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Long-Term Monitoring

There are three main tests that doctors may use after initial treatment to determine whether any thyroid cancer cells remain in the body: thyroglobulin (Tg) testing, ultrasound and whole body scans.

Up to 30% of WDTC patients experience a recurrence. Two-thirds of those recurrences occur within 10 years of initial treatment; many take place decades later.^[1]

The prognosis of a recurrence is improved when it is discovered early. This is why routine checkups are important for the rest of your life, particularly in the first 5 to 10 years after surgery when the risk of your cancer returning is the highest.

In this section, you’ll learn more about Tg testing and whole body scans, including ways to improve their accuracy. You will also find out what happens if your cancer returns.

REFERENCES:

1. The American Journal of Medicine. Long Term Impact of Initial Surgical and Medical Therapy on Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancer. Ernest L. Mazzaferri, MD FACP, Sissy M. Jhaing, PhD., Columbus Ohio. November 1994.

Low-iodine diet

Before undergoing radioactive scanning, you may be asked to follow a low-iodine diet. This convenient downloadable chart shows you which foods you may want to avoid that contain iodine and which foods are okay to eat.

Download the Low-iodine Diet chart.

Downloads

Download these resources to learn more about thyroid cancer and Thyrogen, including how to manage your Thyrogen treatment.

Understanding Thyroid Cancer

Managing Thyroid Cancer with Thyrogen

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Indication
Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa for injection) is indicated for use as an additional tool to identify thyroid disease (by testing the blood for a hormone called thyroglobulin), with or without a radiology test using a form of iodine, in the follow-up of patients with a certain type of thyroid cancer (known as well-differentiated thyroid cancer).

Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa for injection) is also indicated for use as a preparation for treatment with a form of iodine to remove left over thyroid tissue in patients who have had surgery to take out the entire thyroid gland for a certain type of thyroid cancer (known as well-differentiated thyroid cancer) and who do not have signs of thyroid cancer which has spread to other parts of the body.

Important Safety Information

When Thyrogen is used to help detect thyroid cancer, there is still a chance all—or parts of—your cancer could be missed.
In a study of people being prepared for treatment with a form of iodine after thyroid surgery, results were similar between those who received Thyrogen and those who stopped taking their thyroid hormone. Researchers do not know if results would be similar over a longer period of time.
Your doctor may take extra steps to care for you during Thyrogen treatment if you have heart disease and large amounts of remaining thyroid tissue after surgery.
If you are over 65 years old and did not have your entire thyroid removed during treatment of your cancer, you may be at risk for abnormal heartbeat while receiving Thyrogen. Because of this, you and your doctor will need to carefully consider the risks and benefits of Thyrogen before starting it.
In clinical studies, the most common side effects reported were upset stomach, headache, tiredness, throwing up, dizziness, prickling and tingling sensation, weakness, difficulty sleeping, and diarrhea.

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