first uterine now having biopsy for thyroid cancer

minniejan
minniejan Member Posts: 88
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
Hello,

I have not been on the boards for a while, long story, but my college daughter was in a serious accident and I have been living out of state so I could be close to her, I have been gone for over a month and a half. She was riding her bike in Cambridge, Mass in the bike lane, and was "doored." This means that someone opened a car door into the lane of bike/car traffic, hitting my daughter. She was thrown off the bike into oncoming traffic, and hit by another car. Thankfully she has no brain or spinal damage, but has serious damage to her hip/leg/pelvis and s pretty serious oncussion. So my stress levels have been through the roof. Which scares me.

I came home because I had an appointment with a new endocrinologist (Which took 3 months to get.) On my original PET scan prior to surgery for UPSC last December something showed up in the thyroid. I went for an ultrasound in January, after surgery for the uterine cancer and prior to treatments, it showed 3 small masses, I went to an endocrinologist, who told me not to worry, just repeat the ultrasound scan in 6 months. Which I did, but decided to go to an endocrinologist who is associated with the same hospital system as my gyn. oncologist after the second ultrasound. She gave me the news that she suspects cancer due to what she has seen on both ultrasounds and the pet scan. I was completely floored by this. She does not think it is at all related to the UPSC, as it doesn't usually spread to the thyroid. I could rant about the first doctor, but I have to let it go.

I am scheduled for a needle biopsy on December 22. I found out last December about the uterine cancer. Has anyone else had thyroid cancer as well as uterine cancer?

MinnieJan
«1

Comments

  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    #2
    Can You Email me?
    Am so sorry to hear of your daughter's accident and your own new concerns.

    No, I haven't (yet) had recurrence in my thyroid gland.

    As I'm being treated at the same center as you, can't help wondering why you had very different intial treatment from mine.

    Can you email me via this web site?

    Thanks,
    RoseyR
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #3
    MinnieJan sorry for you upsetting news
    Sorry to hear about your daughter. I can understand your increased stress level. I wish you good results from your needle biopsy. Some others have had thyroid issues, but it did not end up to be cancer. I hope your results are good news too. In peace and caring.
  • TiggersDoBounce
    TiggersDoBounce Member Posts: 408
    #4
    Minnie
    Sending hugs and prayers...

    Had you ever had any previous Thyroid issues??

    Please keep us updated on your progress....

    Laurie
  • susafina
    susafina Member Posts: 131
    #5
    TiggersDoBounce said:

    Minnie
    Sending hugs and prayers...

    Had you ever had any previous Thyroid issues??

    Please keep us updated on your progress....

    Laurie

    Minnie Jan
    I am sending good thoughts your way. I hope your daughter recovers soon. I also am dealing with a thyroid issue. Since my treatment with uterine cancer I am also dealing with thyroid nodules. I have had biopsies and they are negative so far. My oncologists insist that uterine ca doesn't metastasize to the thyroid. He said many of us have probaly had the nodules prior to the discovery of cancer. Are your thyroid fuction tests OK? Mine are OK. So for now it is a watch and wait. My doctors said that eventually my thyroid has to go but since it has not changed I will wwait for surgery. Good luck with the biopsy I am thinking positive thoughts. Just takd of yourself too. You have a lot on your plate and I hope all will OK.
    SUE
  • minniejan
    minniejan Member Posts: 88
    #6
    susafina said:

    Minnie Jan
    I am sending good thoughts your way. I hope your daughter recovers soon. I also am dealing with a thyroid issue. Since my treatment with uterine cancer I am also dealing with thyroid nodules. I have had biopsies and they are negative so far. My oncologists insist that uterine ca doesn't metastasize to the thyroid. He said many of us have probaly had the nodules prior to the discovery of cancer. Are your thyroid fuction tests OK? Mine are OK. So for now it is a watch and wait. My doctors said that eventually my thyroid has to go but since it has not changed I will wwait for surgery. Good luck with the biopsy I am thinking positive thoughts. Just takd of yourself too. You have a lot on your plate and I hope all will OK.
    SUE

