Helen, I have not read, nor been told that the Thyroid will recover. It is fairly common for people to go hypothyroid gradually as we age even without the radiation. So we will likely have to keep taking the synthetic for a LONG time. smile

An added note for those of you that are going to recieve radiation:

GET YOUR DOCTOR TO DO A THYROID TEST BEFORE YOU START TREATMENTS!

This simple test will give them a base line should you have thyroid problems in the future. (and a pretty high percentage will have thyroid problems). Knowing what your personal thyroid hormone levels before treatment will help a great deal when adjusting the supplemental synthetic hormones. This suprisingly simply idea would have saved me a lot of crappy feeling days. frown

Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.