Should I do Radioactive Iodine Treatment

[hb14]

2 months ago i had my thyroid removed due to a very small tumor that was diagnosed as papillary carcinoma.  No cancer was found anywhere else.  Now i am trying to decide whether to proceed with radioactive iodine treatment.  I don't want to have the treatment for many reasons, the biggest being that I would like to try to get pregnant and the other is that the whole radiation thing is a bit scary!  But I also don't want to make the wrong decision for the wrong reasons.  is there any type of threshold that can be used as the deciding factor?  does the RAI uptake scan determine this?  My endocrinoligist said that in different parts of the country they use different methods.  He said some doctors use Radioactive Iodine for all cancer patients and some doctors rarely ever use it and monitor their patients with yearly scans.  so, if there is so much difference of opinion, how do I decide?  I don't want to do more than is necessary, but I want to be healthy.  I am really torn and any advice or guidance would be appreciated, thanks!!

[pamperedblonde]

Why do you feel you need something else? Are you still experiencing symptoms? I think that in cases where cancer is apparent, then you need to do both to assure that it doesn't return later.
I would listen to the advise of the Endo.
Good luck to you.

[4helen]

I share in your dilemna too and many who have had it will say - yeah, you really must.  I read yesterday (Rosenthal's Thyroid Handbook) that breast tissue can take up some of the radioactive iodine and there is a possible correlation when doing X to rid Y in thyroid, Y in the breast may occur.  I don't know if this is scare mongering or what?!!  It's all scary enough without disinformation in the mix!  Some previous threads are on here about same topic ---- think size might factor into the decision? Your preganancy plans should not at all be affected and for feeling scared, this site seems very supportive through all the RAI steps but you're not alone in feeling that.  Here in England - RAI is standard practice.  Hope your docs can help you with the decision.  : )

[hb14]

Thank you both for your input.  It's helpful to have uninterested parties to bounce these things off of, it takes the emotion out of it, which is what i am trying to do. I am not experiencing any symptoms and according to my doctors, the surgery "cured" the cancer... so i guess i sort of feel like, why do I have to go through this treatment?  I guess i will just have to wait to do the uptake and see what it says and then decide.  I think I will get a second opinion either way just to make me feel more comfortable.