2Nd Surgery

My son was just told that his doctor does not want to do the 2nd surgery for complete removal of thyroid until his voice is back 100% from the initial surgery.  Does this seem to be the protocol?

Anyone's input would be most helpful.

Concerned Mom

On 8/7/2007 LauraS wrote:

My surgeon and endo. insisted on waiting for any possiblity of a 2nd surgery for several weeks, even several months after my thyroidectomy.  They were very concerned about the possibility of my vocal cords being harmed permanently as well as post-op swelling that might block the surgeon if he was to go in again.  I was lucky that and the radioactive iodine got the minimal thyroid tissue left after the first surgery.   I hope for the same for your son. 

Did you have the whole thyroid removed in your surgery.  We are being told that he cannot have the RAI until the rest of the thyroid is removed.  How long for you to have your voice back?  I know everyone heals differently.

Concerned mom

On 8/7/2007 lourdrie wrote:

 

On 8/7/2007 LauraS wrote:

My surgeon and endo. insisted on waiting for any possiblity of a 2nd surgery for several weeks, even several months after my thyroidectomy.  They were very concerned about the possibility of my vocal cords being harmed permanently as well as post-op swelling that might block the surgeon if he was to go in again.  I was lucky that and the radioactive iodine got the minimal thyroid tissue left after the first surgery.   I hope for the same for your son. 

Laura,

Did you have the whole thyroid removed in your surgery.  We are being told that he cannot have the RAI until the rest of the thyroid is removed.  How long for you to have your voice back?  I know everyone heals differently.

Concerned mom

 

I had a total thyroidectomy for the first surgery.  It turned out the cancer had spread so they had to take lymph nodes and parathyroid glands too.  The second surgery was a possibility because of the spread.  My endo explained that RAI is designed to kill small left-over diseased thyroid cells, not large chunks of the thyroid.  That's what your son's surgeon is probably saying too.  It's nasty stuff so they don't want us to have to ingest too much.

With the digging for parathyroids, they inadvertantly twanged one of my cords.  This caused it to go into temporary paralysis, so I couldn't speak for about 5 days and then when it finally came back I sounded like Kathleen Turner for about 3 weeks (it's called dysphonia - voice sounded oddly flat).  After about a month, I was completely normal again.

On 8/8/2007 LauraS wrote:

 

On 8/7/2007 lourdrie wrote:

 

On 8/7/2007 LauraS wrote:

My surgeon and endo. insisted on waiting for any possiblity of a 2nd surgery for several weeks, even several months after my thyroidectomy.  They were very concerned about the possibility of my vocal cords being harmed permanently as well as post-op swelling that might block the surgeon if he was to go in again.  I was lucky that and the radioactive iodine got the minimal thyroid tissue left after the first surgery.   I hope for the same for your son. 

Laura,

Did you have the whole thyroid removed in your surgery.  We are being told that he cannot have the RAI until the rest of the thyroid is removed.  How long for you to have your voice back?  I know everyone heals differently.

Concerned mom

 

 

I had a total thyroidectomy for the first surgery.  It turned out the cancer had spread so they had to take lymph nodes and parathyroid glands too.  The second surgery was a possibility because of the spread.  My endo explained that RAI is designed to kill small left-over diseased thyroid cells, not large chunks of the thyroid.  That's what your son's surgeon is probably saying too.  It's nasty stuff so they don't want us to have to ingest too much.

With the digging for parathyroids, they inadvertantly twanged one of my cords.  This caused it to go into temporary paralysis, so I couldn't speak for about 5 days and then when it finally came back I sounded like Kathleen Turner for about 3 weeks (it's called dysphonia - voice sounded oddly flat).  After about a month, I was completely normal again.

Laura,

Again, thank you for the response.  You were lucky to have everything that needed to be removed the first time.  May I ask what type of surgeon did your surgery.  We feel that our surgeon, even though he was highly recommended, was not an expert in this area.  He removed the thyroid on the right side along with the lymph nodes (which showed cancer) 4 tumors, one very large (reason for having the surgery) the isthmus and I believe one of the lobes.

2nd surgery is to remove the rest of the thyroid and see if there is any active cancer on that side.  As I mentioned before, he does want to wait for his voice to come back.  After a few days, he was able to speak with no problem, except it sounds like a loud whisper.  He is fine in the morning, but around 11:00 it starts to weaken.

Have been trying to get a 2nd physician to see him for the 2nd surgery, but no other doctor wants to take him on since he has already had surgery.  I guess I can understand that, but it's frustrating.  

May I ask your age when you were diagnosed?  So happy to hear all is well with you now. 

Lou 

My surgeon was an ear/nose/throat specialist.  He consulted with my endo and 2 other surgeons via camera during my surgery because of the spread.  If I were your son, I'd ask for a second opinion or at least a corroborating discussion with another doc.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with asking for clarification.

Surgery was last year, so I was 33 years old.  The endo tells me that youth helps the healing process.

 Good luck with your son and don't be afraid to ask for that second opinion! 

