I had surgery to remove the tumor on 3/5. My doctor said that the tumor was minimally invasive, 2.5 cm, and confined to the thyroid. She said that I will need RAI and should expect to spend a couple of nights in the hospital. They gave me a copy of my lab report and on it, it also states that the tumor had focal capsular vascular invasion. My doctor did not mention this to me when she was explaining what I should do. I guess my question is: Has anyone had RAI for this cancer, and could they tell me what I can expect. Also, will the RAI destroy the cells that may be in my bloodstream. Does anyone know what focal capular vascular invasion is? Vasular means the bloodstream I think. I can't find anything on focal capular. Thanks for listening and any advice or information you can give me.
I had surgery to remove the tumor on 3/5. My doctor said that the tumor was minimally invasive, 2.5 cm, and confined to the thyroid. She said that I will need RAI and should expect to spend a couple of nights in the hospital. They gave me a copy of my lab report and on it, it also states that the tumor had focal capsular vascular invasion. My doctor did not mention this to me when she was explaining what I should do. I guess my question is: Has anyone had RAI for this cancer, and could they tell me what I can expect. Also, will the RAI destroy the cells that may be in my bloodstream. Does anyone know what focal capular vascular invasion is? Vasular means the bloodstream I think. I can't find anything on focal capular. Thanks for listening and any advice or information you can give me.
Hi,
I had the EXACT same diagnosis last July. I had a 2.2cm nodule that turned out to be minimally invasive follicular thyroid cancer with capsular invasion and points of vascular invasion. I had my thyroid removed in July, followed by RAI in August. Overall, the Radioactive Iodine treatment wasn't bad at all. You will have a scan a day or 2 after you take the RAI to see if the cancer has spread. In my case, there was still a lot of uptake in my thyroid bed area but it didn't spread anywhere else. No matter where thyroid cancer spreads, the RAI will kill it. Thyroid cancer is like no other cancer and is very, very curable. My Radiation Oncologist told me sometimes it might take a couple treatments, but he had never had a patient who the RAI treatment didn't work for.
Let me know if you have any more questions. I know how scary it is to go through all of this. I would also recommend you post on the thyroid board-there are a lot of others who have gone through different types of thyroid cancer on there, too. Go to the board and do a search on follicular cancer and you should find a lot of info on it.
Hi,
I had the EXACT same diagnosis last July. I had a 2.2cm nodule that turned out to be minimally invasive follicular thyroid cancer with capsular invasion and points of vascular invasion. I had my thyroid removed in July, followed by RAI in August. Overall, the Radioactive Iodine treatment wasn't bad at all. You will have a scan a day or 2 after you take the RAI to see if the cancer has spread. In my case, there was still a lot of uptake in my thyroid bed area but it didn't spread anywhere else. No matter where thyroid cancer spreads, the RAI will kill it. Thyroid cancer is like no other cancer and is very, very curable. My Radiation Oncologist told me sometimes it might take a couple treatments, but he had never had a patient who the RAI treatment didn't work for.
Let me know if you have any more questions. I know how scary it is to go through all of this. I would also recommend you post on the thyroid board-there are a lot of others who have gone through different types of thyroid cancer on there, too. Go to the board and do a search on follicular cancer and you should find a lot of info on it.
Take care, Hilery
Hi Hilery,
Thank you so much for your answer....I think just knowing someone else has experienced the same thing makes me feel that I am not alone, and that I will get through all of this as you have.
I do have a question for you....you mentioned "uptake in the thyroid bed area" ...what does that mean? When I have the scan it will show if the cancer has spread? What happens if it has spread? Will the RAI destroy everything that may have spread? Sorry for so many questions....this has happened so fast that I can't seem to find the information fast enough to make me feel better.
(I did post on the thyroid board as well, thanks for the tip)
Thanks again, Claudia
I just wanted to add one more thing. You asked about capsular invasion-this just means that the cancer invaded through the capsule(this is what tells them that the tumor is definatly malignant rather than benign).
Hi Hilery,
Thank you so much for your answer....I think just knowing someone else has experienced the same thing makes me feel that I am not alone, and that I will get through all of this as you have.
I do have a question for you....you mentioned "uptake in the thyroid bed area" ...what does that mean? When I have the scan it will show if the cancer has spread? What happens if it has spread? Will the RAI destroy everything that may have spread? Sorry for so many questions....this has happened so fast that I can't seem to find the information fast enough to make me feel better.
(I did post on the thyroid board as well, thanks for the tip)
Thanks again, Claudia
Claudia,
I am more than happy to answer any questions you have. "Uptake in the thyroid bed area" just means that there was some thyroid tissue left after my surgery. My Dr. said there is always a little uptake in this area because it is impossible to get every piece of thyroid tissue with surgery alone. Yes, the scan will show any tiny piece of thyroid tissue in your body whether it is cancer or not. The RAI will cause it go glow on the scan. I haven't had another scan since my treatment, but I will be having one in August again to make sure I don't have any thyroid tissue left(as long as there is still thyroid tissue, there is a chance it could be cancerous or turn cancerous).
No matter where thyroid cancer spreads(lungs, bone, etc) it is still thyroid cancer. So, no matter where it is the RAI will be absorbed by it and kill it. My Dr. told me this treatment is almost 100% effective.
Hilery
Diagnosed with follicular thyroid cancer 
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