CancerCompass message board discussion started by YaYaTara on 4/27/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23483,0.htm Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I am fairly new to this message board.  I have never heard anyone mention having Tall Cell (I do).   Does it affect your treatment program or prognosis?  I don't think it's very common and it scares me.  I know this sounds dumb...but I'm afraid to investigate it on the internet.  This is my 4th experience with cancer (first-time for thyroid).  I am on RID--waiting for Thyrogen/RAI/WBS.   Thank you.   Good luck to everyone out there.   YaYaTara Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Yes, I also have tall cell papillary.  It is very hard to "cure".  From what I understand, it does not respond well to RAI and surgery seems to be the treatment of choice.  I have had 2 surgeries in the past 8 months.  What have you been told by your physicians? Nurserobin Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/30/2008 Nurserobin wrote:Yes, I also have tall cell papillary.  It is very hard to "cure".  From what I understand, it does not respond well to RAI and surgery seems to be the treatment of choice.  I have had 2 surgeries in the past 8 months.  What have you been told by your physicians?Thanks for responding.   I was beginning to wonder if I was the only person who had it!  I heard there was only one specialist in the country who deal with it.  I'll need to find out where he/she is located.  Doctors just told me it was a more aggressive form on papillary and that it wasn't that common---my doctor has had only one other patient with it.  What have they told you about it?   What's our prognosis?   Are you concerned?  My tumor was over 2--maybe 3 cm.   YaYaTara Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/30/2008 YaYaTara wrote: On 4/30/2008 Nurserobin wrote:Yes, I also have tall cell papillary.  It is very hard to "cure".  From what I understand, it does not respond well to RAI and surgery seems to be the treatment of choice.  I have had 2 surgeries in the past 8 months.  What have you been told by your physicians?Thanks for responding.   I was beginning to wonder if I was the only person who had it!  I heard there was only one specialist in the country who deal with it.  I'll need to find out where he/she is located.  Doctors just told me it was a more aggressive form on papillary and that it wasn't that common---my doctor has had only one other patient with it.  What have they told you about it?   What's our prognosis?   Are you concerned?  My tumor was over 2--maybe 3 cm.  What a huge relief to find this message board. I was also beginning to feel there was nobody with whom to talk to about this. Hi, I'm Victoria, 54 years old, a New Yorker. After surviving stage 3A uterine cancer and stage 1C fallopian tube cancer, I was diagnosed with tall cell cancer yesterday, an "aggressive variant of papillary thyroid cancer". Had my thyroid and surrounding lymph glands removed April 22 2008 at New York Presbyterian Hospital.The superbly skilled and friendly surgeon, Dr. David Kutler, said the 1.2 tumor, which was wrapped around my laryngeal nerve was "sticky" and I suppose that was why the surgery took 8 hours, rather than the 3 hours that were expected and that with the endocrinologist I'd be taking a larger dose of Radioactive Iodine than was previously expected and then be closely monitored with ultrasound and nuclear scans for metastases, which might occur in the lymph glands, lungs, bone or breasts. Possible external beam radiation. I was told by Dr. Kutler that chemotherapy for this cancer is only given for palliative reasons. Does that mean this cancer can only be treated with radiation or surgery?I'm worried there seem to be  no doctors on the web who are familiar with this cancer. All the info out there says bluntly and negatively that "the prognosis is poor". I feel like fighting that. How are the metastases treated? Any clinical trials? I called The New York Thyroid Center http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/ and see if they have any answers. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Irving Pavilion Room 612 161 Fort Washington Avenue New York, NY   10032 Phone: 212-305-0444 Fax: 212-305-0445Left a message with William B. Inabnet, MD, assistant, Leslie.All I know now is that "he doesn't take any insurance", yikes, but has "a colleague who does take insurance".Will get back to the other members here immediately if I find any information about a specialist or anyone knowledgeable and would so appreciate hearing any info from others.I suspect I had hypothyroid issues for many years as now, taking levothyroxine for 1 week now post op I feel so energized and in such good spirits. Am trying to find *any* info about this tall cell variant:http://www.thyroid-cancer.net/resources/answers.php3  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11523623 