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Thyroid cancer treatment
Hello, my husband was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer at age 40. The thyroid gland was removed, and he was given radioactive treatment. He is currently on thyroid medication. Does this type of cancer come back in any other areas of the body ? What else can we do in terms of treatment ?
Amela is right on the money. Your husband will need to have thyroglobulin and TSH levels followed (usually every 3 - 6 months) and yearly RAI scans - at least for a few years.
Papillary carcinomas are notorious for having "microcancers". Yes, lymph nodes, neck area, lungs are all areas of metastases. It can actually recur anywhere (I read some medical journals where it recurred in a woman's leg!). My recurrence was in my neck and a bit in my liver and sinuses. I'm waiting until my scan next week to see where this one is.
My sister (age 24 at diagnosis) had three recurrences and the last one was in her breasts and liver (she is now cancer free!).
If it has been more than 3 months since your husband's RAI and he hasn't had his Tg and TSH levels checked, call and *insist* they be run ASAP. You don't need to see the doctor - just have them fax a lab slip to the hospital (then call the hospital to get the results - don't rely on the doctor's office to call you back).
My best to you, your husband, and your family
Utahmomma
papillary carcinoma '03, second surgery '04
recurrence and RAI '06 and '08
three sisters with papillary carcinoma (one with three recurrence/RAI)
other sister with precancer and daughter with precancer
Papillary carcinomas are notorious for having "microcancers". Yes, lymph nodes, neck area, lungs are all areas of metastases. It can actually recur anywhere (I read some medical journals where it recurred in a woman's leg!). My recurrence was in my neck and a bit in my liver and sinuses. I'm waiting until my scan next week to see where this one is.
My sister (age 24 at diagnosis) had three recurrences and the last one was in her breasts and liver (she is now cancer free!).
If it has been more than 3 months since your husband's RAI and he hasn't had his Tg and TSH levels checked, call and *insist* they be run ASAP. You don't need to see the doctor - just have them fax a lab slip to the hospital (then call the hospital to get the results - don't rely on the doctor's office to call you back).
My best to you, your husband, and your family
Utahmomma
papillary carcinoma '03, second surgery '04
recurrence and RAI '06 and '08
three sisters with papillary carcinoma (one with three recurrence/RAI)
other sister with precancer and daughter with precancer
Is your husband being followed by an endocrinologist? How long ago did he have the cancer? Cancer patients should have yearly follow up where their thyroglobulin (abbreviated Tg) level is checked and possibly a neck ultrasound is performed.
Thyroid cancer can come back. In more advanced cases it can spread to lungs and less commonly, to bone. These can still be extremely treatable if caught early so that's why follow up is so important.
Thyroid cancer can come back. In more advanced cases it can spread to lungs and less commonly, to bone. These can still be extremely treatable if caught early so that's why follow up is so important.
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