Question 1

can you tell me why after radiation treatment for an over active thyroid the meds still don't work well and can't be regulated?

Accepted Answer

Not true.: Medications work very well for both overactive and underactive thyroid.  Problems with regulation are related to your dosing or to the adequacy of the ablation.  Those should be easy to figure out.

Question 2

can your thyroid return to normal after radiation treatment?

Accepted Answer

No: If it is radiation to the thyroid, it never becomes normal and need to have life long thyroid supplementation.

Question 3

i have to be isolated after radiation treatment of thyroid cancer? what do i do?

Accepted Answer

Just chill: I think this is mostly done out of fear of tort liability. Folks are scared of radiation - and rightly so, but I don't think you're really a danger to anyone. Congratulations on having your disease diagnosed and effectively treated. Best wishes for a happy and cancer-free future

Question 4

how safe is external-beam radiation treatment for thyroid cancer?

Accepted Answer

Not common treatment: External beam radiation is seldom used for thyroid cancer.  Usual treatment is surgery, radioactive iodine, and supressive doses of synthroid (thyroxine).  However, ext beam rt can be used when there is extensive disease, unresectable disease, or for additional targeting of local tumor; maybe bone metastases.  There are side effects, but usually there is advanced disease, and the treatment is needed.

Question 5

what to do if i have external-beam radiation treatment for thyroid cancer?

Accepted Answer

Follow: The treatment for a primary thyroid malignancy is surgical resection.  Radiation is employed if after a lymph node resection there is a question of any residual cancer cells.  RAI is employed if there is residual thyroid tissue or remnant of thyroid Ca where the iodine localizes in remaining tissue.  External beam is used for cells left behind in neck. Follow up exam and scans needed.

Question 6

thyroid removed, radiation treatment taken. normal tsh today went from .9 to 14.26. normal t3, (liothyronine) t4 should i be worried.  take tirosint 150 mcg ?

Accepted Answer

No  need to worry: The TSH may fluctuate due to many factors like the introduction of new vitamins early am  protein shakes with vitamins, different brands , missing a few caps or another meds like anti-acids close to the time of taking tirosint.

Take it well and get TSH checked again in 6 weeks. Do check your thyroglobulin now it will reflect a stimulated thyroglobulin as if you had hypothyroidism and or thyrogen.

Question 7

will my taste-buds return after radiation treatment to face and neck?

Accepted Answer

Yes, usually.: Taste buds are very sensitive to injury from radiation therapy.  The degree of damage depends upon the dose of radiation, which differs for various kinds of cancers and their location, and is very dependent as well on individual differences.  The result can vary from near complete loss of taste that is permanent to near full recovery.  The recovery is slow and can take a number of weeks.

Question 8

what's the expert opinion, could the taste-buds return after radiation treatment to face and neck?

Accepted Answer

Only time will tell.: Only time will tell.  They can return normally, or partially, or not at all.  Radiation treatments today are much more exacting in nature so less radiation can be used.  As a result permanent damage is greatly reduced.

Question 9

how effective is radiation treatment for squamous cell head and neck cancer?

Accepted Answer

Radiation an option: Radiation therapy is used quite extensively for head and neck cancers. The area covers nasopharynx, throat, tongue, lip.  Sometimes radiation therapy is done by itself, and at times in combination with other modalities like surgery and/or chemotherapy.

Question 10

is it possible for someone who has had previous radiation (imrt) to the head and neck to have a total thyroidectomy to treat graves? the radiation was done fifteen years ago as adjuvant treatment for parotid cancer due to a positive surgical margin?

Accepted Answer

: It is possible but thyroid can be destroyed by intake of radioactive iodine, without the need for surgery. Talk to an endocrinologist for various treatment options.

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Doctor answers about:

I had radiation treatment for my thyroid can this cause damage to my body

A member asked:

Can you tell me why after radiation treatment for an over active thyroid the meds still don't work well and can't be regulated?

A member asked:

Can your thyroid return to normal after radiation treatment?

A member asked:

I have to be isolated after radiation treatment of thyroid cancer? what do i do?

A member asked:

How safe is external-beam radiation treatment for thyroid cancer?

A member asked:

What to do if i have external-beam radiation treatment for thyroid cancer?

A member asked:

Thyroid removed, radiation treatment taken. normal tsh today went from .9 to 14.26. normal t3, (liothyronine) t4 should i be worried. take tirosint 150 mcg ?

A member asked:

Will my taste-buds return after radiation treatment to face and neck?

A member asked:

What's the expert opinion, could the taste-buds return after radiation treatment to face and neck?

A member asked:

How effective is radiation treatment for squamous cell head and neck cancer?

A member asked:

Is it possible for someone who has had previous radiation (imrt) to the head and neck to have a total thyroidectomy to treat graves? the radiation was done fifteen years ago as adjuvant treatment for parotid cancer due to a positive surgical margin?

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