Yuly - Re: ? about thyrogen

June 21, 2003

Yuly Springer wrote:

> Im new and I was wonder what thyrogen was and why you would use it. I looked

it up on the internet and it said it was used for people with thyroid cancer

that wanted to become or are pregnant or breast feeding. Im breast feeding and

just had a TT done last Saturday and just realized I have cancer Today. I have

not met with the Endo yet and I dont want to go through the RAI, its seems

scarey.

> yuly

> TT 6/14/03

> 2.5 Papillary and follicular mixed

Hi, Yuly -

Welcome to the group.

Basically, Thyrogen is artificial TSH; it is injected, usually in the butt, and

TSH rises dramatically, obviating the need to go off meds for a scan. Thyrogen

was only approved by the FDA less than 5 years ago, and is generally not

recommended for use until after one or two clean scans. So, you have

something to look forward to :-)

I'm curious where you read that it was used for women who want to become

pregnant or who are breast feeding - this is not the case at all (although not

'going hypo' can play a role there). In fact, radioiodine is still used for

the scans, and THAT is definitely not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.

The RAI does seem scary, but it's really not all that bad for most of us. Have

you been placed on thyroid hormone replacement (ie: Synthroid, etc.)? Usually,

we are not, with the intent of allowing our natural hormone to deplete ( " going

hypo " ); a TSH of 30 is usually the minimum for RAI scans or treatment. Your

endo will likely postpone your treatment for a while; it is usually

recommended not to have RAI treatment for a minimum of 3 months after weaning.

Dr. Ain (one of the contributing doctors to this group) has written on breast

NYC

TT 2/99 dx pap/foll; RAI 100 mCi 3/99 & 4/00; clean scan 3/02;

current TSH ~.06

(for help in deciphering this, and for other frequently used abbreviations,

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