    thanks for the post
    Hello,

    Thanks for the good thoughts. My new (and vastly improved) endocrinologist thought the same, that uterine does not normally metastasize to the thyroid. My thyroid function tests have been "wacky" for a while and I have been on synthroid for a few years due to hypothyroidism. There is a significant history of hyperthyroidism in my father's side of the family, but not thyroid cancer. But interestingly enough, the thyroid was removed with the hyperthyroidism in that branch of the family early, so who knows. My own daughter had her thyroid killed by radiation two years ago, with no cancer present, again due to hyperthyroidism or Grave's disease. This may be my third completely different diagnosis of cancer. Hopefully not. Why do your doctors say that your thyroid has to go eventually?
    MinnieJan
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #7
    minniejan said:

    thanks for the post
    Hello,

    Thanks for the good thoughts. My new (and vastly improved) endocrinologist thought the same, that uterine does not normally metastasize to the thyroid. My thyroid function tests have been "wacky" for a while and I have been on synthroid for a few years due to hypothyroidism. There is a significant history of hyperthyroidism in my father's side of the family, but not thyroid cancer. But interestingly enough, the thyroid was removed with the hyperthyroidism in that branch of the family early, so who knows. My own daughter had her thyroid killed by radiation two years ago, with no cancer present, again due to hyperthyroidism or Grave's disease. This may be my third completely different diagnosis of cancer. Hopefully not. Why do your doctors say that your thyroid has to go eventually?
    MinnieJan

    I have nodules
    and have had them for years. I had a biopsy many years ago and it was fine. My thyroid levels have always been normal and they are checked pretty often because of the nodules. After my bout with cancer last year, we decided to have another look at my thyroid via ultrasound and I still have the nodules but they are unchanged since 2007. That works for me.

    No doctor has told me that your thyroid has to go eventually. I had a good friend who was an endocrinologist and he never told me that. Neither has any endocrinologist I've seen. Huh?

    I don't think many cancers if any metastasize to the thyroid, so this would likely be another primary cancer if it is cancer. Oh joy. But - another primary cancer that is early stage, low grade is better than metastasis or later stage cancer. Still makes you wonder just what the heck is going on and where else might cancer be growing, doesn't it?

    Once we've had any cancer, they really do take everything more seriously with us.

    Hoping for negative results on your biopsy later this month.
    Suzanne
  • susafina
    susafina Member Posts: 131
    #8
    Double Whammy said:

    I have nodules
    and have had them for years. I had a biopsy many years ago and it was fine. My thyroid levels have always been normal and they are checked pretty often because of the nodules. After my bout with cancer last year, we decided to have another look at my thyroid via ultrasound and I still have the nodules but they are unchanged since 2007. That works for me.

    No doctor has told me that your thyroid has to go eventually. I had a good friend who was an endocrinologist and he never told me that. Neither has any endocrinologist I've seen. Huh?

    I don't think many cancers if any metastasize to the thyroid, so this would likely be another primary cancer if it is cancer. Oh joy. But - another primary cancer that is early stage, low grade is better than metastasis or later stage cancer. Still makes you wonder just what the heck is going on and where else might cancer be growing, doesn't it?

    Once we've had any cancer, they really do take everything more seriously with us.

    Hoping for negative results on your biopsy later this month.
    Suzanne

    Thyroid
    Hi Minnie Jan
    My doc said that if it gets bigger or changes it will have to come out. He also said that these nodules tend to get larger never smaller so that is why it may need to come out. So far in 2 years it has not grown so we will have to see. Also he reminded me about the fact that as we get older there are more risks involverd with surgery. Don't remind me. He said that he would not want to wait till I am 80 and I said that means that you would be 80 as well and I would not let an 80 year old operate on me anyway! He laughed.
    So I continue to be monitored every 6 months.
    How is your daughter doing? Keep us posted
    SUE
  • Julie2009
    Julie2009 Member Posts: 4
    #9
    susafina said:

    Thyroid
    Hi Minnie Jan
    My doc said that if it gets bigger or changes it will have to come out. He also said that these nodules tend to get larger never smaller so that is why it may need to come out. So far in 2 years it has not grown so we will have to see. Also he reminded me about the fact that as we get older there are more risks involverd with surgery. Don't remind me. He said that he would not want to wait till I am 80 and I said that means that you would be 80 as well and I would not let an 80 year old operate on me anyway! He laughed.
    So I continue to be monitored every 6 months.
    How is your daughter doing? Keep us posted
    SUE