http://arpa.allenpress.com/arpaonline/?request=get-document& (2001)125%3C0541:CTCCAH%3E2.0.CO%3B2 http://www.joplink.net/prev/200607/05.html (just wrote the author of that article, Ali A Siddiqui, to see if he has any information). There seems to be a lot to learn, like about thyroglobulin levels in relation to metastases of this cancer.Grateful for the company in this message forum. Best wishes, Victoria       nickyskye Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi again,My friend, Nan, has been so kind as to help me research clinical trials related to tall cell papillary thyroid cancer. I enclose her results also for your benefit, in case the information is useful to you. Clincal trials, articles and/or innovation in treatmenthttp://www.cancer.gov/search/ResultsClinicalTrials.aspx?prot http://www.research.uky.edu/odyssey/spring03/thyroid.html http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/5527.html http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=tall+cell+thyroid+cancer+clinical+trialshttp://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov/cgi/detail.cgi?A_2006-DK http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00251316?recr=Open&cond=%22Thyroid+Diseases%22&rank=18http://edrv.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/28/7/742 http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v96/n1/full/6603520a.html  Best wishes,Victoria  nickyskye Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT From what I am reading, RAI doesn't treat tall cell very well if at all.  Surgery seems to be the treatment of choice.  So annual nuclear scans with thyroglobulin levels.  I wish there was something more definitive.   Sounds like you have been thorough the ringer.  Keep positive and keep fighting.  I am going to see Dr. Fagin at Sloan Kettering later this month.  Supposedly he is the papillary thryoid cancer "guru".  Good Luck! Nurserobin Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/1/2008 Nurserobin wrote:From what I am reading, RAI doesn't treat tall cell very well if at all.  Surgery seems to be the treatment of choice.  So annual nuclear scans with thyroglobulin levels.  I wish there was something more definitive.   Sounds like you have been thorough the ringer.  Keep positive and keep fighting.  I am going to see Dr. Fagin at Sloan Kettering later this month.  Supposedly he is the papillary thryoid cancer "guru".  Good Luck!Say hey dear Nurserobin, thanks for your prompt, informative and friendly reply.It's so appreciated. :) Just came back from seeing the endocrinologist Dr. Kutler referred me to, Dr. Jason Baker and was disheartened he rushed me through the visit, wasn't willing to discuss tall cell as a variant of papillary and all he basically said was that if the Radioactive Iodine treatment is "a failure" in 6 months to seek out other treatments.Thanks for the tip about Dr. James Fagin, here's his info for othershttp://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/77942.cfm  And very good luck to you. :)   nickyskye Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/1/2008 nickyskye wrote: On 4/30/2008 YaYaTara wrote: On 4/30/2008 Nurserobin wrote:Yes, I also have tall cell papillary.  It is very hard to "cure".  From what I understand, it does not respond well to RAI and surgery seems to be the treatment of choice.  I have had 2 surgeries in the past 8 months.  What have you been told by your physicians?Thanks for responding.   I was beginning to wonder if I was the only person who had it!  I heard there was only one specialist in the country who deal with it.  I'll need to find out where he/she is located.  Doctors just told me it was a more aggressive form on papillary and that it wasn't that common---my doctor has had only one other patient with it.  What have they told you about it?   What's our prognosis?   Are you concerned?  My tumor was over 2--maybe 3 cm.  What a huge relief to find this message board. I was also beginning to feel there was nobody with whom to talk to about this. Hi, I'm Victoria, 54 years old, a New Yorker. After surviving stage 3A uterine cancer and stage 1C fallopian tube cancer, I was diagnosed with tall cell cancer yesterday, an "aggressive variant of papillary thyroid cancer". Had my thyroid and surrounding lymph glands removed April 22 2008 at New York Presbyterian Hospital.The superbly skilled and friendly surgeon, Dr. David Kutler, said the 1.2 tumor, which was wrapped around my laryngeal nerve was "sticky" and I suppose that was why the surgery took 8 hours, rather than the 3 hours that were expected and that with the endocrinologist I'd be taking a larger dose of Radioactive Iodine than was previously expected and then be closely monitored with ultrasound and nuclear scans for metastases, which might occur in the lymph glands, lungs, bone or breasts. Possible external beam radiation. I was told by Dr. Kutler that chemotherapy for this cancer is only given for palliative reasons. Does that mean this cancer can only be treated with radiation or surgery?I'm worried there seem to be  no doctors on the web who are familiar with this cancer. All the info out there says bluntly and negatively that "the prognosis is poor". I feel like fighting that. How are the metastases treated? Any clinical trials? I called The New York Thyroid Center http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/ and see if they have any answers. