Grace's Cancer Blog

Results on my Whole Body Scan

Well, after 4 scans yesterday which was over 2 hours on the tables with machines pressing down and spinning around me, I sat down for what wound up being a concise 12 minute conversation with one of the endocrinologists at Washington Health Center. The verdict was good but of course a bit mixed… There is a bit of light-up on my scans and it’s in the same place that lit up the last two times- just a bit on my Adams apple area and a slightly larger blot on my neck in the middle.

Of course I was very hypothyroid and the measurements of Thyroglobulin (TG) aka the cancer/thyroid tissue marker is still undetectable making it good news. But with these two stubborn spots the overwhelming certainty is more close watching, no further time between scans – possibly an MRI and ultrasound to be sure but nothing urgent. An interesting thing I learned from the appt is the doctor stating that my % of uptake (how much iodine got absorbed and shows on the scan) was last time 0.6% and now is 01.6% but that variation is likely the difference between a scan using Thyrogen and one done with thyroid hormone withdrawal, apparently they have found that the absorbed iodine “washes out” sooner when using Thyrogen… Interesting to know.

Now I can try to put this all out of my mind for now and focus on my honeymoon coming up :) but I also found out one of my cousins was just diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer… I f***ing hate cancers guts.

Posted on December 16, 2011 at 8:48:25 AM by Grace (Results on my Whole Body Scan, 2 comments, 1531 views)

Mersea sent you a hug.

Hi Grace—
I always seemed to get mixed results on my scans too—never an “all clear.” I don’t know a lot about your type of cancer, but I’m glad to hear that you are now focused on that honeymoon! I hope that in the end, this is good news.

Hugs—
Martha

Posted on December 16, 2011 at 11:18:17 AM by Private User

Descending into hypo-hell... Courtesy of Genzyme

Here I go, one foot in front of the other down… First I was switched to Cytomel which was a pain in the neck to adjust to 2 pills daily from one, and that I have stopped for 4 days now, 15 more to go I hope though must call my endo to see if between the scan date and the appointment date I can start back on Synthroid.

The low- iodine diet surprisingly not as much concern since I have done it before (if not in a while) and know the routine unlike the withdrawal. I have noticed headaches- quite persistently through my day- unusually nagging and in the back of my head and temples, need to pack Excedrin daily. Anyone else experienced them when hypo? I did a bit of research and they are mentioned though as a side-note but of course we all react differently.
My scan is on the 15th- pill on the 12th- sucks to not be able to snuggle with my new husband but it’s just temporary I tell myself. Of course in postponing the test I do realize that it was a better plan for handling pre-wedding stress however it does present an entirely different dilemma when you are trying to be (and people expect) a happy newlywed and they might catch me in a depressed mood as I’ve noticed comes and goes since stopping the medication. I’m sure it’s not all that but much more- going through this as 2 and not 1 it’s letting myself be weak and it is freeing to a point and I know that I thank God everyday for the amazing man he sent in my husband!
Ok, enough gushing- I will post some wedding pictures on here for you all and just hope that this test will show nothing that will ruin my ability to relax as we plan our honeymoon for Puerto Rico over New Years…

My daughter Maddie went through her first RAI treatment this past summer – and did it the old fashioned way (no meds) due to the Thyrogen shortage. She mainly complained about fatigue, though not horrible, and she was moody. And I seem to remember her also complaining about headaches, but nothing that over the counter stuff didnt fix. In hindsignt, it was good to get it over with and not have to deal with the stress of waiting.

Posted on November 30, 2011 at 5:00:57 PM by Private User