    Uterine and Thyroid Cancer
    Hello,
    In October of 2009 I was diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma stage 1b grade 2. Ten months later, during a routine CT scan to keep an eye on the nodules in my lungs, a tumor was found on the inside of my thyroid. it was luck that they found it. They normally don't scan the neck during the ct, but the person had me scoot down to far and it scanned my neck. I had to go have a biopsy, and it was papillary carcinoma. I was also told that there was no connection between the to cancers. I could not believe it was happening again. I had to have my thyroid removed along with lymph nodes. I did not like my endocrinologist so i see the surgical oncologist for my appointments.
  • minniejan
    minniejan Member Posts: 88
    #10
    Julie2009 said:

    Uterine and Thyroid Cancer
    Hello,
    In October of 2009 I was diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma stage 1b grade 2. Ten months later, during a routine CT scan to keep an eye on the nodules in my lungs, a tumor was found on the inside of my thyroid. it was luck that they found it. They normally don't scan the neck during the ct, but the person had me scoot down to far and it scanned my neck. I had to go have a biopsy, and it was papillary carcinoma. I was also told that there was no connection between the to cancers. I could not believe it was happening again. I had to have my thyroid removed along with lymph nodes. I did not like my endocrinologist so i see the surgical oncologist for my appointments.

    so it does happen
    Hello,

    Thanks for responding Julie. Today is my needle biopsy. Mine was originally found on a pet scan for UPSC endometrial cancer. Did you have any radiation? And how are you being followed today?

    MinnieJan
  • Julie2009
    Julie2009 Member Posts: 4
    #11
    minniejan said:

    so it does happen
    Hello,

    Thanks for responding Julie. Today is my needle biopsy. Mine was originally found on a pet scan for UPSC endometrial cancer. Did you have any radiation? And how are you being followed today?

    MinnieJan

    Hello,
    My cancer was
    Hello,

    My cancer was contained on the inside of the isthmus part of the thyroid. My surgical oncologist did not see the need for radiation. He said if it did come back, i could take the radiation pill than and it would take care of it. The endocrinologist thought I should have the radiation. I went with the opinion of my surgical oncologist, and I decided not to have the radiation. I did, however, have problems after surgery with my pituitary glands. They did not absorb calcium or vitamin d. I had to take high amounts of both and get tested every 30 days. My pituitary glads started working again and now i get checked every six months. My follow up on the thyroid is blood work every six months and an ultrasound on my neck yearly. Every dr. I have seen said it is the easiest of cancers to cure.

    Good luck today! I hope everything goes well.

    Julie
  • minniejan
    minniejan Member Posts: 88
    #12
    Julie2009 said:

    Hello,
    My cancer was
    Hello,

    My cancer was contained on the inside of the isthmus part of the thyroid. My surgical oncologist did not see the need for radiation. He said if it did come back, i could take the radiation pill than and it would take care of it. The endocrinologist thought I should have the radiation. I went with the opinion of my surgical oncologist, and I decided not to have the radiation. I did, however, have problems after surgery with my pituitary glands. They did not absorb calcium or vitamin d. I had to take high amounts of both and get tested every 30 days. My pituitary glads started working again and now i get checked every six months. My follow up on the thyroid is blood work every six months and an ultrasound on my neck yearly. Every dr. I have seen said it is the easiest of cancers to cure.

    Good luck today! I hope everything goes well.

    Julie

    positive
    Hi Julie,

    Thanks for the update, it definitely helps. My initial needle biopsy came back positive for papillary cancer. They also biopsied one of the lymph nodes. I am waiting to hear from the endocrinologist as to a surgical recommendation. The doctor doing the biopsy highly recommends surgery, taking out the entire thyroid, even though the cancer is located on the right side. There are already two solid tumors, and two more too small to biopsy. After going through UPSC this should be definitely easier. I feel the risks for surgery are the worst part of it. And I was told I may be facing radiation or the radioactive pill, depending upon the results of the surgery. Here we go again...........