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Irving Pavilion Room 612 161 Fort Washington Avenue New York, NY   10032 Phone: 212-305-0444 Fax: 212-305-0445Left a message with William B. Inabnet, MD, assistant, Leslie.All I know now is that "he doesn't take any insurance", yikes, but has "a colleague who does take insurance".Will get back to the other members here immediately if I find any information about a specialist or anyone knowledgeable and would so appreciate hearing any info from others.I suspect I had hypothyroid issues for many years as now, taking levothyroxine for 1 week now post op I feel so energized and in such good spirits. Am trying to find *any* info about this tall cell variant:http://www.thyroid-cancer.net/resources/answers.php3  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11523623 http://arpa.allenpress.com/arpaonline/?request=get-document& (2001)125%3C0541:CTCCAH%3E2.0.CO%3B2 http://www.joplink.net/prev/200607/05.html (just wrote the author of that article, Ali A Siddiqui, to see if he has any information). There seems to be a lot to learn, like about thyroglobulin levels in relation to metastases of this cancer.Grateful for the company in this message forum. Best wishes, Victoria  Victoria~I am the original poster of this search for someone who has Tall Cell.  Basically, I have heard little about this even though I was diagnosed a year ago..  I wonder what our cure rate is?  I'm supposed to have my Thyrogen on May 12 with the iodine and the scan to follow.  I'm very nervous this time to find out my scan results.  My lab showed my levels off.  Most of the time I remain upbeat, but lately I've been concerned about it.  I'm so glad that others are out there willing to share their stories.  I hope people continue to post about this rare type of cell to help give us peace of mind.  Thank you, Tara      YaYaTara Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tara wrote: "Victoria~I am the original poster of this search for someone who hasTall Cell.  Basically, I have heard little about this even though I wasdiagnosed a year ago..  I wonder what our cure rate is?  I'm supposedto have my Thyrogen on May 12 with the iodine and the scan to follow. I'm very nervous this time to find out my scan results.  My lab showedmy levels off.  Most of the time I remain upbeat, but lately I've beenconcerned about it.  I'm so glad that others are out there willing toshare their stories.  I hope people continue to post about this raretype of cell to help give us peace of mind.  Thank you, Tara" Dear Tara,Good morning,It's profoundly comforting to hear from others diagnosed with tall cell, not to feel so alone, isolated and in the dark about the diagnosis.And it's so great you and Nurserobin are responding to emails so promptly. Thank you. So far I haven't seen any cure rate for this cancer. Like with all cancer diagnoses -and really, with life itself- it's a combination of looking death squarely in the face, accepting what is inevitable for all of us human beings, our mortality, impermanence, and yet also fighting for our chance to live, to thrive and be well. I send you my hugs, prayers and good thoughts to help you get through this upcoming scan. love, Victoria nickyskye Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I read all your stories and would like to join the club.  I also was diagnosed with "tall cell" having my TT the end of August2007, RAI of 125 and a second left neck node dissection in February 2008 as the original ultrasound revealed a very small positive lymph node that did not respond to RAI.  Actually, it turned out to be 3 of 28 positive nodes.  My endo who claims to have treated patient's with tall cell feels that it is still a papillary cancer so therefore it should be treated like papillary.  I'm in constant battle with him after seeing that every piece of info on the internet paints a much gloomer type of scenerio.  My concern is that he won't treat it as aggressively as I feel is necessary.  I wish I could take his optimism and run with it but I keep thinking if he is wrong, then what, a sorry won't do it so I insure he stays on top of it or threaten and have gone elsewhere.  For some reason it seems he doesn't want to lose me as a patient.  I had been seeing him for 3 years prior for an unrelated problem, and he was the one who found the nodule in my neck which was catagorized as stage 3 due to my age, lymph node involvement and the fact it did break through the thyroid bed.  