Thyroid Carcinoma

How do you cope with recurring papillary thyroid cancer?

Hello I am also a Papillary Thyroid Cancer patient. I have worked as a nurse for thirty years before retiring in 2023. My first diagnosis was in 2019 which presented as an enlarged lymph node in the right side of my neck. After a thyroidectomy and 21 pieces of lymph tissue removed. The cancer showed up in 11 pieces of tissue. I went through RAI treatment for any other cancer tissue. Move ahead 1 & 1/2 years and the cancer showed up in the left side of my neck and in my chests an lungs. My endocrinologist sent my to MD Anderson and I underwent surgery again This time they removed 65 pieces of lymph tissue from my neck and center of my chest. Good news is only 5 pieces of tissue was positive for papillary cancer. I have several small pieces in both lungs and my Endocrinologist has kept the spots in my lungs in check with 200 to 300 micrograms of Synthroid daily. Transition to this year and we are starting radiation treatments next month on two spots in my left lung because they are showing more intense signs on the CT’s and PET Scans. In my experience over the last five years this cancer has been slow in its progress. I’m a little concerned about radiation treatments but the experience at MD Anderson in Houston has been very good. I have been reassured from every doctor that this type of cancer is a very slow growing cancer.

What to expect with papillary thyroid cancer surgery at 74?

Hi! I was just diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer about three weeks ago. I’m a 74 year old registered nurse, still working part time on weekends. I had a triple bypass/open heart surgery last summer and one of my CT scans showed a thyroid nodule, but no one mentioned it to me until I changed PCPs in January. Saw an endocrinologist who said it was probably nothing, his office jerked me around about the referral for 3 months so I just had the biopsy done a month ago. That’s 10 months with no treatment! Per a recent CT scan there is no extrathyroidal extension. Fingers crossed. I have not seen any of the lab work from the biopsy, so I don’t know much, but the surgeon said stage two or three. Now I’m scheduled for surgery 6/2, hopefully a partial thyroidectomy. I guess I’ll know more after the surgery. Synthroid makes me very short of breath, and I’ve been feeling really good since healing from the bypass, doing heavy yard work, etc, so I’m concerned about a quality of life decline should I have to take Synthroid for the rest of my life. The surgeon seems to think if it’s managed properly I should not have any difficulty breathing. So that’s my story. I’m not scared, but I think metastasis will always be in the back of my mind.

Has anyone tried chemo pills for thyroid cancer that spread to lungs?

I am dealing with differentiated thyroid carcinoma along with some papillary. We attempted RAI in hopes of it (maybe)knocking out both cancers. No luck. A new nodule has shown up in lungs now (.03mm- tiny) so Doc is ordering Chemo in a pill. Has anyone tried or been through this?? Any remarks about it?

How challenging is recovery from second thyroid lobectomy surgery?

Newly diagnosed with papillary and follicular thyroid cancer… now have to get my remaining lobe removed to be able to get iodine radiation. Have heard second lobectomy surgery can be more challenging for recovery due to scar tissue. Anyone have this experience to share? Also I have heard by my doc the iodine radiation treatment is optimal but window for those with BRAF makes getting this done soon necessary. Is this consistent? I don’t want to rush into surgery again to make this happen if better science is around the corner. Any insights or similar experiences from this group?

Has anyone here been diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer?

Hi! I am new here! My husband was just diagnosed with Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer and wanted to see if anybody here has this type! They want to do immuno therapy. Apparently this is a very aggressive cancer!

How do you cope with multiple thyroid cancer symptoms at once?

I have thyroid cancer and I'm dealing with some really challenging symptoms right now - severe bone pain, shortness of breath, depression, anxiety, and new lumps in my neck. My oncology team is evaluating these symptoms to figure out what's going on and determine next steps. It's been overwhelming to handle all of this at once, and I know I need proper medical assessment for these concerns. I'd love to connect with others who've been through similar experiences with thyroid cancer and multiple symptoms like these. • How did you cope when you had several concerning symptoms happening at the same time? • What helped you get through the uncertainty while waiting for answers from your medical team?

Has anyone heard of Defense Therapeutics and their cancer drug Accum?

Just curious, has anybody heard of a company called Defense Therapeutics out of Canada. Supposedly they are working on a drug called Accum that they say enhances the delivery of existing ADC's and chemo drugs. They are also working on vaccines for cancer. I would be interested in learning more regarding new technologies in cancer treatments.

What to expect with proton radiation for thyroid cancer recurrence?

I discovered that I had Thyroid cancer back in 2016 when I felt a lump in my neck. I had my thyroid totally removed plus several lymph nodes. My surgeon said that he noticed a lymph node lodged into my chest and was unable to remove it. Afterwards I received radioactive iodine and a pet scan. Six years later, around 2022, during an ultrasound exam,they discovered a growth in my chest and neck area. My endocrinologist did not know how to proceed with treatment and recommended that I see an endocrinologist at Moffitt cancer. They discovered a Braf gene that contributed to the growth of my cancer and recommended I take Tafinlar and Melinist pills. After several months the tumor in my chest shrunk 25%. However after a surgery involving an intestinal infection, I was instructed to resume the medication as soon as possible. After going back on this medication I developed neuropathy in my hands and feet. I was instructed to immediately stop taking the medication. Since then my tumor in my neck increased to 7.7 cm and approx. 6.6 cm in my mediastinum. I am now considering proton radiation at Moffitt when the new equipment will be ready this coming June. The oncologist just wants to be able to shrink the tumor in my chest. Both my neck and chest tumors are impacting major veins and/or arteries. I developed consisted coughing and now I am occasionally coughing up some blood and feeling light headed. Hopefully the radiation treatment will help.

Can energy healing help with thyroid cancer recovery?

I, too, have thyroid cancer. 42 year old female single mother of two. I am also a Reiki Master Teacher and an Emotional Freedom Tapping (EFT) Guide. I have not been performing Reiki on myself (why? Lol, maybe because I haven't practiced in a decade). I want to become a sound healer. We are energy, and pent up enerdy causes dis-ease / disease. I believe I developed thyroid cancer for not speaking out and standing up for myself enough. Anyone interested in trading healing techniques? I can attune you to Reiki (a value of $300-$650) or EFT (a value of $250) and you can teach me sound healing. After researching it, I realize sound healing is $2500-5750..... so, that's a BIT of a difference. But I'm happy to learn.

Can holistic treatments help reduce thyroid cancer without surgery?

I have thyroid cancer and am following a holistic protocol to see if we can reduce and eliminate the cancer without surgery. I am 66 and also have Lupus and Graves..