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Thyroid questions
I had total thyroidextomy in 2001, have been on high dosage of Levathyroxine all these years, these labs that I posted here were done while I was off of the medication, I was taken off slowly and then one week with out anything, and this is when the labs were done.
My doctor told me today that he is going to do more tests, I have to have ultrasound of neck Friday, and he also told me that because of what he see's in these results, tells him that I need to have radiation treatment, he says, that this is telling him that there is cancer somewhere, its just a matter of finding where, that it may be small and we just have to check every 6 months or so, to see if it grows.
so here I am again, scared and dont know what to do.
T3 Free 1.9 range 2.4-6.8
T4 Total 3.2 range 4.5-13.9
T3 Total 0.5 range 0.8-1.6
THGAB 35.7 range 0-60
PTHINTAC 20.7 range 12-88 PG/ML
Thyroglobulin 18.00 range 1.15-35.0 ng/ml
Vit D 26.9 range 30.0-100.0 includes both D2 and D3
PHOS 4.0 range 2.5-4.9
CA 8.9 range 8.5-10.1
TSH 29.80 range 0.34-4.82
This is the results of all the test I had while off of all my med's,
My doctor did not have all the results in while I was at the office today so he wouldn't tell me much, except that what he did have was telling him that something is back and it looks like I need to have radiation treatment, so at this time I am a nervous wreck, just trying to find a way to keep myself calm.
My doctor told me today that he is going to do more tests, I have to have ultrasound of neck Friday, and he also told me that because of what he see's in these results, tells him that I need to have radiation treatment, he says, that this is telling him that there is cancer somewhere, its just a matter of finding where, that it may be small and we just have to check every 6 months or so, to see if it grows.
so here I am again, scared and dont know what to do.
T3 Free 1.9 range 2.4-6.8
T4 Total 3.2 range 4.5-13.9
T3 Total 0.5 range 0.8-1.6
THGAB 35.7 range 0-60
PTHINTAC 20.7 range 12-88 PG/ML
Thyroglobulin 18.00 range 1.15-35.0 ng/ml
Vit D 26.9 range 30.0-100.0 includes both D2 and D3
PHOS 4.0 range 2.5-4.9
CA 8.9 range 8.5-10.1
TSH 29.80 range 0.34-4.82
This is the results of all the test I had while off of all my med's,
My doctor did not have all the results in while I was at the office today so he wouldn't tell me much, except that what he did have was telling him that something is back and it looks like I need to have radiation treatment, so at this time I am a nervous wreck, just trying to find a way to keep myself calm.
Thank you all once again.
First off here, this is really the first tests like this that I have had in many years, I had not been to and Endocrinologist in years, so just my regular doctor has always just checked my TSH levels. so yes I do know that this is my own doing, I should have been seeing the right kind of doctor all along, but didn't.
So anyway, this doctor is an Endocrinologist, He is in Pikeville Ky. He is sending me to Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport Tn, For some scans and the radiation treatment. I have to stop all med's again, so it will be April 4 th before my first scan.
I have read what you all have put here for me, and I thank you all, and yes I will be doing a lot more research and checking around about all this.
I plan to reread what you have put here to help myself better understand, and also right a lot of this down to take with me to the doctors so that I have help in trying to ask the right questions and get some answers.
So once again, thank you all
and God bless each of you.
First off here, this is really the first tests like this that I have had in many years, I had not been to and Endocrinologist in years, so just my regular doctor has always just checked my TSH levels. so yes I do know that this is my own doing, I should have been seeing the right kind of doctor all along, but didn't.
So anyway, this doctor is an Endocrinologist, He is in Pikeville Ky. He is sending me to Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport Tn, For some scans and the radiation treatment. I have to stop all med's again, so it will be April 4 th before my first scan.
I have read what you all have put here for me, and I thank you all, and yes I will be doing a lot more research and checking around about all this.
I plan to reread what you have put here to help myself better understand, and also right a lot of this down to take with me to the doctors so that I have help in trying to ask the right questions and get some answers.
