Guest guest Posted July 31, 2001 Report Share Posted July 31, 2001 Hi Gang, Hoping that you can help me out here. A couple of years ago, I was told that there was a " mass found in my chest " during a CT scan. My endo suggested surgery to remove this mass and sent me to a cardiovascular surgeon who also thought it was a good idea. Of course I wanted a second opinion and flew from Pittsburgh to Houston (MD ) and got a second opinion of a thyroid specialist/endo/ oncologist there. An entire board of specialists (nuc med, oncologists, endos and surgeons) reviewed my case. While I was in Houston, I had another CT scan and many ultrasounds. It was decided upon that the mass in my chest was my Thymus gland. This area never " lights up " on WBS using RAI although I have had lung involvement in the past Now, I have read several posts from some of you folks that mentioned similar surgeries performed to remove your thymus. Was there malignancies found within your thymus? I understand that our thymus is a gland typically used in childhood and that it should actually shrink during adult life. It seems to me that several of us thyca people have enlarged thymuses. Is there a reason our thymus might be enlarged (perhaps due to RAI, etc.?)? I guess what I'm getting at is.....my second opinion (which was very well reviewed) expressed NO REASON to have this surgery. They would have had to crack open my chest as if I were having open heart surgery only to remove an organ that is supposed to be there. If anyone else has had similar experiences, PLEASE respond as there are a couple of us who have this situation. NOW, I have a mass in the left side of my neck. I feel that this is a muscle which has stiffened due to 3 large therapeutic doses of RAI. Again, my endo is suggesting surgery. I will see my surgeon this week. After that, I will fly to Houston again to get a 2nd opinion. I really don't believe that this mass is thyca (although I am not a doctor). However, I have lost 50 pounds over the last year (Thank Heavens!) and my neck is no longer hidden by my multiple chins! hehehehe Therefore, this mass has probably been there all along yet we just didn't notice it as much. Still, better safe than sorry. I suppose they are probably concerned about Hurtle Cell involvement, etc. What are the chances of having Hurthle cell involvement when initial dx was Pap Carcinoma? SIGH!!!! All this garble in my head is making me tired! heheh Please respond as I am looking for some advice quickly. I may be on a plane to Houston as early as next week!!! Love, Audra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2001 Report Share Posted August 1, 2001 Hi again Audra, I am waiting and hoping you get a responce because I too have posted a similar question over the past few months with only a responce from (who has the reverse problem -- a radiated thymus as a child which likely caused her thyca). Perhaps there are only a few of us with this problem. I'm seeing my surgeon next week and have this major chest-cracking surgery scheduled (tentatively) for Sept 4th. At first I didn't want to accept that I needed surgery (as I wrote to you before), but everyone I have consulted with says I have to do it because that's the only way to find the cause. Lousy isn't it! Please keep us informed as to what you are advised as I'm in the same boat. Rita tt Feb '99 (3.5cm pap encapsulated, 9 lymph node mets, some tall cells) RAI Apr '99 150mci RAI May '00 220mci 4 CT chest scans (thymus has grown " larger & denser " ) > Hi Gang, > > Hoping that you can help me out here. A couple of years ago, I was told that > there was a " mass found in my chest " during a CT scan. My endo suggested > surgery to remove this mass and sent me to a cardiovascular surgeon who also > thought it was a good idea. Of course I wanted a second opinion and flew > from Pittsburgh to Houston (MD ) and got a second opinion of a > thyroid specialist/endo/ oncologist there. An entire board of specialists > (nuc med, oncologists, endos and surgeons) reviewed my case. While I was in > Houston, I had another CT scan and many ultrasounds. It was decided upon > that the mass in my chest was my Thymus gland. This area never " lights up " > on WBS using RAI although I have had lung involvement in the past > > Now, I have read several posts from some of you folks that mentioned similar > surgeries performed to remove your thymus. Was there malignancies found > within your thymus? I understand that our thymus is a gland typically used > in childhood and that it should actually shrink during adult life. It seems > to me that several of us thyca people have enlarged thymuses. Is there a > reason our thymus might be enlarged (perhaps due to RAI, etc.?)? I guess what > I'm getting at is.....my second opinion (which was very well reviewed) > expressed NO REASON to have this surgery. They would have had to crack open > my chest as if I were having open heart surgery only to remove an organ that > is supposed to be there. If anyone else has had similar experiences, PLEASE > respond as there are a couple of us who have this situation. > > NOW, I have a mass in the left side of my neck. I feel that this is a muscle > which has stiffened due to 3 large therapeutic doses of RAI. Again, my endo > is suggesting surgery. I will see my surgeon this week. After that, I will > fly to Houston again to get a 2nd opinion. I really don't believe that this > mass is thyca (although I am not a doctor). However, I have lost 50 pounds > over the last year (Thank Heavens!) and my neck is no longer hidden by my > multiple chins! hehehehe Therefore, this mass has probably been there all > along yet we just didn't notice it as much. Still, better safe than sorry. I > suppose they are probably concerned about Hurtle Cell involvement, etc. What > are the chances of having Hurthle cell involvement when initial dx was Pap > Carcinoma? > > SIGH!!!! All this garble in my head is making me tired! heheh Please respond > as I am looking for some advice quickly. I may be on a plane to Houston > as early as next week!!! > > Love, > Audra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2001 Report Share Posted August 1, 2001 Hi again Audra, I am waiting and hoping you get a responce because I too have posted a similar question over the past few months with only a responce from (who has the reverse problem -- a radiated thymus as a child which likely caused her thyca). Perhaps there are only a few of us with this problem. I'm seeing my surgeon next week and have this major chest-cracking surgery scheduled (tentatively) for Sept 4th. At first