after thryroidectomy, should I get the iodine treatment?

[sandra11377]

My thyroid was removed 2 months ago, it was only 1.1 cm big and now I have to decide to have or not to have the radio active iodine treatment. My dr says the benefit is very little and it could do some harm (increase risk for secondary cancer). There are no signs for the cancer in my blood, nor did they find any cancerous lymfnodes when they did the surgery. What should I do? How much do I lower my chance to get the cancer again by having the treatment?
thank you,
sandra

[stella5349]

note: - RAI does not increase the re-occurance of thyroid cancer - IF the thyroid medication is properly done and your levels are suppressed with optimal thyroid function again.

Only a sick body can have a re-occurance of it after removal and ablation so being optimal again is definately important here. and the sooner the better after removal and RAI.

[stella5349]

it is a personal choice but you should read the benefits and they downfalls of this treatment completely to see if you can make a proper choice.

If a biospy was done after removal that could be cancerous or found cell tissue that resembled pap thyroid cancer then RAI should be talked about with your doctor.

The cancerous cells in thyroid cancer are very small and the thyroid gland itself is very porus so removal of the gland with cancer present - may have missed some cancer cells and RAI will kill the remaiing cells.

[egbrew]

She is right. Listen to her. Leave it alone

[laura1967]

That is absolutely a personal choice for you and a professional decision between you and your Dr. Did they find any cancer in your thyroid?