So once again, thank you all
and God bless each of you.
Thanks for that, Sally, very interesting.
Yes, that does make more sense. I think the really important part is this: "Changes in the Tg level over time (six months or yearly intervals) are more important than any one Tg result."
Has this doctor been treating you right along since your TT? Did he say whether your levels were rising? What kind of a doctor is he?
Yes, that does make more sense. I think the really important part is this: "Changes in the Tg level over time (six months or yearly intervals) are more important than any one Tg result."
Has this doctor been treating you right along since your TT? Did he say whether your levels were rising? What kind of a doctor is he?
Here is some info I found:- would appear that Tg indicates presence of thyroid tissue. How does the recent reading compare with past readings? Also, TG usually measured when still on meds - according to this.
"The measurement of the protein Thyroglobulin (abbreviated Tg) in blood, is an important laboratory test for checking whether a patient still has some thyroid present. The power of a serum Tg measurement lies in the fact that Tg can only be made by the thyroid gland (either the remaining normal part or the tumorous part). This means that when a patient has had their thyroid completely removed, the measurement of Tg in a blood sample can be used to check whether there is any tumor left behind.
Detectable Tg Levels: When patients have had cancerous growths that make Tg, the absence of Tg in a blood sample is usually good news for a patient who has had thyroid surgery to remove their thyroid gland containing a cancerous growth. However, many patients still have measurable levels of Tg in their blood after surgery. Often this Tg is coming from a small amount of normal thyroid left behind. This means that a measurable level of Tg does not necessarily indicate the presence of tumor. Often physicians will give a small dose of radioiodine to get rid of the last remaining part of the normal thyroid gland in order to make later Tg measurements a better marker for any tumor left behind.
TSH & Tg: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is the pituitary (master gland at the base of the brain) hormone that drives the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones and as a by-product, release Tg into the blood. TSH is believed to cause the growth of most thyroid tumors. This is why it is important to take thyroxine medicine (e.g.: synthroid, levoxyl, unithroid) to keep TSH levels low. When TSH is high (before scanning) Tg is increased about ten times. You should not compare the Tg level measured while taking thyroxine medicine (when TSH is low) with the Tg level measured when TSH is high.
Tg Measurements before Surgery: Many physicians still do not recognize the value of a pre-operative Tg measurement. A high Tg level before surgery does not indicate that a tumor is present. However, when a biopsy suggests that the growth is cancerous, the finding of a high Tg level before surgery is a good sign, because it suggests that the tumor makes Tg, and that after surgery Tg can be used as a sensitive tumor marker test. In fact, Tg will be a more sensitive post-operative tumor marker test when the cancerous growth is small and the pre-operative Tg is high! When a patient has a low Tg pre-operatively, the cancerous growth might be unable to efficiently make Tg. In such patients, an undetectable Tg level after surgery is less reassuring than if the patient had had a high pre-operative Tg value. Conversely, when Tg is detected post-operatively in such patients despite ablation of all normal thyroid, this could indicate that a large amount of tumor is still present.
Tg Measurements after Surgery: Changes in the Tg level over time (six months or yearly intervals) are more important than any one Tg result. After surgery, blood samples are usually taken for Tg measurement while the patient is taking their daily dose of thyroxine medication (TSH low)."
"The measurement of the protein Thyroglobulin (abbreviated Tg) in blood, is an important laboratory test for checking whether a patient still has some thyroid present. The power of a serum Tg measurement lies in the fact that Tg can only be made by the thyroid gland (either the remaining normal part or the tumorous part). This means that when a patient has had their thyroid completely removed, the measurement of Tg in a blood sample can be used to check whether there is any tumor left behind.