Some one mentioned that this was their 4 diagnosis of cancer.  That is interesting, this was my 3rd diagnosis, having breast cancer in 2003.  I just wanted to also mention as I indicated above, I had a known positive lymph node and it did not light up so this is concerning as it can leave us with a false sense that everything is clean.  The only way to monitor further disease with a resistant type such as tall cell, is by checking blood levels and ultrasound.  Although, the ultrasound did not pick up the second & third node which were very small.  Even though it is more aggressive, I understand it still follows the same mode of spread as ordinary papillary cancer.  First of course, the thyroid and then the lymph nodes in the neck where it is still treatable.  So apparently even though it grows more quickly if confined to the thyroid and neck nodes it can still be treated.  I've become my own advocate and make sure my doctors view me as a person and not just another patient and feel pretty confident with the several doctors on board that I just have to follow the regimen of blood tests, ultrasounds and RAI and appointments and otherwise I'm living my life to the fullest.  My husband and I just returned from a trip to the west coast (we live on the east coast) and a cruise.  Leemg Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT You are all so great to give advice and join in.  Like you said--it's nice to have company and not feel so all alone.  So..what do we watch for with our lab work?  I know it's a balancing act with Synthroid to have our levels "just right," however I can't even remember what is a good sign and what is a bad sign.  I'm having my Thryogen on 5/12+5/13 and then the tracer dose on 5/15 and the WBS on Friday.  I've been on the LID for 3 entire weeks!  I'm very nervous about this scan for fear they will find that the cancer has spread.  Knowing you all are there and understand is a great comfort.  Is Tall Cell curable?  Anyone know if we have to be isolated from others for the tracer dose?  Thank you!  Tara YaYaTara Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Every case is different as with any type of cancer.  Doctors don't know why some patients do well and others with even a seemingly low risk cancer have recurrences and don't necessarily do well.  With thyroid cancers a lot of factors are taken into consideration such as age, gender, size of tumor, and whether contained or not, just a few prognostic values in determining treatment and follow up.  I'm still confused on the actual blood values they are looking for.  I do know that they want to keep our levels slightly on the hyper side so the body doesn't try to produce thyroid hormone.  I had my blood work done before I went away but won't know what my numbers indicate until next week.  Depending on those numbers, however, I may or may not need a second course of RAI, only this time he did mention thyrogen as a means to get levels ready for treatment.  As I learn more about the actual numbers I'll pass it on. If you are cancer free as per your scans, tests and blood values you can consider yourself cured but must be followed because there is a likely hood of recurrence with some patients but as long as it is contained within the neck area you can continue to do well.  Best of luck to all of you! Leemg Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am so pleased that you all are so positive about this.  I know that it could have been a much worse diagnosis, so I feel very fortunate.  Sometimes a good scare can make a person re-set their priorities in life and remind us that we are just here for a brief time in the scheme of life.  I go next week for my Thyrogen, tracer and scan.  My insurance company denied my doctor's recommendation for Thyrogen and I had to put it on a charge card (of all things to have to charge!).  I have my son's wedding in May and I wasn't about to go hypo right before his wedding.  I remember being so weak that I could barely walk up my staircase.  I wish much luck and prayers to everyone.  I'll keep you posted on my results.  Thanks for your comments about tall cell.  I don't feel quite so alone out here. xoTara YaYaTara Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/1/2008 Nurserobin wrote:From what I am reading, RAI doesn't treat tall cell very well if at all.  Surgery seems to be the treatment of choice.  So annual nuclear scans with thyroglobulin levels.  I wish there was something more definitive.   Sounds like you have been thorough the ringer.  Keep positive and keep fighting.  I am going to see Dr. Fagin at Sloan Kettering later this month.  Supposedly he is the papillary thryoid cancer "guru".  Good Luck!Please let me know how you like Dr. Fagin at S-K and what he says about Tall Cell specifically.  I hope you get answers for us!  Good luck--I'll be thinking of you.   