Thyroglobulin results

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Hi all. I had my recent 6 month check up and had some blood tests done. The results are back and thyroglobulin is at 5. My oncologist says this is fine but surely this is a bit high and certainly not undetectable. I have 2 small lymph nodes that were left behind in my neck after my radical neck dissection and they are being monitored with scans every 6 months. I am not very worried but a bit confused. The lymph nodes are in the area of my neck right where my thyroid was and most of the cancer was concentrated so the chances of them having no cancer cells must very low. Not sure what to think or do. Any advice would be very welcome.

  • Hello again BB,

    I was just wondering, do you know what your TG levels were for the last test or two?

    A level of 5, in the grand scheme of things, isn't high as there are folks in the hundreds or higher. The issue would be if your TG has been increasing steadily. I'm guessing that from your consultants reaction, it hasn't been? 

    If things haven't been increasing, then I'd not worry about it. If they have been steadily rising, then I'd be asking for an FNA of those lymph nodes I think.

    Remember, TG levels only monitor active thyroid tissue in your body. It can't distinguish between cancerous tissue and healthy tissue. So having detectable TG, doesn't mean there's definitely cancer in you somewhere.

    Hope that helps.

    Lass

    XX

    I have no medical training, everything I post is an opinion or educated guess. It is not medical advice.

  • Can you tell us the results of 2 or 3 previous thyroglobulin tests? That would help to assess whether this is something to be concerned about. Also your TSH at the time of the tests - since if your TSH crept up, your Tg could go with it.

    Best wishes

    Barbara

    “Scars are tattoos with better stories.” – Anonymous