Detectable Tg Levels: When patients have had cancerous growths that make Tg, the absence of Tg in a blood sample is usually good news for a patient who has had thyroid surgery to remove their thyroid gland containing a cancerous growth. However, many patients still have measurable levels of Tg in their blood after surgery. Often this Tg is coming from a small amount of normal thyroid left behind. This means that a measurable level of Tg does not necessarily indicate the presence of tumor. Often physicians will give a small dose of radioiodine to get rid of the last remaining part of the normal thyroid gland in order to make later Tg measurements a better marker for any tumor left behind.
TSH & Tg: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is the pituitary (master gland at the base of the brain) hormone that drives the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones and as a by-product, release Tg into the blood. TSH is believed to cause the growth of most thyroid tumors. This is why it is important to take thyroxine medicine (e.g.: synthroid, levoxyl, unithroid) to keep TSH levels low. When TSH is high (before scanning) Tg is increased about ten times. You should not compare the Tg level measured while taking thyroxine medicine (when TSH is low) with the Tg level measured when TSH is high.
Tg Measurements before Surgery: Many physicians still do not recognize the value of a pre-operative Tg measurement. A high Tg level before surgery does not indicate that a tumor is present. However, when a biopsy suggests that the growth is cancerous, the finding of a high Tg level before surgery is a good sign, because it suggests that the tumor makes Tg, and that after surgery Tg can be used as a sensitive tumor marker test. In fact, Tg will be a more sensitive post-operative tumor marker test when the cancerous growth is small and the pre-operative Tg is high! When a patient has a low Tg pre-operatively, the cancerous growth might be unable to efficiently make Tg. In such patients, an undetectable Tg level after surgery is less reassuring than if the patient had had a high pre-operative Tg value. Conversely, when Tg is detected post-operatively in such patients despite ablation of all normal thyroid, this could indicate that a large amount of tumor is still present.
Tg Measurements after Surgery: Changes in the Tg level over time (six months or yearly intervals) are more important than any one Tg result. After surgery, blood samples are usually taken for Tg measurement while the patient is taking their daily dose of thyroxine medication (TSH low)."
Make sure you are comfortable with and fully understand any treatment proposed. Get a second opinion if necessary. It is not small thing to undergo radiation treatment. Thyroid cancer (if this is what it is) is typically slow growing.... this means that you may not need to start treatment urgently (as in within days and can take some time to research / review /etc).
There may also be an option to watch closely rather than do radiation at this time, particularly if they can't find any obvious cancer.
Your vitamin D levels are very low. These should and must be addressed, particularly if a return of the cancer is suspected. Low levels of vitamin D can contribute to cancer risk according to what I've read.
Let us know how you go.
Best wishes
There may also be an option to watch closely rather than do radiation at this time, particularly if they can't find any obvious cancer.
Your vitamin D levels are very low. These should and must be addressed, particularly if a return of the cancer is suspected. Low levels of vitamin D can contribute to cancer risk according to what I've read.
Let us know how you go.
Best wishes
Well, It's me again, so I talked to this Doctor, I told him I needed some answers, that I am a nervous person as it is and this really had me tore up, so anyway, this is what I have now.
He said that because I have no thyroid and I was completely off my medication that it was the TG that he was looking at, and that what he wanted to see was a number of 2 or lower, because I have no thyroid, He said that either the thyroid tissue or a tumor / cancer was the only things that would make the number be higher like that. and sense I have no thyroid, that only leads him to take immediate action as if it is cancer.
So does this make any sense to anyone, still confused and scare.
Thank you all and may God bless each of you for being here to help someone who is needing help, or support or just an ear. It really means a lot.
He said that because I have no thyroid and I was completely off my medication that it was the TG that he was looking at, and that what he wanted to see was a number of 2 or lower, because I have no thyroid, He said that either the thyroid tissue or a tumor / cancer was the only things that would make the number be higher like that. and sense I have no thyroid, that only leads him to take immediate action as if it is cancer.
So does this make any sense to anyone, still confused and scare.
Thank you all and may God bless each of you for being here to help someone who is needing help, or support or just an ear. It really means a lot.