YaYaTara Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I had BC diagnosed in 2003 and that knocked me for a loop but I am doing well.  The thyroid cancer was also a surprise and found in matter of factly so I'm grateful for that particulary being this more aggressive type.  When I was 21 I was diagnosed with melanoma which was more recently reversed and said to be a benign lesion after spending 14 days in the hospital and going through extensive surgery etc. and living as a cancer patient with the possibility of recurrence on my mind.  I didn't learn that it was not melanoma until after being diagnosed with breast cancer so you can say I have been living as a cancer patient for over 30 some years.  The key here is living.  Again, best to all of you.  Enjoy the things that are important and make sure the people that are closest to you know how much they mean.  No regrets.  Leemg Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I will.  I go May 29th. Nurserobin Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/5/2008 Leemg wrote:I had BC diagnosed in 2003 and that knocked me for a loop but I am doing well.  The thyroid cancer was also a surprise and found in matter of factly so I'm grateful for that particulary being this more aggressive type.  When I was 21 I was diagnosed with melanoma which was more recently reversed and said to be a benign lesion after spending 14 days in the hospital and going through extensive surgery etc. and living as a cancer patient with the possibility of recurrence on my mind.  I didn't learn that it was not melanoma until after being diagnosed with breast cancer so you can say I have been living as a cancer patient for over 30 some years.  The key here is living.  Again, best to all of you.  Enjoy the things that are important and make sure the people that are closest to you know how much they mean.  No regrets. Interesting background.  Before I was diagnosed with papillary tall cell, I had been diagnosed 3 times with melanoma and had surgeries each time.   We must have predisposition for cancers.  Other than that, I'm healthy!  I continue to stress a little about my WBS next Friday.  Everyone be sure and post your results--you are in my prayers. Tara   YaYaTara Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I've actually had gene testing, BRAC l & 2 and others as recently as results this week and thus far no mutations found and my PTEN which is a cancer cell control gene or protein is normal.  Of course, the body is way too complicated and they can only test for what they know.  Leemg Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/10/2008 Leemg wrote:I've actually had gene testing, BRAC l & 2 and others as recently as results this week and thus far no mutations found and my PTEN which is a cancer cell control gene or protein is normal.  Of course, the body is way too complicated and they can only test for what they know. Who did your testing?  I wonder if that's a good option for me?  Doesn't sound like there are too many of us out there with tall cell.  Either people don't realize that is what variant they have or it's not that common.  Never a dull moment, is there? I go tomorrow for my 1st day of Thyrogen.  I'm very nervous about my WBS on Friday.  I'm on my 5th week of LID and I just want something good to eat---like a slice of Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory!   YaYaTara Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I hooked up with a genetic counselor connected to a large inner city hospital after I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She did a family profile on me and decided there was enough there and with my own health history to have it done.  It was covered by my insurance too by the way which was a shocker but you have to meet certain criteria.  She has never charged for her services.  Yes, I'm awaiting my blood work to see if I will need a second dose of RAI even though a positive tall cell lymph node was not phased by the first dose and I had to have a neck dissection.  There is a good possiblity I may not need it but don't know for sure until my thyroglobulin results are in.  It will be a month Thursday.  Can you believe the hospital lab is that behind.  In the past year I acquired sudden hearing loss with pulsatile tinnutis in my right ear and they can't find the cause although pulsatile tinnutis usually indicates it is of a vascular nature so that is been taking up my time currrently.  I noticed my hearing is getting progressively worse which was confirmed by a recent hearing test.  Never a dull moment.  Good luck, sounds like you'll almost ready for the Cheese Cake Factory, treat yourself! Leemg Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/1/2008 Nurserobin wrote:From what I am reading, RAI doesn't treat tall cell very well if at all.  Surgery seems to be the treatment of choice.  So annual nuclear scans with thyroglobulin levels.  I wish there was something more definitive.   