RAI Treatment

Just wondering my doctor said that the reason for the RAI treatment is to make sure the cancer cell was only in the thyroid tissue and did not go anywhere else. Will if he took two lymph nodes out and they show benign does that mean they could  come up cancerous? He is also worried because i have nodules in my lungs so that is what i think he was talking about.

[redhed87]

Hi,
From what I understand, if there is any microscopic cells, the RAI will kill it off.  I had 2 of 7 lymph nodes come back as cancer so both doctors (endo and surgeon) agreed that I do need RAI.  I think I would kick myself if it came back and I didn't do that treatment.  If you have nodules on your lungs, I would definitely do it.  Pap. cancer can spread to the lungs.  I have to get my tsh checked next week and then go from there to schedule RAI.  Take care.  Kim

[GravesLady]

Thyroid surgeons tend to leave a portion of the thyroid intact, in order to avoid damaging parathyroid's or the nerve that runs through the thyroid that works the vocal chords. Even with the most meticulous surgery, small amounts of thyroid tissue are often left behind to help preserve the integrity of critical structures that lie beneath the lobes of the thyroid. So, another reason for RAI is to ablate the remaining tissues that is left behind so cancer can not attack the tissue.

As well as, thyroid can grow back from the left behind tissue anytime after surgery - there are thought to be antibodies that can cause this as well.

Some doctors recommend a low TSH (suppressed level of 0.01 or less) after surgery/RAI to prevent development of thyroid cancer, if it is felt that there is a high risk of recurrence following surgery alone.

I also have read but have no legit site reference to back this up, if there is any cancer left, RAI will seek it out - RAI is like a magfnic to cancer. Now whether is kills the cancer is another issue and I guess would depend on the cancer stage, type and how much RAI was given for the thyroid that would be enough to kill the (other) cancer cells.

[At The End of My Rope]

so have you heard of it going to the lungs that is what I am worried about now, and you have RAI done for the fact it was cancer right.

[redhed87]

sorry about previos post- put comment to chitchat nine.  My mistake.

[At The End of My Rope]

no problem