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Anyone else had thyroid tissue regrowth after a total thyroidectomy?
Thyroid Cancer | Last Active: Mar 5 10:37am | Replies (82)Comment receiving replies
Hi, IDK if you or any of the other commenters have received any clear answers to their concerns; but here is my experience. I had a complete thyroidectomy due to multiple cancerous tumors. A few years later I had symptoms of a reoccurrence. Doctor did not show much concern since all the typical thyroid levels post surgery and replacement hormones were normal. I sought a second opinion with “Dr. Google” 🙃. I found in rare cases a cancer reoccurrence can be missed if a Thyroid hormone ANTIBODY test is not also ordered. I demanded that blood test; and it was sky high. There is a special scan (I can’t recall what it is called - but it is definitely not a CT nor a sonogram, PET, nor MRI). The scan uses an iodine contrast to pick up thyroid cells, because that’s where microscopic cancer cells could have survived and regrow looking and behaving as a thyroid gland tissue would. My treatment was radiation. Since then I have not had another reoccurrence or regrowth. And now the antibody test is routine. I hope this helps give you some additional information to run by your doctors.
Replies to "Hi, IDK if you or any of the other commenters have received any clear answers to..."
First, I am a 52-year-young survivor of papillary ca of thyroid. Despite a total thyroidectomy in 7-72, some thyroid tissue has regrowth. But according to ultrasound, nothing malignant, so far. I'm grateful that my surgeon opted to do such a radical surgery, despite the after-effects of years of depression, anxiety, need to eat within a 6-8-hour fast period, periodic need to monitor dosage of Synthroid which changes during the aging process, as does the need to head off osteoporosis & bone breakage as a petite woman without a thyroid gland. Why am I grateful for such a radical surgery that took me 2 years to recover from just the initial after-effects in my late 20's? The total thyroidectomy taught me how to take care of myself on 3 fronts: physical, emotional, spiritual. The pain & suffering I experienced motivated me to stand up and speak up to medical practitioners who were more interested in their bottom line than in my health care. Exercise, nutrition, & self-advocacy became tools of health care that I practice daily to maintain wellness. Meditation, prayer, & support groups for family members of chronically ill patients have taught me how to be there for myself when others are not. I do not give away my trust to people, places, or overprescribed medications as I used to in my youth & middle age. That surgeon removed the source of cancer in my body, 52 years ago. That was a big loss & big gain at the same time. Without the pain & suffering that followed, I would not have changed from a victim to a victor, from a doormat to an abusive 1st husband to the tiger I am now who is learning how to be kinder & gentler with everyone, especially myself. Hope this helps you with the overall big picture of post thyroid surgery. My biggest accomplishment to date: Learning how to accept reality, advocate in partnership with trustworthy m.d.'s for holistic wellness, and pay my life experience forward to others in need. Welcome to the club of thyroid surgery survivors & thrives. Know that you too can heal yourself from cancer & many other chronic or life-long illnesses simply by taking care of yourself BEFORE you sacrifice your health, sanity, life itself for others who are out for themselves not you. If I am not for myself, who is for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If I do not take action now, when will I ever take action? Hugs & healthy, happy New Year! Trudy
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Welcome, Molly. How was your recovery after radiation? What is your follow-up schedule, i.e., how ofter do you see your endocrine oncologist and what tests are done?