Sounds like you have been thorough the ringer.  Keep positive and keep fighting.  I am going to see Dr. Fagin at Sloan Kettering later this month.  Supposedly he is the papillary thryoid cancer "guru".  Good Luck!Would you mind asking him who specializes specifically in TALL CELL?   I had my WBS today and it was clear!!  Let me know what you find out!  Good luck!   Tara   YaYaTara Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tara: I definitely will and as soon as I know anything, I will email back. Robin Nurserobin Sun, 18 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tara etc:I had my meeting with Dr. Fagin at MSKCC and had all of my research clarified.First, I had my WBS and thyroglobulins in May and everything is clear. So I am now considered "cancer free" or 'in remission".  Yahoo!!!Second, this is what I found out about tall cell.  Like I had mentioned earlier, it is very hard to diagnose and treat.  Once you have 2 WBS's that are negative (done annually and not sooner), you can span the scanning out to 2 years or more.  He told me that since I had the negative scan in May with the thyroglobulins also being undetectable that my chance of recurrence was less than 10%.  This is great news as there is no guarantee with anything, so it could come back sooner or later but at least i know that my stats wend down from the original 30-40%.  So the next step is neck ultrasound in July and labs (TSH and thyroglob in Sept) then every 3-4 months after that for the next year. 3.  I will always be nervous with every scan and every lab test but that is part of being a "cancer patient".  Though I do feel much better right now about being on "this side of the curtain".  As i think you already know, I am a nurse and worked in oncology, specializing in head and neck cancer for 10 years before moving to my current position.  It is definitely easier said than done as I did not know the horrible feeling of waiting to get the results (although, my benefit was that since I work in the hospital where all my doctors are, I am able to see my results before they do).  I hope this helps you and everyone else.  I continue to check the site so if you have any other questions, please let me know.Blessings to everyone,Robin Nurserobin Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 6/3/2008 Nurserobin wrote:Tara etc:I had my meeting with Dr. Fagin at MSKCC and had all of my research clarified.First, I had my WBS and thyroglobulins in May and everything is clear. So I am now considered "cancer free" or 'in remission".  Yahoo!!!Second, this is what I found out about tall cell.  Like I had mentioned earlier, it is very hard to diagnose and treat.  Once you have 2 WBS's that are negative (done annually and not sooner), you can span the scanning out to 2 years or more.  He told me that since I had the negative scan in May with the thyroglobulins also being undetectable that my chance of recurrence was less than 10%.  This is great news as there is no guarantee with anything, so it could come back sooner or later but at least i know that my stats wend down from the original 30-40%.  So the next step is neck ultrasound in July and labs (TSH and thyroglob in Sept) then every 3-4 months after that for the next year. 3.  I will always be nervous with every scan and every lab test but that is part of being a "cancer patient".  Though I do feel much better right now about being on "this side of the curtain".  As i think you already know, I am a nurse and worked in oncology, specializing in head and neck cancer for 10 years before moving to my current position.  It is definitely easier said than done as I did not know the horrible feeling of waiting to get the results (although, my benefit was that since I work in the hospital where all my doctors are, I am able to see my results before they do).  I hope this helps you and everyone else.  I continue to check the site so if you have any other questions, please let me know.Blessings to everyone,RobinRobin - thank you so much for responding.  My son got married and I have been out of town for over a week so I am just not back checking the board.  Congratulations on the good news!!  I am SO happy for you and it give me hope.  I wish my thyroidglobulin was undetectable, but it wasn't.  I don't think it ever has been.   My WBS was OK in May but I have to have a PET scan now to confirm (I have had melanomas through the years---I'm Italian so it's not a sun-thing, but good old heredity).  So basically...did your doctor say Tall Cell was not to be concerned about any more than other cells?  I am glad that you have had the experience of working in oncology.  Do you think a second opinion for me from my oncologist would be good insurance?   I am constantly tired and feel that something just isn't right with me.  What is your synthroid dose?  Sorry about all the irritating questions!   YaYaTara Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT