Aa
Elevated Tg
It has been 15 years since I had a TT for cancer, and for the longest time I had an undetectable Tg. The a couple years ago it elevated and suspicious spots were seen on an ultrasound. I did radiation again and my Tg dropped eventually to undetectable again. Then in October of 2008 it started increasing again and now is at 13, however, nothing shows on the I-131 scan or PET/CT scan and nothing is seen on ultrasound.
I did see my endo today and both him and the oncologist think I should have another Tg test done in a couple weeks and then go from there. I asked him what if the Tg continues to elevate but nothing is found on scans or ultrasound and his reply to me was that I will be in trouble and I need to keep my fingers crossed and he will do the same. Not the kind of reply I thought I would get.
Has anyone had this happen in which the Tg elevates but nothing is found on any scans or tests.
It is very frustrating because they cannot find anything to treat at this point.
I did see my endo today and both him and the oncologist think I should have another Tg test done in a couple weeks and then go from there. I asked him what if the Tg continues to elevate but nothing is found on scans or ultrasound and his reply to me was that I will be in trouble and I need to keep my fingers crossed and he will do the same. Not the kind of reply I thought I would get.
Has anyone had this happen in which the Tg elevates but nothing is found on any scans or tests.
It is very frustrating because they cannot find anything to treat at this point.
Thanks Utah -
Abby -
To personal message to a certain member.
1 - drag your mouse arrow over the members "blue" name until the little box opens.
You will see the words "send message" drag your mouse over to those words and a little line will appear underlining "what" you want to do. Click and the members personal inbox will open and you can leave them a message. Type in the message box and then the message you want to say to them.
You can also click on the "blue" members name and open their profile. Many of them write logs and history, so you can get to know what a certain members interests are - AND most likely what thyroid position they are in.
If you need help - let us Co Leaders know.
Take care
Abby -
To personal message to a certain member.
1 - drag your mouse arrow over the members "blue" name until the little box opens.
You will see the words "send message" drag your mouse over to those words and a little line will appear underlining "what" you want to do. Click and the members personal inbox will open and you can leave them a message. Type in the message box and then the message you want to say to them.
You can also click on the "blue" members name and open their profile. Many of them write logs and history, so you can get to know what a certain members interests are - AND most likely what thyroid position they are in.
If you need help - let us Co Leaders know.
Take care
An elevated Tg means that there is a recurrence. There is *something* there and they need to do another dose of RAI. There is a very good chance that the mets (metastases of the thyroid cancer) is too small to be seen by the scans. This happens *a lot* with thyroid cancer. The "glow" from the radiation is so strong that it doesn't show the small mets well.
What was your last dose? The indication would be that they need to do *at least* 150mCi this time (or more). The standard practice would be that they also need to use lithium carbonate in conjunction with the I-131. Your uptake scan (the small dose before the large, treatment dose) should also be I-123 - *NOT* I-131 to prevent "stunning" of the thyroid cancer (meaning that the thyroid cancer takes up a little bit of the radiation from the first, small dose then doesn't take up the big, killer dose).
The lithium will increase the effectiveness of the radiation by an estimated 50%.
A really good medical text book is Essentials of Thyroid Cancer Management (Amdur Mazzaferri, Editors) This information comes from this book.
After this next course of RAI the Tg needs to be checked again. If the Tg hasn't decreased then the thyroid cancer has become resistant to iodine - which is a problem. At this point a whole body MRI (with contrast) is indicated so the tumors can be located and external beam radiation can be ordered but this is very rare.
The doctor who writes most of the articles regarding the treatment of thyroid cancers which do not respond to RAI is Dr. Ernest L. Mazzarerri, MD, MACP who is a professor at the University of Florida Department of Medicine. If you get into a bind you may be able to contact him or his office. I purchased the book on Amazon and it has been a great (but a bit frightening) lifesaver when trying to figure out my (and my family's) cancer treatments!!!
Take care
Utahmomma
papillary carcinoma '03, second surgery '04
recurrence and RAI '06
three sisters with papillary carcinoma (one with three recurrences/RAI including mets to breasts and liver)
daughter and another sister with precancerous thyroids)
What was your last dose? The indication would be that they need to do *at least* 150mCi this time (or more). The standard practice would be that they also need to use lithium carbonate in conjunction with the I-131. Your uptake scan (the small dose before the large, treatment dose) should also be I-123 - *NOT* I-131 to prevent "stunning" of the thyroid cancer (meaning that the thyroid cancer takes up a little bit of the radiation from the first, small dose then doesn't take up the big, killer dose).
The lithium will increase the effectiveness of the radiation by an estimated 50%.
A really good medical text book is Essentials of Thyroid Cancer Management (Amdur Mazzaferri, Editors) This information comes from this book.
After this next course of RAI the Tg needs to be checked again. If the Tg hasn't decreased then the thyroid cancer has become resistant to iodine - which is a problem. At this point a whole body MRI (with contrast) is indicated so the tumors can be located and external beam radiation can be ordered but this is very rare.
The doctor who writes most of the articles regarding the treatment of thyroid cancers which do not respond to RAI is Dr. Ernest L. Mazzarerri, MD, MACP who is a professor at the University of Florida Department of Medicine. If you get into a bind you may be able to contact him or his office. I purchased the book on Amazon and it has been a great (but a bit frightening) lifesaver when trying to figure out my (and my family's) cancer treatments!!!
Take care
Utahmomma
papillary carcinoma '03, second surgery '04
recurrence and RAI '06
three sisters with papillary carcinoma (one with three recurrences/RAI including mets to breasts and liver)
daughter and another sister with precancerous thyroids)
No, I am not really sure how to do that. I have posted a few times on the site but never gotten that involved in it.
I can say that I have decided to move on to another hospital, new Endo and new oncologist at least for another opinion, and I see them on April 28. I just find it hard to believe that there is nothing I can do but keep my fingers crossed yet at the same time they say I am in trouble.
I can say that I have decided to move on to another hospital, new Endo and new oncologist at least for another opinion, and I see them on April 28. I just find it hard to believe that there is nothing I can do but keep my fingers crossed yet at the same time they say I am in trouble.
Can you personal message a member utahmomma on this? If you are not sure how to do that I will refer her to this message?
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