thyroid cancer- HELP

[Speech59]

I was just diagnosed with thyroid cancer after removal of a lymph node in my neck this week. After months of testing for asthma (normal), a swallowing study,(normal)  an upper GI (mild GERD)  a laryngoscopy vocal nodules- (from all the coughing),  a CatScan and ultrasound (found a nodule on the thyroid.),  initial bloodwork was normal but the extended panel blood tests came back abnormal.  The cat scan revealed a nodule on my thyroid that they were just going to watch until they found abnormal bloodwork. I have one tumor on the thyroid and my thyroid has to be removed.. Does anyone have any suggestions or pitfalls to avoid when I go through this process?

[Pat539]

After at least 30 years of being on synthroid and regular blood tests, it was determined that I had developed  thyroid cancer.    In Dec the TT was done and after the holidays I went through the low sodium diet, RAI pill and body scans.  By the middle of Feb the time had come to be put back on synthyroid and resume normal eating.  The only negative I can report so far is a big increase in wgt. and loss of taste for a few weeks after RAI pill.

  From what I understand, the worst part of the whole thing may be finding the right level of medication level. I was full of anxiety in the beginning, but the fact that my son had gone through the same procedure 6 mo. prior to me, helped me to know what to expect.

  It was very helpful being able to ask questions on this site and if you need to do the low sodium diet, make sure to check out www.thyca.org.  The recipes calls for more work preparing food possibly but it was very helpful to me for getting through the diet.

[nissah46]

It has been almost 3 years since my TT.  I had 18 lymph nodes removed at that time and the cancer had spread there, as well as to my rib and lung. I had a treatment of radio active iodine  RAI (200mci) 5 months later.  Since then I have had 2 whole body scans (WBS), and in May I will have a Thyrogen Tg blood test without scan.  I had some complications from the TT, but they have all been manageable.  You will be put on thyroid replacement medication, and will be monitored for life with blood work.  I now get my TSH tested every 3 months. Do you know what type of thyroid cancer you have?  I have papillary with follicular properties, which seems to be the most common.  Good luck.
Trish

[bluestarmom187]

Sounds like your DX went backwards. They normally find the cancer in the thyroid 1st then start removing lymph nodes. At least..I thought so. Anyway the TT is not so bad. I just had mine in Feb. Now waiting on RAI. My doctor was great about telling what to expect. The only problem I had was low calcium and some interneal bleeding in my neck which was caused by me getting sick to soon after surgery.

Best Wishes