prognosis

[balboni]

Any ideas why after 4 mos. thyroidectomy I still have vocal range weakness and choke easily on foods? Is my prognosis good if 51 yo F with 5 mm tumor and metastasis in only one lymph node and perithyroid fat extension?
Tx.

[balboni]

I am 51 yo and recently diagnosed with papillary thyroid CA in 5/08 I was T1, N1 and MACIS and AMES and etc. seem to put me in low risk. Surgeon and Endo say I have fantastic prognosis. What I can't understand is why they pathology typed me T1, as they stated extrathyroidal extension into parathyroid fat. Are they right? My endo said it did not go outside of capsule. But if its is extra (thyroidal) how come its considered that? Is my prognosis excellent like they say?
I'm sure I'm just not understanding the anatomy..
Thanks - Also, I had total thyroidectomy and 100 of RA.

[balboni]

Thanx for encouragement and expertise. How do all of you deal with the recurrence of Pap CA and what do the doctors tell you about prognosis? It obviously runs in families. I feel exhausted all the time By the way I had 100 whatever they call it of RA. My doctors say they consider me cured, by wondering if its ok to be diagnosed after 50 yo.
You sound like my best friend, she has been diagnosed with Type II DM and she has COPD and has been on 02 therapy for the last 4 years. I'm worried Hope you get better..

[utahmomma]

There is still a lot of swelling and scar tissue in your neck.  Some people lose their vocal range for a while after surgery - my sister (who was a Jr. High teacher at the time) could barely whisper for over a year.  She's fine now but she said it was not fun to control 7 classes a day of Jr. High school students when you couldn't talk over them.  :-(

Have they tested your vocal chords to ensure there was no damage?

Also, because your cancer wasn't encapsulated, did you have (or have they scheduled) RAI (I-131 or radio-iodine treatment)?  Your case would call for it.  If not, discuss it with your doctor.  Sometimes the after effects of RAI can cause temporary vocal weakness too.

The vast (VAST) majority of thyroid patients who suffer from vocal weakness, choking, etc. after surgery make a full recovery within a year or so.

Talk to your doctor and/or the surgeon.

Best of everything

Utahmomma
papillary carcinoma '03
recurrence and RAI '06 and probably '08
three sisters with papillary carcinoma (one with three recurrences/RAI)
sister with precancerous nodules
daughter with precancerous nodules