RAI After Thyroid Cancer Surgery

[rachelhuang]

My Sister was diagnosed with Papillary Thryroid Cancer about 6 months ago, the doctors decided to operate immediatley to remove the thyroid and a small portion of the lymph nodes, after testing there was no cancer found in the Lymph nodes.
Most information that I've read says that RAI is used after surgery as a way of being certain that there is no remaining cancer. My Sister's doctors have said that she does not need to do RAI following her surgery.
She has gone to other doctors for a second opinion, but they said she should follow what her doctor intially planned.
Does anyone know of people getting surgery for a cancerous Thyroid and not having RAI as a follow up? Can anyone think of reasons why the Doctor would choose not to do the RAI?

[Smilerdeb]

Yeah Utahmomma...I agree with you.
Ive had ultrasounds done since RAI as wanted to be sure 'it' was all gone..basically for my own peace of mind.

[utahmomma]

Hello!

There are four of us in my family with papillary carcinoma.  If the cancer was confined to the thyroid; following surgery doctors usually test the thyroglobulin (Tg) level and monitor it.  A rise in Tg while on thyroid meds indicates a cancer recurrence.

Of the four of us two have not needed any additional treatment (other than thyroid meds; I had a recurrence and required RAI, my youngest sister required three doses of RAI.

Monitoring thyroid levels every 3 months for the next few years, then every 6 months after that, is the standard protocol for your sister.

FYI:  the rest of you might want to get thyroid ultrasounds too.  Papillary thyroid carcinoma is not supposed to be hereditary but, hey, my family sure has it.

Utahmomma
papillary carcinoma '03, second surgery '04, recurrence and RAI '06
three sisters with papillary carcinoma; another with precancerous nodules; daughter with precancerous nodules

[rachelhuang]

Hi,

I am very very happy for you,  I can feel your positve energy! It is the key!

Best wishes
Rachel

[rachelhuang]

Hi, thank you for the respond, I will check with my sister about her tumor size. Good to know.

How long did it take between your first and 2nd surgery? Did you have any spread on your limph nodes?

Anyway, best wishes to you and your sister, it is not an agressive cancer at all, if you take care it well and be positive, you all will be totally fine! You have to believe it!

Thanks
Rachel

[Smilerdeb]

My thyroid was cancerous and I had RAI FIRST as surgery was too dangerous.
(I have Graves and was hyper)..then 3 months later a TT was done under keyhole surgery.
I didnt have another lot of RAI afterwards but a year later a full body scan was done and found no cancer and also 2 weeks ago another full body scan done and no cancer as its now my 2nd anniversary since RAI on 28th June 2010.

I had no thyroid tumours ...only a lovely full blown thyroid completely cancerous.

Now I am cancer free, thyroid free and Pit. Tumour free and loving life once again :)

[MANmom]

The doctors suggest RAI for tumors over 1 cm...how big were her tumors?  Sometimes when the tumors are small, stage 1 and no spread or irregular growth, they don't do RAI.  I had five tumors, the first surgery I had three that were micro-tumors...less than 2 mm each.  I was not in line for RAI until the second surgery when they removed the rest of my thyroid and found a 1.5 cm tumor, then I had no choice, RAI was required.  My sister had a tumor that was slightly less than 1 cm, he doctor gave her the option, told her it was probably overkill, but she did do the RAI.  So it really depends on the size of the tumors.