Does papillary thyroid cancer alway need surgery?

[Chilegringa]

I was diagnosed with papillary cancer.  Is surgery the only answer or are there alternative ways to treat this.  The recent ecos show that the cancer is becoming cystic and being encapsulated.  I hear of problems after surgery with the regulation of medicine and I am a singer so don't want to ruin my vocal chords.  I am in very good health now with a good energy level.

The surgeon wants to remove the whole thyroid and do RAI treatment.

If I were to have the surgery, how long does it take to feel normal?

Thank you.

[shellsa]

hi michelle here  i was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma just recently i have to have complete surgery in feb and have rai cause mine was growing quite big last year my tumour was tricky and in a place which was hard to get to.  

[utahmomma]

I am so glad that you got that nasty cancer OUT!  Now it's recovery for you.  The ice packs really do help bring the swelling down quickly.  For lots more tricks and tips, the thyroid disorders support group has lots of us there who have been through it.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/ThyroidDisordersSupport/wwwboard.html

Welcome to recovery from thyroid cancer.

[darksuns]

Good for you for jumping right in there! I had my thyroid removed Dec 11th of last year for pap. carinoma. I have a scar that has gone down significantly, but it's still a little tender. I have no tightness anymore, but I do have a little swelling in between the scar and the hole they put the drain in. That's all. I was told to put an ice pack on it to help the swelling. Then, after you get your stitches or steri-strips or whatever off, start rubbing vitamin E oil on it. It does wonders!!! Are you going to have to have RAI treatment or no? Good luck!

[Chilegringa]

I finally decided to do it and just had my thyroid removed last Friday and now almost a week later am recovering fine.  I have lots of neck swelling and hematomas probably because I am on an anticoagulant.  How long does it take to go down?  Is there anything I can put on in to take the swelling down?

Any advice is welcome.
Thanks,
Chilegringa

[Maureen37]

HI everyone, I too have papillary thyroid cancer and had my thyroid removed Dec 06.  I was shopping a few days later and felt great. No problem to my vocal cords, I still cannot sing though, lol.  But damage to your vocal cords is always a risk.  
The thyroid is in such a tight position wrapped into everything so you have risk to damage to the nerves and parathryroids.
I did feel like guarding my neck for quite a while, so no snowmobiling that winter.  
Yancy, As far as the RAI treatment, those exposed to you too close for too long are at risk to damaging their thryroid.  You are not really at risk to yourself because that is what you want to do, get rid of any remaining thryroid tissue in your body (so the cancer dies too).
I felt so much better knowing the cancer was gone after surgery.
There is no problem regulating the medicine afterward, except that they want to keep your TSH low (nearly obsolete) for a few years after so the cancer cannot grow easily.  So I feel a bit hyperthryoid, and have more energy than I can ever remember...I picked up walking and jogging so that I can sleep at night...
Good luck to everyone...
another good website is www.thyca.org.
Maureen from Michigan

[yancy1966]

I am 41 and was diagnosed with papillary cancer after thyroidectomy. Pathology found it was encapsulated in thyroid. I am scheduled to have a dose of radioactive iodine mid February.
I have been told to stay away from people for 3 days after dose since I will be radioactive. How dangerous is it for me to be around my self? I wanted to know the long term side effects of this treatment. Are there any links to this treatment and onset of other cancers?
I have been told the prognosis is good, but, still worry about recurrance.
Any advice from dr or those who have been through this would help.
LEanne

[utahmomma]

I'm not a medical professional but I, and three of my sisters, have been through this.  We all have papillary carcinoma.

The surgery isn't that bad at all.  Of all the surgeries I've had it was, by far, the easiest.  RAI wasn't indicated for me at first because my cancer was small (5mm) and encapsulated.  However, three years later my labs showed that I was having a recurrence so I did have to undergo RAI.  My youngest sister (24 at the time) had Stage II papillary carcinoma and she has been through RAI three times.

Getting the meds adjusted isn't that difficult after surgery and RAI since there is no natural thyroid left to interfere with the meds.

All in all, the surgery and RAI were much better than wondering if I had cancer growing in me.  The sooner the better with the surgery and RAI too - you don't want it growing outside your thyroid area.

Just my experience.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Surgery is indicated, there is not proven effective alternative to this.

Depending on the size, type, invasion, lymph node involvement, etc -- RAI may be indicated as well.

Dosing medication works very well for the vast majority and with an experienced surgeon (at least 30 operations per year) there should be minimal risk to voice or parathyroids.