Surgery

[Rockylee5]

If you have a cold spot and two needle biopsy were inconclusive, is the only option surgery?
Is there a non invasive proceedure to shrink the tumor?

Thanks

[utahmomma]

The first surgery they only took the right lobe and the cancer was 5mm and fully encapsulated.  Because I only had a lobectomy and the cancer was small RAI was not indicated.  

I only had the second surgery because *everyone* in my family decided to come down with papillary carcinoma or precancerous nodules over the next 12 months.  :-(  

I had no cancer on the left lobe so no RAI was indicated.

Two years after the 2nd surgery I had a recurrence (much to everyone's surprise) so that's why the RAI was indicated.

My youngest sister had the worst case which had spread to her lymph nodes.  She had to have three doses of RAI and the last scan showed metastases to her breasts (large amount) and liver.

My last scan showed increased uptake in my liver and head.  Guess I'll see in a few weeks whether or not it's serious.

Follicular and papillary cancers are identified, and treated, the same (surgery and RAI).  The two other forms of thyroid cancer (medullary and anaplastic) are more difficult to treat and identify - and have a much, much higher mortality rate.

Thyroid cancer, if it does spread, typically metastasises to throat, lymph nodes (especially in neck) and infrequently in breasts, lungs, and bone.  However it is very show growing and the RAI can find it, and kill it, in these organs.

Here's a good site:  http://www.endocrineweb.com/capap.html

[sidneythyroid]

So I take it the first and second surgery you didn't do RRI? and what kind of distant metastases because no one told me about distant metastases? I had pap & follicular.

[utahmomma]

The most common form of thyroid cancer (papillary carcinoma) often has microcancers which are too small to show up on scans.   I had a small (5mm) encapsulated tumor removed with a right lobectomy.  A year later (because of family diagnoses of papillary carcinoma) I decided to have the left lobe removed which was completely free of nodules or cancer.   Two years after the 2nd surgery I had a recurrence in the thyroid bed (and some in the liver).  Even though the original cancer was small and encapsulated microcancers regrew in the remaining thyroid tissue.

If cancer is suspected a complete thyroidectomy (with possible RAI) is the standard course of action because of the microcancers.

Sorry.

Utahmomma
papillary carcinoma '03, second surgery '04
recurrence and RAI '06 and probably '08
three sisters with papillary carcinoma (one with three recurrences, distant metastases, and three RAI procedures)
other sister with precancerous nodules (and new regrowth)
daughter with precancerous nodules

[sidneythyroid]

There is definately alternatives but you need to address a naturalpath doctor. I must tell you I had two-needle aspirations and an Thyroid uptake the needles showed incunclusive but the uptake showed cold nodule normally cold means cancer. So, I had a biopsy done and a very little bit was cancer the head of the pinky finger. Technically they could have cut that out and call it a day but most remove the entire thyroid especially if the nodule is big.  

[ChitChatNine]

I've recently read on the expert forum that synthroid does not necessarily shrink tumors as it was once stated so I'd ask your Dr for his/her opinion.  Sorry you are inconclusive readings .. you could send slides for another look/see elsewhere on the chance maybe they couldn't tell but another inst. can?

C~