Thyroid problems and bc treatment

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rm22111
rm22111 Member Posts: 54
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello,

I was wondering if there is anyone that has problems with their thyroid and how the doctors deal with chemo treatment. Before being treated for cancer I had a pet scan and ultra sound that showed something up with my thyroid. The surgeon did a blood test and said my thyroid was fine. Now after 4 chemo treatments, sentinal node removal, bilateral mastectomy my oncologist is concerned about my thyroid. One part of the thyroid blood panel he did 2 weeks agao was not good and the pet scan I had done that same week showed the same thing as it did before chemo. My oncologist does not want me to get my last two rounds of chemo until I see a thyroid doctor. If I have a thyroid issue it may be the hyper kind even though my dad and aunt have the hypo kind. Any info would be helpful.

Thanks rm22111

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  • sgamtd
    sgamtd Member Posts: 124
    #2
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    Thyroid Problem and B/C
    Hi rm22111.
    My docs say no connection, and I can't address the chemo as I did not have that, however, I have had a thyroid problem (Hypo)with nodules since the early nineties, has been stable with medication for years. A couple of months before I found the b/c tumor my thyroid levels went whacky, all of a sudden I was Hydro, changed meds monthly, then during blood tests prepping for surgery I was hypo again, after 8 month of yoyoing it has finally stabilized again, and I for one sure think the thyroid somehow is connected to my b/c. I googled thyroid and b/c and found some sites that explores that.
    Wishing for you that the thyroid doc fixes the problem quickly, so you can finish your treatment.
    Take care
    sgamtd
  • susanleeann
    susanleeann Member Posts: 58
    #3
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    i can't give personal experience
    sounds like a co-incedence that your thyroid is acting up while in chemo. sounds like your oncologist is smart in advising you to see the thyroid doc before going further. i know thyroid problems affect most everything, particularly your metabolism, including how your body responds to chemo. my only question is--how fast can you get in to see the thyroid doc? and how long can you safely wait to continue chemo? that's two questions but no matter. prayers are with you.
  • canoegirl
    canoegirl Member Posts: 169
    #4
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    Stress can cause the thyroid
    Stress can cause the thyroid to go nuts. My daughter was injured last year and fractured her kidney. About 3 weeks later her thyroid failed. First it went WAY overactive, then under. Now she is on meds for the thyroid and it has been stable for the past year. (she's 20) I have thyroiditis, but so far it hasn't required treatment. My oncologist told me to find a endrocranologist that will follow it through treatment in case the chemo makes it go haywire. I started chemo Tue and they drew the thyroid panal before I started. I see the Endro on 2 weeks. Some of my numbers are "out of range", so it will be interesting to see what she says.

    Good luck. I hope you can find a doctor quickly (We had to wait 2 months for my daughter last year...they were all booked up and her Primary Doc was threatening to put her back in the hospital!) and get back on track with the chemo soon.

    Hugs,
    Marcy
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691
    #5
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    I was diagnosed with


    I was diagnosed with hypothyroid months before my breast cancer diagnosis. My doctor said that the thyroid problems are sometimes initiated by other stresses such as other disease or illness and that I could wait and see before taking the thyroid medication. Six weeks after surgery (mastectomy) I was tested for thyroid and it came back normal!!

    I have just started chemo so it will be interesting to see what happens to my thyroid during this process. My body is pretty stressed out from the chemo.

    I would see the thyroid doctor and get as much information as possible.
  • roseann4
    roseann4 Member Posts: 992 Member
    #6
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    mariam_11_09 said:

    I was diagnosed with


    I was diagnosed with hypothyroid months before my breast cancer diagnosis. My doctor said that the thyroid problems are sometimes initiated by other stresses such as other disease or illness and that I could wait and see before taking the thyroid medication. Six weeks after surgery (mastectomy) I was tested for thyroid and it came back normal!!

    I have just started chemo so it will be interesting to see what happens to my thyroid during this process. My body is pretty stressed out from the chemo.

    I would see the thyroid doctor and get as much information as possible.

    I believe there is may be a relationship between bc and ...
    thyroid issues. I agree with Mariam. I have read lots of literature about the potential relationship between tyroid issues and breast cancer. In addition, 3 of the 4 women in my cancer support group had thyroid issues prior to diagnosis. Hmmmm.

    Roseann
  • rm22111
    rm22111 Member Posts: 54
    #7
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    roseann4 said:

    I believe there is may be a relationship between bc and ...
    thyroid issues. I agree with Mariam. I have read lots of literature about the potential relationship between tyroid issues and breast cancer. In addition, 3 of the 4 women in my cancer support group had thyroid issues prior to diagnosis. Hmmmm.

    Roseann

    thanks for info
    Thank you for all the information. I have an appointment in May, but a message was left late on Friday that they have an opening at the end of March. I hope I can get that appointment. I like the stress idea.

    Thanks
    rm22111
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    #8
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    rm22111 said:

    thanks for info
    Thank you for all the information. I have an appointment in May, but a message was left late on Friday that they have an opening at the end of March. I hope I can get that appointment. I like the stress idea.

    Thanks
    rm22111

    Thyroid levels
    My thyroid levels changed since I had chemo and had to change the dosage of my synthroid. They are monitoring the level every three months.

    Margo
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #9
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    rm22111 said:

    thanks for info
    Thank you for all the information. I have an appointment in May, but a message was left late on Friday that they have an opening at the end of March. I hope I can get that appointment. I like the stress idea.

    Thanks
    rm22111

    Just wishing you good luck.
    Just wishing you good luck. Let us know what happens. I haven't had this particular problem.

    Hugs, Leeza

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