    MinnieJan
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #13
    minniejan said:

    positive
    Hi Julie,

    Thanks for the update, it definitely helps. My initial needle biopsy came back positive for papillary cancer. They also biopsied one of the lymph nodes. I am waiting to hear from the endocrinologist as to a surgical recommendation. The doctor doing the biopsy highly recommends surgery, taking out the entire thyroid, even though the cancer is located on the right side. There are already two solid tumors, and two more too small to biopsy. After going through UPSC this should be definitely easier. I feel the risks for surgery are the worst part of it. And I was told I may be facing radiation or the radioactive pill, depending upon the results of the surgery. Here we go again...........

    MinnieJan

    Minniejan
    I'm sorry to hear that it's positive for UPSC. I worried about that. Though some here said their docs said upsc doesn't go to thyroid, my doc warned me that this IS a likely site for recurrence (I had recurrence of upsc in supraclavicular lymph nodes and tx with radiation and carboplatin).

    I think that total removal makes sense. My sis-in-law had her's removed in over 40 years ago and she has led a very normal life without thyroid. I'm confident for you that you will have successful treatment and all will be fine. Hang in there with hope.

    Hugs to you. Enjoy your holidays and thanks for keeping us posted.

    Mary Ann
  • Cocoched
    Cocoched Member Posts: 2
    #14
    I have the same thing
    I was diagnosed with uterine cancer back in 2007 and had a complete hysterectomy. The also remove my lymp nodes. Today I went to my GP because of a cold i could not get ride off and she found a nodule on the right side of my thyroid. She immediately sent me to radiogy for an ultra sound and tonight she called me to announce that I had a 3cm (-/+ 1.5") on the right side and a 1.5cm on the left side.....she referred me to an endocrinologist. I will set up time to go tomorrow. Is there a correlation between the two? Very strange. Will keep you posted. Coco
  • Cocoched
    Cocoched Member Posts: 2
    #15
    I have the same thing
    I was diagnosed with uterine cancer back in 2007 and had a complete hysterectomy. The also remove my lymp nodes. Today I went to my GP because of a cold i could not get ride off and she found a nodule on the right side of my thyroid. She immediately sent me to radiogy for an ultra sound and tonight she called me to announce that I had a 3cm (-/+ 1.5") on the right side and a 1.5cm on the left side.....she referred me to an endocrinologist. I will set up time to go tomorrow. Is there a correlation between the two? Very strange. Will keep you posted. Coco
  • minniejan
    minniejan Member Posts: 88
    #16
    Cocoched said:

    I have the same thing
    I was diagnosed with uterine cancer back in 2007 and had a complete hysterectomy. The also remove my lymp nodes. Today I went to my GP because of a cold i could not get ride off and she found a nodule on the right side of my thyroid. She immediately sent me to radiogy for an ultra sound and tonight she called me to announce that I had a 3cm (-/+ 1.5") on the right side and a 1.5cm on the left side.....she referred me to an endocrinologist. I will set up time to go tomorrow. Is there a correlation between the two? Very strange. Will keep you posted. Coco

    keep me posted
    Hello,

    I have been told by my endocrinologist that there is no correlation between the two cancers which is good news actually. My UPSC was agressive and now I have papillary carcinoma which is supposed to be slow growing. I do go to another surgical specialist next week to talk about surgery, but from the new ultrasound done last week for the needle biopsy they found two more nodules on the other side. Now I have 5 solid nodules. Originally I believe I only had 3 solid nodules on one side. They are recommending removing the entire thyroid and again sampling some of the lymph nodes, looking around, etc. But until the surgery is done and the results are back I don't know where I stand. And today I go for my 3 month checkup on the uterine cancer. Fun, fun fun......

    Minniejan
  • susafina
    susafina Member Posts: 131
    #17
    minniejan said:

    keep me posted
    Hello,

    I have been told by my endocrinologist that there is no correlation between the two cancers which is good news actually. My UPSC was agressive and now I have papillary carcinoma which is supposed to be slow growing. I do go to another surgical specialist next week to talk about surgery, but from the new ultrasound done last week for the needle biopsy they found two more nodules on the other side. Now I have 5 solid nodules. Originally I believe I only had 3 solid nodules on one side. They are recommending removing the entire thyroid and again sampling some of the lymph nodes, looking around, etc. But until the surgery is done and the results are back I don't know where I stand. And today I go for my 3 month checkup on the uterine cancer. Fun, fun fun......

