Thank you so much! I need to get some referrals from friends or others then. I am always aware of the chance of reoccurence maybe happening. So I try to stay on top of my labs. Going tomorrow morning for fasting labs. Never really thought about how we are still fighting even after initial treatment. How a pill keeps me alive. It is humbling. But, hearing your story really brings hope.
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GregP_WN wrote on haleezcomet's wall
Hope your doing well, and those tests come back like you want them to.
Let us know if we can help you with anything around the site.
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Tracy wrote on haleezcomet's wall
I was trying to add to our discussion but my brain is not technical tonight. I had a reoccurence happen 30 years after the first. The treatment was SO much easier with the exception of having to go without thyroid for 3 months. That was really hard!
The way it has been explained to me is that the endocrine system responds to stress by triggering a call through your body for the hormones produced by the adrenal glands and the thyroid (as well as others) those with thyroid cancer need to make sure that this call is not answered. Other cells will try to become the answering response by becoming thyroid and then become malignant. In my case it was a lymph node since it had spread before being found.
They don't normally test for T3 since most people are able to create T3 out of T4 and don't need it specifically. Every few years I do a specific test that tests for antibodies that gives a result to indicate whether we need to do further testing for cancer. This is an expensive one :-)
As you can probably tell I have lived without a thyroid for a very long time, If you ever want to talk or exchange emails let me know. You do need to have a specialist who knows about thyroid cancer. Another good resource is http://www.thyca.org/ - Tracy -
Tracy wrote on haleezcomet's wall
Hi,
Am I reading right that you are on a dose of 125 mcg as a replacement dose for your thyroid after Thyroid Cancer? I spent many years on 200 mcg - this is considered to be a normal replacement dose for Thyroid Cancer (I now take higher after it reoccurred). I have had arguments with Dr's who wanted to lower my dosage. It must be higher than a normal replacement dose to suppress the endocrine system from triggering the thyroid as it normally would. PLEASE - if you don't have an endocrinologist who is familiar with thyroid cancer you need to find one who is, this may be why you are having trouble. I used to keep an article on thyroid cancer treatment that covered this in my medical records for just this reason, Dr's treat as if you are a regular thyroid replacement but we are different ;-) - contact me if you want me to find more info for you, Take care - Tracy2 Comments-
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haleezcomet
5 months agoWent to have my labs and asked if they included T3 and they did not. So rescheduling labs after Dr orders labs with T3 included. Only been tested for TSH and T4. Ty so much for this advice again. Just assumed I was checked for TSH,T4 & T3. Explained to the nurse I had a total thyroidectomy d/t thyroid cancer . Was really surprised.
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haleezcomet wrote on lynn1950's wall
I go to the Health Dept. my job has no medical coverage. I will probably have to self pay and oncologist . Thank you for this great information. Hope you are doing well with your treatments.
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haleezcomet wrote on SueRae1's wall
Thank you for the response. I have been losing weight but, it is related to stress and having no appetite. I will make sure to discuss my T3 T4 levels @ my f/u apptmnt on Jan 2 w/ my Dr. The 125 mcg was working for awhile ; now it seems my body has built up a tolerance an it is not working like it did. Been forgetful an my long term memory is affected. It is frustrating.
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haleezcomet wrote on lynn1950's wall
Appreciate you sharing your experience with Armour . I feel like sleeping all the time and have been depressed. People that have no idea what is wrong can be very rude. I am happy that you have found something that works to balance your T4 and T3.
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