On 8/7/2007 LauraS wrote:

My surgeon and endo. insisted on waiting for any possiblity of a 2nd surgery for several weeks, even several months after my thyroidectomy.  They were very concerned about the possibility of my vocal cords being harmed permanently as well as post-op swelling that might block the surgeon if he was to go in again.  I was lucky that and the radioactive iodine got the minimal thyroid tissue left after the first surgery.   I hope for the same for your son. 

Laura,

Did you have a complete thyroidectomy?  Any problems with your voice.  My son is still in the waiting mode.  It has been 1mth. and we are still waiting for full range of the voice.  His doctor last week assures us that there is no harm to him by waiting for the 2nd surgery to completely remove the thyroid.

This waiting is HELL.

Lou

I had a partial thyroidectomy in April 2007 and found out a week later that it was cancer.  The pathologist stated that because the cancer was small that there was no need to remove the other side of the tumor even though the cancer had spread into the tissue of the first half.  The endo said that we must take the other side out because half of a thyroid cannot be monitored properly.  I finally went to see an oncologist in Baton Rouge, LA who had most his field of study to Thyroid Cancer.  After looking at all my reports he told me that if it was his wife in this situation that she would be having a 2nd surgery.  He told me that you either need to perform the second surgery within 11 days of the first surgery or you need to wait until the 6 week mark of the first surgery.  I had to choose the 6 week mark because I was beyond 11 days.  He said that these were the two best options for the best results.

My vocal cords were dinged during the first surgery so I spent a few weeks with a cracking voice especially towards the end of the day.  I woke up from the second surgery with a totally normal voice.  I did allow the original surgeon (ENT surgeon) to perform the second surgery but I did seek the oncologist for advice.  I very well asked the ENT surgeon if he was comfortable performing a second surgery being that it was much more risky, or if I needed to let the oncologist surgeon perform the second one.  He assured me that he could get this done.  My suggestion would be to get a second or maybe even a third opinion.

On 8/29/2007 Tcc70448 wrote:

I had a partial thyroidectomy in April 2007 and found out a week later that it was cancer.  The pathologist stated that because the cancer was small that there was no need to remove the other side of the tumor even though the cancer had spread into the tissue of the first half.  The endo said that we must take the other side out because half of a thyroid cannot be monitored properly.  I finally went to see an oncologist in Baton Rouge, LA who had most his field of study to Thyroid Cancer.  After looking at all my reports he told me that if it was his wife in this situation that she would be having a 2nd surgery.  He told me that you either need to perform the second surgery within 11 days of the first surgery or you need to wait until the 6 week mark of the first surgery.  I had to choose the 6 week mark because I was beyond 11 days.  He said that these were the two best options for the best results.

My vocal cords were dinged during the first surgery so I spent a few weeks with a cracking voice especially towards the end of the day.  I woke up from the second surgery with a totally normal voice.  I did allow the original surgeon (ENT surgeon) to perform the second surgery but I did seek the oncologist for advice.  I very well asked the ENT surgeon if he was comfortable performing a second surgery being that it was much more risky, or if I needed to let the oncologist surgeon perform the second one.  He assured me that he could get this done.  My suggestion would be to get a second or maybe even a third opinion.

TCC,

When you say you were told it would be best to do the 2nd surgery within 11 days or 6 wks. after, does it have to be exactly at 6 wks. or can it be a few more.  The reason I ask is because it will be 6 wks. tomorrow and the surgeon is still waiting because of the voice still being hoarsed.

Did your voice return before doing the 2nd surgery?  Did the surgeon go into the same incision?  

Lou 

On 8/29/2007 lourdrie wrote:

 

On 8/29/2007 Tcc70448 wrote:

I had a partial thyroidectomy in April 2007 and found out a week later that it was cancer.  The pathologist stated that because the cancer was small that there was no need to remove the other side of the tumor even though the cancer had spread into the tissue of the first half.  The endo said that we must take the other side out because half of a thyroid cannot be monitored properly.  I finally went to see an oncologist in Baton Rouge, LA who had most his field of study to Thyroid Cancer.  After looking at all my reports he told me that if it was his wife in this situation that she would be having a 2nd surgery.  He told me that you either need to perform the second surgery within 11 days of the first surgery or you need to wait until the 6 week mark of the first surgery.  I had to choose the 6 week mark because I was beyond 11 days.  He said that these were the two best options for the best results.

My vocal cords were dinged during the first surgery so I spent a few weeks with a cracking voice especially towards the end of the day.  I woke up from the second surgery with a totally normal voice.  I did allow the original surgeon (ENT surgeon) to perform the second surgery but I did seek the oncologist for advice.  I very well asked the ENT surgeon if he was comfortable performing a second surgery being that it was much more risky, or if I needed to let the oncologist surgeon perform the second one.  He assured me that he could get this done.  My suggestion would be to get a second or maybe even a third opinion.

TCC,

When you say you were told it would be best to do the 2nd surgery within 11 days or 6 wks. after, does it have to be exactly at 6 wks. or can it be a few more.  The reason I ask is because it will be 6 wks. tomorrow and the surgeon is still waiting because of the voice still being hoarsed.

Did your voice return before doing the 2nd surgery?  Did the surgeon go into the same incision?  

Lou