Body Scan Results...not what I expected

[MJ13]

I got my body scan today.  The tech let me look at the pictures and explained the dark areas were the areas where the iodine had been absorbed.  There was a few spots in my neck area and one big dark area in the abdomen.  The tech thought a doctor would read them and tell me somthing today, but after waiting for another half hour I was told to go home. On the way home I get a call from the hospital asking if I could come back on Monday for a SPECT image, because they need a better look at my neck area.  A SPECT image I found out is "performed by using a gamma camera to acquire multiple 2-D images (also called projections), from multiple angles. A computer is then used to apply a tomographic reconstruction algorithm to the multiple projections, yielding a 3-D dataset. This dataset may then be manipulated to show thin slices along any chosen axis of the body, similar to those obtained from other tomographic techniques, such as MRI, CT, and PET."  My question is why should they need a better look at my neck that they couldn't see on a body scan?  Needless to say, I'm a little freaked out about this.  Has any body else had to go through this after RAI treatment?  Any thoughts ASAP would be appreciated!!

[bizwiz12751]

Well, it definitely sounds scary. However, I know that my body scan showed quite a bit of tissue in my neck and a few spots throughout my body. My endo assured me that the neck tissue remnants were normal and that the high dose of Synthroid and Cytomel (150 mcg, 25 mcg respectively) should take care of the rest of the tissue. Hence, my TSH levels are very, very low (0.003) and my doctor has me on strict blood control to make sure to notice the first signs of elevation of TSH which would be the first sign of cancer reoccurring. I will be scheduled for the next body scan in March so that should help alleviate some of my worries. I know how scary this is and I hope everything turns out well for you.

[utahmomma]

Yeah, a few tell me to get off the Internet.  My mom especially (it conflicts with her denial about her thyroid).  My endo thinks its great though and it really came in handy at the ER the other night.  My vote, research away!  The best way to fight your enemy (cancer) is to KNOW your enemy.

I think it's great wanting to start a support group!  I'm considering doing the same when I'm not having to work two jobs 7 days a week to pay for the medical bills.  :-(  

The conference in San Francisco sounds wonderful!  I hope there are some endos going.

Hang in there and let us know about Monday!

[MJ13]

Thanks for all your support.  Can't tell you guys often enough how grateful I am to have found this website!!! To cope with the stress of waiting, I took my best friend out to dinner to a really nice Italian restaurant and we pigged out and even had cannoli for dessert.  The leftovers was just as delicious tonight.  Today I went for a full body deep tissue massage and signed up for a year membership to get at least one massage a month..I look at the massages as a medicinal expense!!  I also hit the clearance racks at Kohls and got lots of bargains on turtlenecks and necklaces to hide my scar.  

On another note..do ya'll have any family members that think you do too much research on the internet about out disease? I am analyst by day and have been doing research for twenty years as part of my job.  I'm the type of person if I don't know about something, I simply find out as much as possible.  I'm a firm believer that knowledge is power.  I've always been an inquisitive person and I just can't make a few family members understand why I NEED to find out about my disease...for lots of reasons.  First and foremost, so I can understand what the dr's are saying, and if I can find out info and pass it on the others that I may be able to help them understand about thyroid disorders.  I'm thinking seriously about starting a thyroid disorder support group in my area.  I've also decided I'm going to the thyca survivors conference in San Franciso in Oct 2007.  

Anyway, thanks again for just being here and listening!!

MJ

[utahmomma]

Okay, as you know, the labs are NOT my area but my Endo told me there are two things he watches for to determine if the cancer is back and it's time for RAI again:  an increase in the TSH and thyroglobulin levels.

Maybe that is part of why you are going to have additional imaging.  Fun, ain't it??  :-)

Ask about the increased amount in your abdomen too.  I had quite a bit in my colon but that was to be expected they said, as it was flushed out of my system.  My sister had quite a bit in her breast tissue (the first scan) and it was concerning but seemed to have resolved by the third RAI.

Please, please post and let us know Monday what they say.

>>>>HUGS<<<<<

[venora]

Mj i dont much about everything either but I will say a prayer for you and hope the best for for you
Love Venora

[MJ13]

I also got a copy of last labs that were taken prior to RAI on 22 Jan.  Not for sure what it means if anything.

My thyroglobulin (Tg) was 1.7 (range .5 - 55). The last two test it was <.5 which is normal for someone whose had a TT.  My latest Tg antibodies (ab) test came back 40 (range 0 - 40. My last Tg ab was 39.   A note on lab results says "Reference interval does not apply following thryroidectomy when levels shoud be ,.5 or repeatedly low.  the presence of antithryroid ab may casue decreased levels of neasurable Tg due to competiteve inhibiton in this immunometric assay."

My calcium, Ionized, Serum has remained the same at 5 (range 4.5 - 5.6).  That's with being on Oscal 500+D and Calciltriol since my TT.  I wonder where it would be without the calcium supplements?  

[ChitChatNine]

I have no knowledge at all but want you to know I was thinking of you all day today.  I hope it is like a mammogram when they call you back again for more photos .. to get a better image and all is usually ok.  

C~

[utahmomma]

Okay, by far NOT an expert but I know when I saw my body scan - and pictures of others on the web - body scans are not very clear.  They seem to just be made up of a bunch of dots of various brightness.  I'm *GUESSING* that they want a clearer picture of your thyroid bed.

Don't panic - they probably just want to make sure they got everything.  Please ask them TONS of questions Monday and let us know!

Warm hugs!!