Left there is not further metasises. They were left. Strangely with all the tests all 3 areas reduced by a mm. So the two lymphs are now 6mm & 7mm and the other is 19mm x 8mm.

There are 100 lymphs = 50 each side.

There is a RAI Scan. This is not a treatment as such. Low on RA Iodine it is merely a scan and that is what your surgeon is talking about. But you would need to stop your thyroxine for 3 whole weeks making you hypoooooo. And low iodine diet - no fish, seaweed, iodine salt etc, soy.

I questioned this scan and my surgeon changed it to sa PET scan.

No other pics of this area to compare with - that was the main trouble.

Read up on RAI treatment where radiation puts you in days after of being radio active. No one close and separate utesils etc. PET scan was 2 hours after.

Surgery is preferable and lasting.

It would be my choice. I told surgeon in first place and he said easier said than done. I believe now it is because of the ?thymus area. A thymus removal is quite something to remove.

Where is the cervical one - could it be your thymus as lymph nodes are generally not that big. Although I have an adopted daughter with a node 4.2 and she is shrinking it under a natureopath with taking iodine to bring her into below .5 and hyperrrrrr. It is shinking the goitre but she has no heart condition yet!

She postponed her throidectomy. Back in May.

Trouble she has 32 other cysts on her thyroid. TSH is 1.0.

RAI treatment which you call ablation can cause damage to your 2 parathyroids, throat, mouth, oesophagus, voice box. It can go on to cause cancer.

Take care. Prayers your way.

Mine are also in cervical area.

cheri JOY. (Tuckie)