Re-lapse

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with pappillary thyroid carcinoma in 1994. Even

though it was only on the right lobe, my doctor removed the entire

lobe to be safe. I went through 2 ablations to knock out a small

mass which was left over. My body scans have come back totally clean

for 2 years. However, I recently found out that my blood work has

come back with a high level of thyroglobulin. I had a sonogram done

approximately 1 year ago and it show 3 small masses on the left side

of my neck, outside the thyroid bed. This year I had another

sonogram done and there's only one mass on the left, but it's

larger. I've had a third ablation to remove any small remaining

tissue to see if it would drop the thyroglobulin levels. It didn't.

My doctors can't figure out why my body scans come back clean but my

blood shows high levels of thyroglobulin. They want me to get blood

work done again to check the levels now. If the levels are still

high then they will try a biopsy. Right now they're leaning towards

doing another surgery to remove any limph nodes in the neck.

My problem is I'm scared beyond belief! First, I don't want to go

through another surgery. I had a very bad expierence the first

time. I have a problem with anxiety and I'm afriad I'll loose

control on the day of surgery.

Second, if the cancer is back and has moved to the lymph nodes in my

neck, what does it mean? I've got so many questions. What are the

chances of pappilary carcinoma returning after a total

thyroidectomy? What are the survival rates? I'm 34 now and wonder

if my life will be shortened by this.

Please help! I'm so scared!

Parks