1. < Thyroid Cancer

Anyone have radiation iodine (RAI) Therapy after Thyroid Lobectomy?

Posted by mift24 @mift24, Jan 16 11:24am

Has anyone received RAI Therapy after only having a thyroid LOBECTOMY?
From my research it's not as affective when you have a remaining lobe left. The potential good lobe is not only getting harmed/damaged but is taking up iodine which could rob the cancer cells from taking up their full potential of iodine which destroys them. So, I'm not really sure if they offer RAI therapy to those who have one lobe remaining because medical professionals may see two negatives (useless). If someone is trying to preserve a lobe than why go for RAI therapy; on the other hand, if you're gonna have RAI therapy then you my as well get rid of the other lobe.

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

tkj68 | @tkj68 | Jan 23 2:33pm
In reply to @tuckie "Hi Oh dear... RAI treatment post thyroidectomy as LOW RISK. I had total surgery with 12..." + (show)
@tuckie

Hi
Oh dear...
RAI treatment post thyroidectomy as LOW RISK. I had total surgery with 12 lymph nodes (2 affected). Right side dissection done during op. PAPILLIARY CANCER.

I chose to trust my surgeon who removed a carcinoma in the milk duct of right breast. A cross section in there was done. That was 2005. No radiation thank you. No problems.

I follow Mr Gary Clayman Top USA Thyroid Surgeon. I read my op in the ATLAS HEAD & NECK
he wrote it.

In my 4th year last year the ultrasound showed 77mm radius of calcification. No other ultra-sound pictures have studied this area.

So CT Scan. Inconclusive.
PET scan showed no metatasis. Dot on right lung. Inflamation in my left hamstring, in bladder. None of the calcification areas showed any intake of glucose and iodine.
The Putuitary gland showed warmth. So MRI of the brain and nothing.
No cancer shown but calcification in these 3 areas/
2 lymph modes 8mm and 7mm. Plus another 'thing' 19mm x 9mm ? Surgeon now says it could be my thymus. But this has not been verified in the radiology department.
Another CT scan (with iodine and contrast )done in early November still says inconclusive so another with iodine and contrast will be done in May 2025.
There is a point when we should trust our surgeon. The anaesthetist has p. thyroid cancer returning even though he had 2 bouts of RAI treatment. The RAI treatment is different from RAI Scan. But both need stopping thyroxin (sythroid) for 3 weeks with no iodine in meals.

If cancer is left in the thymus and it is not removed it ill gavatate to lymphoma which my father died of.

We have 50 lymph nodes left and 50 lymph right. Surgically removing them is the most important step.
RAI treatment can do heaps damage to pra and surrouning throat, oesophagus and the actual treatment can cause leukaemia.

cherio JOY (Tucki). 76. (NZ)

Jump to this post

I did not have to stop my meds. They can give thyrogen infusions to trick your body so there isn't a risk of hypothyroidism. They do RAI treatment and then a low dose scan later if I remember correctly. Five day complete quarantine.

REPLY
tkj68 | @tkj68 | Jan 23 2:40pm
In reply to @tuckie "Hi Oh dear... RAI treatment post thyroidectomy as LOW RISK. I had total surgery with 12..." + (show)
@tuckie

Hi
Oh dear...
RAI treatment post thyroidectomy as LOW RISK. I had total surgery with 12 lymph nodes (2 affected). Right side dissection done during op. PAPILLIARY CANCER.

I chose to trust my surgeon who removed a carcinoma in the milk duct of right breast. A cross section in there was done. That was 2005. No radiation thank you. No problems.

I follow Mr Gary Clayman Top USA Thyroid Surgeon. I read my op in the ATLAS HEAD & NECK
he wrote it.

In my 4th year last year the ultrasound showed 77mm radius of calcification. No other ultra-sound pictures have studied this area.

So CT Scan. Inconclusive.
PET scan showed no metatasis. Dot on right lung. Inflamation in my left hamstring, in bladder. None of the calcification areas showed any intake of glucose and iodine.
The Putuitary gland showed warmth. So MRI of the brain and nothing.
No cancer shown but calcification in these 3 areas/
2 lymph modes 8mm and 7mm. Plus another 'thing' 19mm x 9mm ? Surgeon now says it could be my thymus. But this has not been verified in the radiology department.
Another CT scan (with iodine and contrast )done in early November still says inconclusive so another with iodine and contrast will be done in May 2025.
There is a point when we should trust our surgeon. The anaesthetist has p. thyroid cancer returning even though he had 2 bouts of RAI treatment. The RAI treatment is different from RAI Scan. But both need stopping thyroxin (sythroid) for 3 weeks with no iodine in meals.

If cancer is left in the thymus and it is not removed it ill gavatate to lymphoma which my father died of.

We have 50 lymph nodes left and 50 lymph right. Surgically removing them is the most important step.
RAI treatment can do heaps damage to pra and surrouning throat, oesophagus and the actual treatment can cause leukaemia.

cherio JOY (Tucki). 76. (NZ)

Jump to this post

I did not have to stop my meds. They can give thyrogen infusions to trick your body so there isn't a risk of hypothyroidism. They do RAI treatment and then a low dose scan later if I remember correctly. Five day complete quarantine. I was moderate risk with metastasis and being over 55 years in stageIII.

REPLY
1 reply
tkj68 | @tkj68 | Jan 23 2:53pm
In reply to @tkj68 "My doctor was highly rated. Plus he is on the tumor board. We did an MRI..." + (show)
@tkj68

My doctor was highly rated. Plus he is on the tumor board. We did an MRI and CT, but nobody saw anything. He did say it was deep in there. He said once he got in there this time there were 2 additional nodules. He took all the lymph node on the right.
I think it is differentiated PTC. They felt confident and he still wants to do RAI bot instead of 102, plans on 140. I go in Monday to get stitches and hopefully the dran removed.

Jump to this post

They didn't see anything further on my left side. If it does come back, it is likely to be there. He said it is still a risk he needs to disclose but thinks this should take care of things. They will biopsy what was taken out to see if the PTC changed gene form. There is a risk of that too.

REPLY
tuckie | @tuckie | Jan 23 5:24pm

Hi
Ouch.
I have an almost invisible scar lower neck. I prefer mine.
I used water and aloe vera on it only.
5 years old scar next month.
I also had a blue dye put in flowing to 1 hour when they started thyroidectomy.
I had full thyroidectomy, 12 rightside centre (2 affected) and dissection of right lymph node base.
Low Risk.
6-7 inch under ear!!!! Why?
Are you coping OK?
What diagnosed Thyroid cancer?
Mine was Papillary which is not aggressive as it grows 1mm a year.
The 2 8mm and 7mm Lymph node are calcified with 19mm x 9mm area surgeon not sure what it is then in November after 2nd CT scan and Pet Scan said that it could be my Thymus.
If cancer left in thymus it turns to Lymphoma.
But they would take the Lymph nodes out via neck wouldn't they?

Thank you for your reply tkj68. JOY. (Tuckie)

REPLY
1 reply
tuckie | @tuckie | Jan 23 5:42pm
In reply to @tkj68 "I did not have to stop my meds. They can give thyrogen infusions to trick your..." + (show)
@tkj68

I did not have to stop my meds. They can give thyrogen infusions to trick your body so there isn't a risk of hypothyroidism. They do RAI treatment and then a low dose scan later if I remember correctly. Five day complete quarantine. I was moderate risk with metastasis and being over 55 years in stageIII.

Jump to this post

Hi
I read about that but sent instructions to stop Synthroid for 3 weeks and have a low iodine diet.

But on the CT Scan last it said RA Scan with iodine and dye infusion or PET Scan.

My surgeon talked to the NZ central Thyroid folks - I went to college with Ian whom I had an appointment with.

I objected to being hypo - TSH 50 probably or more. Heart condition with AF rapid and persistent.

On day 2 without from 1.7 I was 8 higher at 12 so already TSH 12 above TSH 4.2.

That was cancelled and I had a PET Scan. Leaving out my thyroxine the day prior and on the day but the test 'warmed' the Pituary Gland not the Lymphs and 19mm x 9mm calcification area. So I had an MRI no problems in the Gland or the brain!

I say no thanks to RAI Treatment or scan. Too many 'damage' risks.

I say surgically remove them. 1 guy on the AF Forum had 56 Lymphs removed along with his Thyroid. Had papillary cancer.
As I have said there are 100 - 50 each side of the double lobe of the Thyroid.

I would say get the book from the library titled ATLAS Head and Neck by Dr Gary Clayman Head of Thyroid Centre USA.
cheri JOY. (Tuckie)

REPLY
tkj68 | @tkj68 | Jan 26 11:15am
In reply to @tuckie "Hi Ouch. I have an almost invisible scar lower neck. I prefer mine. I used water..." + (show)
@tuckie

Hi
Ouch.
I have an almost invisible scar lower neck. I prefer mine.
I used water and aloe vera on it only.
5 years old scar next month.
I also had a blue dye put in flowing to 1 hour when they started thyroidectomy.
I had full thyroidectomy, 12 rightside centre (2 affected) and dissection of right lymph node base.
Low Risk.
6-7 inch under ear!!!! Why?
Are you coping OK?
What diagnosed Thyroid cancer?
Mine was Papillary which is not aggressive as it grows 1mm a year.
The 2 8mm and 7mm Lymph node are calcified with 19mm x 9mm area surgeon not sure what it is then in November after 2nd CT scan and Pet Scan said that it could be my Thymus.
If cancer left in thymus it turns to Lymphoma.
But they would take the Lymph nodes out via neck wouldn't they?

Thank you for your reply tkj68. JOY. (Tuckie)

Jump to this post

They took 41 lymph nodes, 5 had metastasis. Drain behind ear. Two nodules against jugular. They opened me up along right side for good visibility of nerves and arteries. Slight damage to jugular. They used a clip, no issues with bleeding. I attached photo of incision.

REPLY
tuckie | @tuckie | Jan 26 8:41pm

Hi
My drains hung down in front and were lower than boobies. I should have taken a photo.

A dye would have been better as the surgeon could carefully select what had to be clipped out of the way. I had from 5.00am 1.1/2 bags of saline (surgeon was delayed on earlier op), then 1 hr up to op. The blue showed within 20 minutes in my wee. I awoke with the bed moving me!

It was a good op with no bruising. I wanted to eat! No food since 5am.

I used aloe vera on mt scar. I'm proud of my almost invisible scar.

I can't see any picture attached.

cherio JOY

REPLY
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