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thyroglobulin and anti-thyroglobulin levels 4 months after RAI
My 18-year-old daughter is 7 months post thyroidectomy (many lymph nodes included) and 4 months post RAI treatment. Her TSH is 0.29 mU/L, thyroglobulin 0.6 ug/L (slight increase) and anti-thyroglobulin 22 IU/mL. Do these levels indicate she may have some cancer left behind? Her doctor won't re-image for 8 more months because she says it wouldn't affect the treatment plan (possible repeat of radioactive iodine). Should we be pushing for a biopsy and ultrasound of some remaining neck lymph nodes or a PET scan a little earlier?
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@ckaras
What type of thyroid cancer was your daughter diagnosed with? How was it detected at first (bloodwork, lump in neck, swollen lymph nodes, swallowing issues, ultrasound, fine needle aspiration, molecular testing, etc.)?
What medication is she taking post thyroidectomy and what is the dosage? How does she feel and what are her current symptoms?
The bloodwork results don’t indicate cancer. What they tell me is her thyroid replacement medication may be a little too much and may need to be adjusted down as it is producing too much thyroid hormone and possibly hyperthyroid symptoms (low TSH indicate high thyroid hormone). The other results are normal or elevated some showing signs for autoimmune activity. Was your daughter diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis prior to thyroidectomy? Did she have enlarged nodules on her thyroid gland?
Keep in mind your daughter will want to continue be monitored by an endocrinologist for life to check thyroid hormone levels, adjust medications and continue thyroid ultrasounds because thyroid cells/tissue and cancer can return. My sister had full thyroidectomy at 27 and I had a lobectomy. I was officially diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis after lobectomy but my bloodwork showed the autoantibodies for years prior. I had a large nodule (2.5 cm) and luckily wasn’t the bad cancer initially suspected but they did find a microcancer. My mom had Hashimoto’s so thyroid issues run in my family genetics. I take levothyroxine 100 mcg to keep my TSH below 1.0 and want to discourage new regrowth of thyroid cells. My last ultrasound did show some thyroid tissue regrowth post lobectomy so I want to keep an eye on my thyroid lobe that is still there plus the area my other lobe was removed.
She was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma, with several enlarged nodes detected via ultrasound and cancer confirmed with biopsy. It spread to her lymph nodes. She takes 125ugm of levothyroxine. No Hashimoto diagnosis prior to cancer diagnosis. We just found out today she will need a repeat of RAI in the spring. 🙁
Hi looking at your comment it sounds like your daughters doctor is doing the right thing. The RAI treatment takes time to adjust the numbers it doesn’t happen overnight. I am sure your daughter’s doctor will give her another blood test when she feels it’s necessary. Wishing your daughter the very best luck going forward!!! Thyroid cancer is very confusing and complicated. Taking one day at a time is your daughters best bet which is really really really hard to do from my own experience!!!
@ckaras, it must be so hard to see your daughter go through this. I can only imagine that you would switch places with her in an instint if you could.
How is she dealing with the diagnosis of cancer at such a young age? Have study or graduation plans been interrupted or has she continued through treatment?