HealthBoards - View Single Post - tsh level after thyroid cancer removal & concerns

Gardener24 · 12-18-2005, 03:38 PM

If your TSH is rising, it just means that you're not getting the right dose of replacement drug (Synthroid, Armour, etc.). You may need a higher dose.

As Reece said, when you have a total thyroidectomy due to cancer, the thyroglobulin is what they measure with a blood test. If the numbers start going up after being down low after the original surgery, it means that there are some active thyroid cells which could be cancerous. If you have this rise in your thyroglobulin, usually you need to have a tracer dose of iodine and a whole body scan to check for any problems. In someone who has a lobectomy, the thyroglobulin measure is not used since the rest of the thyroid is still working and this wouldn't be accurate.

12-18-2005, 03:38 PM	#3
Gardener24 Junior Member (female) Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 43	Re: tsh level after thyroid cancer removal & concerns If your TSH is rising, it just means that you're not getting the right dose of replacement drug (Synthroid, Armour, etc.). You may need a higher dose. As Reece said, when you have a total thyroidectomy due to cancer, the thyroglobulin is what they measure with a blood test. If the numbers start going up after being down low after the original surgery, it means that there are some active thyroid cells which could be cancerous. If you have this rise in your thyroglobulin, usually you need to have a tracer dose of iodine and a whole body scan to check for any problems. In someone who has a lobectomy, the thyroglobulin measure is not used since the rest of the thyroid is still working and this wouldn't be accurate.