A5. Radiation can certainly have significant side effects as well. While it does make further surgery harder, it does not make it impossible. #AHNSchat
A5. There can still be value, however, as recurrence in the surgical bed can be difficult to treat and can lead to damage to surround nerves, airway, esophagus etc. It is definitely a case by case decision. #AHNSchat
A5. Great question. The goal of radiation after surgery is to prevent the cancer from recurring in the surgical bed. It does not prevent distant spread or improve survival #AHNSchat
This is a great question. Post-op CEA/calcitonin help to answer this question in individual patients. The number of lymph nodes involved can predict the risk of recurrence ie <10, 10-20 and >20. The more nodes/node levels involved the higher the chance of recurrence. #AHNSchat
A2. If a patient has undetectable calcitonin/CEA and no evidence of further disease on ultrasound or physical exam, then calcitonin/CEA should be re-checked every 6 months for 1 year and then annually per the 2015 American Thyroid Association Guideline. #AHNSchat
It can be confusing as many patients do not have a RET germline mutation (Ie not transmitted to family) but yet do have RET mutations in the tumor itself. Testing of the tumor for RET helps guides prognosis and therapy. #AHNSchat
Q1. Many sporadic (ie not inherited) medullary thyroid cancers have mutations in the RET gene. This can be predictive of the cancer behavior.
I'm growing a moustache 4 #Movember as I'm passionate about fighting men's cancer. Pls give: http://www.movember.com/m/99754