Thank you all so much, Tomorrow is Monday so I am going to call and try to talk to this doctor, or go to his office if He will not talk with me on the phone, and trey to find out what it is he is looking at to tell me this, and try to get some answers to my questions, I think I will go to my regular doctor also, the one who referred me to this doctor, and tell her what this doctor has said and show her my results and see what she says also.
in the mean time, thank you all for talking with me and trying to help me.
so very thankful just to have someone out there who would take the time to try and help me calm down and handle this.
May God bless you all.
in the mean time, thank you all for talking with me and trying to help me.
so very thankful just to have someone out there who would take the time to try and help me calm down and handle this.
May God bless you all.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm confused.. that's not real unusual............ lol...... but something sounds fishy here. I can't help wondering what your doctor plans to radiate. Your thyroid, that's not there? Lymph nodes that are visible, but normal?
Apparently, your regular doctor (the one that lowered your med because of 0.05) know that TSH is typically suppressed after one has had cancer......
I totally agree with goolarra; can't imagine what your doctor is talking about, and would never agree to radiation without a heck of a lot more information.
Make your doctor tell you what, in those blood tests, indicates cancer. I see nothing, unless it might be the thyroglobulin, but even that's within the range, and with a TSH of 29.8, that might be expected.
As goolarra said - TSH is *not* a marker for cancer.
Apparently, your regular doctor (the one that lowered your med because of 0.05) know that TSH is typically suppressed after one has had cancer......
I totally agree with goolarra; can't imagine what your doctor is talking about, and would never agree to radiation without a heck of a lot more information.
Make your doctor tell you what, in those blood tests, indicates cancer. I see nothing, unless it might be the thyroglobulin, but even that's within the range, and with a TSH of 29.8, that might be expected.
As goolarra said - TSH is *not* a marker for cancer.
So, your PCP lowered your meds based on TSH even though you weren't feeling hyper, correct?
What kind of a doctor are you seeing who ordered the scan and the blood work? Is he aware that your PCP reduced your meds?
TSH level in no way indicates cancer. I can't imagine what your doctor is talking about.
Yes, your ultrasound results sound excellent...no cause for worry there.
What kind of a doctor are you seeing who ordered the scan and the blood work? Is he aware that your PCP reduced your meds?
TSH level in no way indicates cancer. I can't imagine what your doctor is talking about.
Yes, your ultrasound results sound excellent...no cause for worry there.
My regular doctor had lowered my med's a while back because my TSH level was up a little. My levels always stayed around .05, up and down a few, that is where they always kept them with the medication.
No imaging was done then, but he is now sending me for a full body scan,
I go for one scan, then do the radiation and then go back in for a second scan after the radiation.
but it will be six to seven weeks before them because I have to come back off the med's again now.
Yes that is what I thought at first because the only labs he had the first day were the T3 Free T3 and the TG, Thyroglobulin, this is the first time he said to me that I had to have radiation because the numbers was telling him there was something back, but that he didn't want to say more at that time until he got the rest of the results to see what the TSH was, I remember this because I was so worried I went straight to the hospital and got the results myself to take back to him because he said he was having trouble getting them.
this past Friday I went in for Ultrasound of the neck, checking the lymph nodes, I waited after the ultrasound was done and requested a cope of the results, this is what it reads.
The patient has history of thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma. Small lymph nodes are seen in both right and left neck. The lymph nodes have normal appearing anatomy with fatty hila.
IMPRESSION: Normal appearing lymph nodes present bilaterally.
This sounds good to me, but I am not a doctor so really don't know.
So now I am waiting again, and yes very scared.
I thank you so much here for talking with me and helping me.
No imaging was done then, but he is now sending me for a full body scan,
I go for one scan, then do the radiation and then go back in for a second scan after the radiation.
but it will be six to seven weeks before them because I have to come back off the med's again now.
