Re: Just diagnosed & overwhelmed

January 1, 2003

Now as I search the

> web I see so much about what could be to come... the hypothroid,

the

> low iodine diets, the reocurance, and yet have not heard anything

> about this from my Dr....am I only seeing worst case scenerios, or

is

> this what is to come???

Going Hypothyroid is just part of the treatment, its unpleasant but

not unbearable, and TEMPORARY.. its just the way that our bodies have

to be set up to get the best benefit from RAI. The Low Iodine Diet

falls in the same category, a two week cooking challenge, but

temporary, and something that helps make RAI and scanning way more

effective.. after all , if you're going to have to eat something

radioactive, wouldn't it be to a person's advantage to take every

precaution (LID, being really hypo) to have it do its work well the

first time???

For the most part.. you will see more worst case scenarios here than

in the general population of thyroid cancer surviviors.. the folks

who stay on this list represent a small percentage of those with

thyroid cancer.. and are often those who have had issues or concerns.

Most folks have a thyroidectomy, have some mop up RAI and go on their

merry way and die of something else. Some of us have had a harder

road, and some of us are just helpful... Don't let what you read

here scare you into thinking you'll have a recurrence someday. Ask

lots of questions, get through your thyroidectomy, do your follow up

treatment, and ASK US LOTS OF QUESTIONS..

good luck

barb

tt 8/99 RAI 4/00 Clean Scans 12/00, 5/02

January 1, 2003

Hi, and welcome to the group - could you tell us your name?

> I have just been told I have thyroid cancer...follicular w/papillary

> or something like that...

> I am to have a complete Thyroidectomy on Jan.27th...scheduleing was

> a problem....I will have a neck ct scan on the 13th...

Do you know why they are doing a CT scan? I would urge you to check

this out, because a CT scan uses iodine contrast, which can interfere

with your RAI (radioiodine) scan/ablation for up to 10 months or more.

And you will probably need RAI a few months after your TT. They can

do some testing of your urine prior to doing the RAI if the CT scan

really needs to be done, but it's easier to not have one so close to

RAI.

> I have had a nodule for 11 years, when it was first discovered

> I had a scan but nothing but blood tests every year since then,

> until now, in which a needle biopsy confirmed cancer... Now as I

> search the web I see so much about what could be to come... the

> hypothroid, the low iodine diets, the reocurance, and yet have not

> heard anything about this from my Dr....am I only seeing worst case

> scenerios, or is this what is to come???

I know how scary this is, and how overwhelming it feels. Get a bit of

a feel of what the entire process will be, but try to take things

one bit at a time.

You will almost certainly need to become hypo and have a scan and RAI

ablation, and should definitely do the LID (low iodine diet) for the 2

weeks prior to the scan/ablation. This isn't a worst case scenario,

it's part of our treatment. It's not the most fun thing in the world,

but you WILL get through it, and the group will be here to help you.

Some people do have recurrences, which often are cancer cells that

still remained from the original incidence, but that's not what

happens for most of us. It's important to get good initial treatment

and follow through. Read in the archives, ask questions, and hang in

there!

Cheers,

Alisa

Currently - 140mcg Levoxyl

2/15/2002: Nodule found 2/27/2002: FNA

3/4/2002: Hysterectomy/oopherectomy-possible ovarian cancer - BENIGN!!

4/9/2002: TT - Stage 2 pap 2.5 x 2 x 1.6 cm nodule, dx Hashimotos

5/28/2002: WBS (2 mCi) and 100 mCi RAI --- 6/6/2002: WBS - No mets

12/16/02: WBS (5 mCi): clean scan - no thyroid tissue in body!!!

Age: 49 -- Location: near Seattle WA --- Check out my posts:

Radioactive Girl - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/19472

My LID - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15872

My RAI - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15873

LID thoughts, tips, ideas -

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/25430

January 1, 2003