At times we receive laboratory results which just don't seem to reflect what we expect. Some physicians are unconcerned when results are "within normal limits". But "normal" doesn't always apply to thyroid cancer patients when we no longer have a thyroid, leaving us to explore possible causes and solutions ourselves These are some things to… Continue reading Questionable Lab Results
Rethinking Hypothyroidism
Why Treatment Must Change and What Patients Can Do Antonio C. Bianco, MD Dr. Bianco's long-awaited book is now available from the University of Chicago Press in several formats. A quick scan until I have the time to read it thoroughly brings out some mind blowing but not unexpected r4esearch based concepts – that many… Continue reading Rethinking Hypothyroidism
Percent through Range
What is Percent through Range and how can we use it to help understand our thyroid meds? Like many lab tests, our thyroid lab results have a set of expected values — the laboratory reference range — that most doctors consider normal.A reference range, or interval, is a set of values that includes upper and… Continue reading Percent through Range
Update on Free T3 Testing
There are a few circumstances that may affect Free T3 (triiodothyronine) test results. The following two test descriptions from LabCorp, a major nationwide diagnostic laboratory, indicate conditions which may interfere with testing and when the Dialysis and LC/MS-MS may be preferred. Biotin may interfere with Free T3 and other thyroid tests. Thyroid antibodies may interfere… Continue reading Update on Free T3 Testing
Basic T3 Startup
The first step to adding T3 to our thyroid hormone replacement regimen following total thyroidectomy (TT) is understanding what T3 is and how it works. The two thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). A healthy thyroid produces mostly T4 and smaller amounts of T3. This production is controlled by a “negative feedback loop”… Continue reading Basic T3 Startup
TSH Suppression
There are two primary dimensions in follow up treatment for thyroid cancer. The first is focused on preventing and identifying recurrence while the second, often overlooked in the quest to "beat cancer" is supporting your Quality of Life (QoL). Some endocrinologists and other providers may not always be aware of the need to keep TSH… Continue reading TSH Suppression
Tg Antibodies Rising
This is information I compiled related to questions concerning Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb) remaining elevated or increasing following total thyroidectomy despite having low or undetectable Thyroglobulin (Tg) and whether TgAb can be used to detect recurrence of thyroid cancer.
Navigatng RAI
A frequently asked question is:What are some of your best tips for navigating isolation in a house with a spouse and small children or pets? Radioactive Iodine (RAI) is used to ablate (destroy) thyroid tissue and cells that remain following surgery for thyroid cancer. (It is also used to treat hyperactive thyroid disease.) Because thyroid… Continue reading Navigatng RAI
Suppression vs QoL
Why is TSH suppression so often the sole or primary goal in thyroid cancer treatment with little regard for Quality of Life (QoL)? We are told, over and over, that the vast majority of thyroid cancer patients do just fine for the rest of their lives on synthetic thyroid hormone replacement (THR) therapy evaluated by… Continue reading Suppression vs QoL
Thyroid Cancer Test and ICD Codes
Test and ICD Codes - Current as of 15 December, 2021These test and ICD codes can be helpful if your tests are being ordered by a primary care provider or an endocrinologist who does not specialize with thyroid cancer patients. Lab Corphttps://www.labcorp.com/test-menu/search Order CodeOrder Code NameResult CodeResult Code NameUnits224576TSH+Free T44264 19745TSH T4,Free(Direct)uIU/mL ng/dL10389Triiodothyronine (T3), Free10389Triiodothyronine… Continue reading Thyroid Cancer Test and ICD Codes
Thyroid Cancer Advocates 