Yes that is what I thought at first because the only labs he had the first day were the T3 Free T3 and the TG, Thyroglobulin, this is the first time he said to me that I had to have radiation because the numbers was telling him there was something back, but that he didn't want to say more at that time until he got the rest of the results to see what the TSH was, I remember this because I was so worried I went straight to the hospital and got the results myself to take back to him because he said he was having trouble getting them.
this past Friday I went in for Ultrasound of the neck, checking the lymph nodes, I waited after the ultrasound was done and requested a cope of the results, this is what it reads.
The patient has history of thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma. Small lymph nodes are seen in both right and left neck. The lymph nodes have normal appearing anatomy with fatty hila.
IMPRESSION: Normal appearing lymph nodes present bilaterally.
This sounds good to me, but I am not a doctor so really don't know.
So now I am waiting again, and yes very scared.
I thank you so much here for talking with me and helping me.
Do you know why they lowered your meds a few months ago? Were you having hyper symptoms?
So, your doctor lowered your meds slowly, and then you had blood drawn for these labs, correct? Did you have any kind of imaging at the same time?
I don't understand your doctor's comment "...because of where the TSH was, it tells him that there is cancer back." TSH is not a marker for cancer. You'd been on reduced meds and off meds completely for quite a while prior to the labs, so we'd expect your TSH to be high. Do you know what it was before he started weaning you off meds?
I'm sorry your doctor was so insensitive. That's a terribly rude thing to do. You'd have to be a stone not to be worried.
Don't worry about bothering anyone...that's why we're here.
Are you sure that your doctor wasn't concerned about your thyroglobulin level rather than your TSH level?
What's your doctors treatment plan from here? Has he given you any indication?
So, your doctor lowered your meds slowly, and then you had blood drawn for these labs, correct? Did you have any kind of imaging at the same time?
I don't understand your doctor's comment "...because of where the TSH was, it tells him that there is cancer back." TSH is not a marker for cancer. You'd been on reduced meds and off meds completely for quite a while prior to the labs, so we'd expect your TSH to be high. Do you know what it was before he started weaning you off meds?
I'm sorry your doctor was so insensitive. That's a terribly rude thing to do. You'd have to be a stone not to be worried.
Don't worry about bothering anyone...that's why we're here.
Are you sure that your doctor wasn't concerned about your thyroglobulin level rather than your TSH level?
What's your doctors treatment plan from here? Has he given you any indication?
I was diagnosed with thyroid condition in 2001, had total thyroid removed in 02 because of cancer, was on 175mcg Levothyroxine for all these years until a few months ago when they lowered me to the 137mcg.
The Doctor took me off my med's slowly, he started with lowering me to 100mcg and then 75, 50, 25 and then a week on 5 cytomyl, then one week with no medication at all, then I went in and had my labs drawn. The results I put here is what all my labs were, He then told me to start back on the 137 mcg levothyroxine,
What He said was because of where the TSH was, it tells him that there is cancer back, he doesn't know where only that it is somewhere and I need to have radiation and then have a full body scan, He told me that when thyroid cancer usually comes back or spreads, it is usually into the lungs or the bones.
Then he gives me an appointment to come back in a month, March 8th, and says don't be worrying, Hello, and what am I suppose to do.
I am just really tore up right now, and do not mean to be bothering anyone on here, but Am just scared and looking for any advice, or comments something maybe to help pass the time.
Thank you all,
Kathy
The Doctor took me off my med's slowly, he started with lowering me to 100mcg and then 75, 50, 25 and then a week on 5 cytomyl, then one week with no medication at all, then I went in and had my labs drawn. The results I put here is what all my labs were, He then told me to start back on the 137 mcg levothyroxine,
What He said was because of where the TSH was, it tells him that there is cancer back, he doesn't know where only that it is somewhere and I need to have radiation and then have a full body scan, He told me that when thyroid cancer usually comes back or spreads, it is usually into the lungs or the bones.
Then he gives me an appointment to come back in a month, March 8th, and says don't be worrying, Hello, and what am I suppose to do.
I am just really tore up right now, and do not mean to be bothering anyone on here, but Am just scared and looking for any advice, or comments something maybe to help pass the time.
Thank you all,
Kathy
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