So many doctors - how do I know which to choose?Who does the diagnosis? Who does surgery? Do I need an oncologist or an endocrinologist?The initial steps in identifying and diagnosing thyroid cancer are often confusing and you may be referred for several tests done by different practitioners. DiscoveryBecause thyroid cancer usually does not have… Continue reading Doctor Doctor
As thyroid cancer patients, when things are not going well the first place we tend to look is to our thyroid hormone replacement (THR) meds. Just as our thyroid interacted with every aspect of our physical and mental health, metabolism and daily activity, we need to remain aware of how our overall health works withn… Continue reading What Blood Tests Should I Request?
How to use the Symptom Checklist section of the patient Pathways Forms. Building your own Pathways Guide book can help you track and determine your individual thyroid cancer treatment as you progress from newly diagnosed to long term survivor. One of the issues thyroid cancer patients often face is being told their symptoms have nothing… Continue reading The Symptom Checklist
When T4 and T3 go low, TSH goes high. The hypothalamus senses low circulating levels of thyroid hormone —Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4) — and responds by releasing thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH - Thyrotropin-releasing hormone is a hormone produced in the hypothalamus that stimulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary gland.… Continue reading Quick Thyroid Tour
Serum Thyroglobulin (Tg) is the primary tumor marker measured postoperatively to monitor for recurrence of thyroid cancer. Tg concentrations reflect the mass, or amount, of residual thyroid tissue — remnant or tumor. An unexpected elevated Tg result which is not consistent with clinical findings and history is distressing for the patient and can lead to… Continue reading Falsely Elevated Thyroglobulin – HAMA
Thyroid Level Testing for Thyroid Cancer Patients This is a basic outline of the thyroid tests most frequently asked about and are needed to properly monitor thyroid hormone replacement (THR) levels for thyroid cancer patients. TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone: is a hormone produced in the pituitary gland, a small organ located below the brain,… Continue reading Basic Testing Information
Why do I sometimes feel like I’m talking to a brick wall when I see my doctor? As a retired RN and a multi-cancer survivor, I subscribe to Medscape mainly to stay up on new advances in thyroid and other cancers which could affect me. Articles often offer other insights aimed at medical professionals —… Continue reading Talking to a Brick Wall
The recent publication of Evidence-Based Use of Levothyroxine/Liothyronine Combinations in Treating Hypothyroidism: A Consensus Document brought a breath of fresh air to the thyroid community, especially to those of us on life-long exogenous thyroid hormones because we lost our thyroid to cancer. The Consensus Document, a joint endeavor of the American Thyroid Association (ATA), British… Continue reading Take Patient Blaming Out of the Equation
— From the publisher's press release:New Rochelle, NY, February 18, 2021—Combination therapy with levothyroxine (LT4) and liothyronine (LT3) is widely used to treat hypothyroidism despite clinical trial results not showing a consistent benefit. A new consensus statement, which presents evidence to support the use of LT4/LT3 combinations and to guide future clinical trial development, is… Continue reading New Consensus on Combination Therapy to Treat Hypothyroidism
Thyroglobulin Testing When You Have Positive Antibodies (TgAb} Thyroglobulin (Tg) is produced only by thyroid tissue and is the primary marker for follow up thyroid cancer detection after total thyroidectomy. It is not generally used after a partial or hemi-thyroidectomy as the remaining thyroid lobe will still produce normal levels of thyroglobulin. If you have thyroglobulin… Continue reading Tg Testing with Antibodies
Thyroid Cancer Advocates 