I didn't want to accept that I needed surgery (as I wrote to you before), but everyone I have consulted with says I have to do it because that's the only way to find the cause. Lousy isn't it! Please keep us informed as to what you are advised as I'm in the same boat. Rita tt Feb '99 (3.5cm pap encapsulated, 9 lymph node mets, some tall cells) RAI Apr '99 150mci RAI May '00 220mci 4 CT chest scans (thymus has grown " larger & denser " ) > Hi Gang, > > Hoping that you can help me out here. A couple of years ago, I was told that > there was a " mass found in my chest " during a CT scan. My endo suggested > surgery to remove this mass and sent me to a cardiovascular surgeon who also > thought it was a good idea. Of course I wanted a second opinion and flew > from Pittsburgh to Houston (MD ) and got a second opinion of a > thyroid specialist/endo/ oncologist there. An entire board of specialists > (nuc med, oncologists, endos and surgeons) reviewed my case. While I was in > Houston, I had another CT scan and many ultrasounds. It was decided upon > that the mass in my chest was my Thymus gland. This area never " lights up " > on WBS using RAI although I have had lung involvement in the past > > Now, I have read several posts from some of you folks that mentioned similar > surgeries performed to remove your thymus. Was there malignancies found > within your thymus? I understand that our thymus is a gland typically used > in childhood and that it should actually shrink during adult life. It seems > to me that several of us thyca people have enlarged thymuses. Is there a > reason our thymus might be enlarged (perhaps due to RAI, etc.?)? I guess what > I'm getting at is.....my second opinion (which was very well reviewed) > expressed NO REASON to have this surgery. They would have had to crack open > my chest as if I were having open heart surgery only to remove an organ that > is supposed to be there. If anyone else has had similar experiences, PLEASE > respond as there are a couple of us who have this situation. > > NOW, I have a mass in the left side of my neck. I feel that this is a muscle > which has stiffened due to 3 large therapeutic doses of RAI. Again, my endo > is suggesting surgery. I will see my surgeon this week. After that, I will > fly to Houston again to get a 2nd opinion. I really don't believe that this > mass is thyca (although I am not a doctor). However, I have lost 50 pounds > over the last year (Thank Heavens!) and my neck is no longer hidden by my > multiple chins! hehehehe Therefore, this mass has probably been there all > along yet we just didn't notice it as much. Still, better safe than sorry. I > suppose they are probably concerned about Hurtle Cell involvement, etc. What > are the chances of having Hurthle cell involvement when initial dx was Pap > Carcinoma? > > SIGH!!!! All this garble in my head is making me tired! heheh Please respond > as I am looking for some advice quickly. I may be on a plane to Houston > as early as next week!!! > > Love, > Audra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2001 Report Share Posted August 1, 2001 Hi again Audra, I am waiting and hoping you get a responce because I too have posted a similar question over the past few months with only a responce from (who has the reverse problem -- a radiated thymus as a child which likely caused her thyca). Perhaps there are only a few of us with this problem. I'm seeing my surgeon next week and have this major chest-cracking surgery scheduled (tentatively) for Sept 4th. At first I didn't want to accept that I needed surgery (as I wrote to you before), but everyone I have consulted with says I have to do it because that's the only way to find the cause. Lousy isn't it! Please keep us informed as to what you are advised as I'm in the same boat. Rita tt Feb '99 (3.5cm pap encapsulated, 9 lymph node mets, some tall cells) RAI Apr '99 150mci RAI May '00 220mci 4 CT chest scans (thymus has grown " larger & denser " ) > Hi Gang, > > Hoping that you can help me out here. A couple of years ago, I was told that > there was a " mass found in my chest " during a CT scan. My endo suggested > surgery to remove this mass and sent me to a cardiovascular surgeon who also > thought it was a good idea. Of course I wanted a second opinion and flew > from Pittsburgh to Houston (MD ) and got a second opinion of a > thyroid specialist/endo/ oncologist there. An entire board of specialists > (nuc med, oncologists, endos and surgeons) reviewed my case. While I was in > Houston, I had another CT scan and many ultrasounds. It was decided upon > that the mass in my chest was my Thymus gland. This area never " lights up " > on WBS using RAI although I have had lung involvement in the past > > Now, I have read several posts from some of you folks that mentioned similar > surgeries performed to remove your thymus. Was there malignancies found > within your thymus? I understand that our thymus is a gland typically used > in childhood and that it should actually shrink during adult life. It seems > to me that several of us thyca people have enlarged thymuses. Is there a > reason our thymus might be enlarged (perhaps due to RAI, etc.?)? I guess what > I'm getting at is.....my second opinion (which was very well reviewed) > expressed NO REASON to have this surgery. They would have had to crack open > my chest as if I were having open heart surgery only to remove an organ that > is supposed to be there. If anyone else has had similar experiences, PLEASE > respond as there are a couple of us who have this situation. > > NOW, I have a mass in the left side of my neck. I feel that this is a muscle > which has stiffened due to 3 large therapeutic doses of RAI. Again, my endo > is suggesting surgery. I will see my surgeon this week. After that, I will > fly to Houston again to get a 2nd opinion. I really don't believe that this > mass is thyca (although I am not a doctor). However, I have lost 50 pounds > over the last year (Thank Heavens!) and my neck is no longer hidden by my > multiple chins! hehehehe Therefore, this mass has probably been there all > along yet we just didn't notice it as much. Still, better safe than sorry. I > suppose they are probably concerned about Hurtle Cell involvement, etc. What > are the chances of having Hurthle cell involvement when initial dx was Pap > Carcinoma? > > SIGH!!!! All this garble in my head is making me tired! heheh Please respond > as I am looking for some advice quickly. I may be on a plane to Houston > as early as next week!!! > > Love, > Audra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.