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I Have Some Questions About Familial Medullary Thyroid Cancer Can You Shed Any Light On This For Me?
Question: Good evening. I have some questions about familial medullary thyroid cancer. My father-in-law passed away 12 years ago at the age of 72 after being diagnosed with metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (liver metastasis). He was not tested for the gene mutation, and there is no known prior history of this in his family. However, my husband (age 60) saw a new endocrinologist today for his type 2 diabetes. He mentioned his father's history, so the Dr. did an ultrasound and saw a .75 cm mass on his right lobe. She said that if it weren't for his history, she would just watch it and check again in 3 months. But obviously, she will do further testing in the next week or so. I am very concerned, because after some research, I have noted that prophylactic thyroidectomies are done in very young children with a known gene mutation. Have we put our children and grandchildren at risk by not getting them tested? We just did not feel it was a concern before. I am an RN and a Nurse Practitioner student, so I have some medical knowledge, but the facts surrounding inheritance of this gene seem complicated. Can you shed any light on this for me?
Brief Answer:
about medullary thyroid cancer;
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone carefully through your concern.
There is no need to worry because until now there is only one family member diangosed with medullary thyroid cancer.
So the chances to be an inhereted mutation are low.
Secondly, even if it was so, preventive thyroidectomy is recommended when agressive mutations are present, manifested with agressive cancers that has a tendency to occur in young patients.
If we perform a thyroid ultrasound to the general population, 1 in 2 persons will have nodules in the thyroid gland, so do not worry about your husband.
Even though, the dimentions of the nodules are too small and curable.
Hope the information will be helpful.
Best wishes,
Dr.Mirjeta
about medullary thyroid cancer;
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone carefully through your concern.
There is no need to worry because until now there is only one family member diangosed with medullary thyroid cancer.
So the chances to be an inhereted mutation are low.
Secondly, even if it was so, preventive thyroidectomy is recommended when agressive mutations are present, manifested with agressive cancers that has a tendency to occur in young patients.
If we perform a thyroid ultrasound to the general population, 1 in 2 persons will have nodules in the thyroid gland, so do not worry about your husband.
Even though, the dimentions of the nodules are too small and curable.
Hope the information will be helpful.
Best wishes,
Dr.Mirjeta
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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