Increase in thyroglobulin - recurrence?

Hi 

I can see no one has responded to your post and wanted to reach out. Unfortunately I don’t have any answers for you, I’m relatively new to all this, I was diagnosed a year ago. Hopefully someone with more expertise will see this and respond. I know how scary this all is and I hope everything is fine. 

Your levels have gone from 'really tiny' to 'almost as really tiny'. I really don't think you should be worrying too much

If your TSH level was a bit higher than the last time your Tg was measured, that could be enough to push up the Tg on this later test.

Also, sometimes the surgery sends the tests to a different lab or the lab has a new machine that's different from the one that was used last time, and when the levels are low like this, a tiny change looks like a big increase.

Thank you for replying. I really appreciate it, and the reassurance. I’m hoping it’s nothing but the waiting is just frustrating. I had my appt 2 weeks ago and have heard nothing. Phoned yesterday to ask about the ultrasound appt to be told that the nurse I had the consultation with hadn’t written up my notes so nothing has been booked, and can’t be until she writes her notes and she isn’t in until next week now! So the wait goes on. 
thank you 

HI 

I do not think you should worry about those results. I had fluctuation in thyroglobulin as well without any recurrence. Then I had a  massive increase ( about 10 times compared to before levels) in my thyroglbulin before my second surgery and then ultrasound did show a recurrence. My consultant told me that he trused the US better then the thyroglobulin as they can fluctuate without any consequence.

I would not worry about it for now.

Hi

I was looking for a similar post to this, and hoping someone can share their experience.

Ddetails:

• I had full TT April 2022
• RAI July 2022
• Thyroglobulin (Tg) was 24.9 July 2022
• Tg was <0.9 December 2022
• Tg = 16.9 March 2023

Had an ultrasound and CT scan and appointment is next week.

I‘m trying not to think about it, but the wait is awful and not knowing what this means is worse.

From your experience of a recurrence, what does it mean exactly? Another RAI?

I can't see any information about your case on your profile so I'm answering this very much in the dark.
A rise in Tg doesn't always mean recurrence - thyroid cells produce Tg (they are the only cells that can) and they make it whether they are healthy thyroid cells or cancerous ones. So there's not a direct connection.

And, sometimes healthy thyroid cells can grow and pump out Tg.

But, your doctors are wise to check everything out and will do so at your appointment next week.

IF they think there is still some cancer, most likely you would get another dose of RAI (although you don't say that you've had the RAI already in your post). Only if there was a clear indication of where it might be might they precede that with surgery.

Sorry Barbara, am new to this. I just edited my post with details.

thank you for taking the time out to respond. Very kind of you and reassuring.

Were any of those Tg results 'stimulated' - i.e. you had high TSH through going off your thyroxine or having a thyrogen injection?

I had a thyroxin injection as part of the follow up, but continued to take my levothyroxine tablets.

Also, really sorry to you for ‘taking over’ your post. I know how you feel, and I really hope you are doing much better now.