    Minniejan

    good thoughts
    Minniejan,
    I AM KEEPING GOOD THOUGHTS THAT TODAY YOU WILL HAVE A TERRIFIC CHECKUP!!!My endocrinologist said the same thing to me that there is no correlqation between the two cancers but we still worry and have every right to do so. But really you need and deserve a break my prayerw are with you and I know things will be good for you today they have to be!!!
    SUE
  • minniejan
    minniejan Member Posts: 88
    #18
    susafina said:

    good thoughts
    Minniejan,
    I AM KEEPING GOOD THOUGHTS THAT TODAY YOU WILL HAVE A TERRIFIC CHECKUP!!!My endocrinologist said the same thing to me that there is no correlqation between the two cancers but we still worry and have every right to do so. But really you need and deserve a break my prayerw are with you and I know things will be good for you today they have to be!!!
    SUE

    thanks for the thoughts!
    Hello,
    Scheduled my surgery on the thyroid for next week, but the surgeon wanted to wait til the results of my normal three month checkup for UPSC came back. And I was sent for an additional test, a CT scan of the abdomen which scared me. With 1A I was originally told I would not have scans unless my CA 125 went up, then they (gyn oncologist) told me they wanted a scan anyway nine months out from chemo and radiation. In addition my surgeon did not want to schedule the thyroid surgery until we were as certain as we could be that the UPSC is still NED. Everything checked out okay, so I am now 9 months NED! So on to fight the next battle!
    MinnieJan
  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    #19
    minniejan said:

    thanks for the thoughts!
    Hello,
    Scheduled my surgery on the thyroid for next week, but the surgeon wanted to wait til the results of my normal three month checkup for UPSC came back. And I was sent for an additional test, a CT scan of the abdomen which scared me. With 1A I was originally told I would not have scans unless my CA 125 went up, then they (gyn oncologist) told me they wanted a scan anyway nine months out from chemo and radiation. In addition my surgeon did not want to schedule the thyroid surgery until we were as certain as we could be that the UPSC is still NED. Everything checked out okay, so I am now 9 months NED! So on to fight the next battle!
    MinnieJan

    You Will be All Right, I'm Convinced ....

    So sorry to hear you need surgery again. But keep hearing that thyroid is one of the more easily treated and cured cancers, and if you're NED re your uterine tumor, I really suspect you're going to be OK.

    Still, I know, it's a scare and a challenge. But am sure you'll be up to it!

    Best,
    Rosey
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #20
    RoseyR said:

    You Will be All Right, I'm Convinced ....

    So sorry to hear you need surgery again. But keep hearing that thyroid is one of the more easily treated and cured cancers, and if you're NED re your uterine tumor, I really suspect you're going to be OK.

    Still, I know, it's a scare and a challenge. But am sure you'll be up to it!

    Best,
    Rosey

    Hang in there Minnijan
    Life is a fight in many ways! So happy to hear the uterine is NED...wonderful news! I will agree with Rosey as heard in many areas, thyroid cancer is one of the easiest to treat.

    My thoughts and prayers will be with your during your surgery...keep the chin up!
    Jan
  • bcbutler
    bcbutler Member Posts: 1
    #21
    thyroid and uterine cancer connection?
    I just found this website - MinnieJan, I hope you will have a successful thryoid cancer surgery. Last summer I was 5 years thryoid-cancer-free, now I'm to have a D and C to determine whether I have uterine cancer so I was searching to see if there could be a connection between the two.

    The right endocrinologist makes all the difference. They found my thryoid cancer when I went to have my galbladder out, and it had already spread to lymph nodes. I had radioactive iodide, then 6 months later whan a nuclear scan showed uptake I did that again. My jaw swelled up then and I was told it had nothing to do with thyroid cancer, go find an ear-nose-and-throat guy. I found the University of Colorado Cancer Center and they did a 2nd surgery (cutting ear-to-ear, with an ultrasound in there), finding more malignant lymph nodes near my jaw.

    I'm looking forward to hearing that you are OK now.

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