Radiated on purpose as an infant in the 1950's, cancer developed years later
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I was also exposed to
I was also exposed to radiation as a child & developed thyroid cancer recently. It was slightly different for me tho, I was born in 1983 and was living in Poland at the time of the Chernobyl disaster of '86. At the time children were suppose to receive immediate iodine treatment but we didn't receive it until 3 days after the fact. I'm 26 years old, living in Canada for the past 18 years and I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last October as a direct result of this. I have RAI scheduled for Feb 5th, hoping that the bulk of all this will be over after this.1 -
I was also born in the 50'sapeszt said:I was also exposed to
I was also exposed to radiation as a child & developed thyroid cancer recently. It was slightly different for me tho, I was born in 1983 and was living in Poland at the time of the Chernobyl disaster of '86. At the time children were suppose to receive immediate iodine treatment but we didn't receive it until 3 days after the fact. I'm 26 years old, living in Canada for the past 18 years and I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last October as a direct result of this. I have RAI scheduled for Feb 5th, hoping that the bulk of all this will be over after this.
I was also born in the 50's and had a birthmark on my jaw that they radiated and treated with dry ice when I was 6 months old. It left me with a depressed scar on that area that has been impossible to totally cover up with makeup, a source of embarrassment for me. Gee thanks, everyone in the '50's....
Sure enough, I was diagnosed in my mid-40's with thyroid cancer, had the total thyroidectomy and have had little problem afterwards. Ever since I can remember I had a nodule on my neck/throat area that I was told (at age 16) that it was just some cartilage. Guess not!0 -
Childhood Radiationsmart4077 said:I was also born in the 50's
I was also born in the 50's and had a birthmark on my jaw that they radiated and treated with dry ice when I was 6 months old. It left me with a depressed scar on that area that has been impossible to totally cover up with makeup, a source of embarrassment for me. Gee thanks, everyone in the '50's....
Sure enough, I was diagnosed in my mid-40's with thyroid cancer, had the total thyroidectomy and have had little problem afterwards. Ever since I can remember I had a nodule on my neck/throat area that I was told (at age 16) that it was just some cartilage. Guess not!
I am currently working on a book about the tragic misuse of radiation on children for benign conditions (including thymus, earache, acne, tonsils, adenoids, birthmark, mumps, fungus, etc.) and would be very interested to hear other’s stories.
As an infant I was radiated in 1946 for an enlarged thymus gland in the mistaken belief that this would prevent SIDS. The amount of radiation I absorbed was equal to ten common CT studies today. After surgery, radiation and chemo treatments for four cancers (leukemia, thyroid, lymphoma, prostate), three open-heart operations, four years under Hospice care, and twenty-six years after being told I had six months to live, I believe that one of the reasons I am still alive is to tell this story so we can learn to use medical radiation with greater caution. I am firmly convinced that the proper use of radiation saves many more lives than it threatens—I have benefited from diagnostic and interventional radiation, without which I would not have survived the very diseases that excess radiation caused.
Below is a link to my blog if you wish to learn more about this project and talk to others who have experienced much of what I did.
On my site there are many links to other blogs and people determined to alert parents to the risks from the increasing amount of radiation children are receiving from CT scans today. According to a recent New England Journal of Medicine report, “there is direct evidence from epidemiologic studies that the organ doses corresponding to a common CT study result in an increased risk of cancer. The evidence is reasonably convincing for adults and very convincing for children.”
http://childhoodradiation.blogspot.com/2 -
childhood irradiation for thymus
I WAS IRRADIATED FOR AN ENLARGED THYMUS AS AN INFANT. MY GYN FOUND A NODULE ON MY RIGHT SIDE BOUT 8 YRS AGO. THE DR SAID IF THE NEEDLE BIOPY CAME BACK BENIGN, I SHOULD STILL GET THE THYROID REMOVED. I WAS IN SUCH A HIGH RISK GROUP. BUT I HAve muscle disease and general was a risk for surgery. I WENT TO SEE ANOTHER SURGEON WHO TAKES IT OUT LOCALLY AND HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT--IT WAS JUST A GOITER AND PUT ME ON SYNTHROID.
I WENT BACK A FEW YEARS AGO FOR ANOTHER SCAN. THE DOCTOR DIDN'T TELL ME THEN BUT NOW THE TESTS SHOW I HAD DEVELOPED A NODULE ON THE LEFT SIDE. I ASKED HIM WHY HE DIDN'T TELL ME--HE SAID IT WAS TOO SMALL TO BIOPSY. THAT WAS 2006. NOW IN DECEMBER, 2009 I STARTED HAVING PAIN IN MY NECK. AFTER SEEING A DENTIST FOR TMJ AND BUYING A NEW BED. I SAW THE THYROID DR, HAD A BIOPSY AND IT CAME BACK MALIGNANT.
IT WAS CLOSE TO MY AORTA AND WINDPIPE AND THEY CALLED IT POORLY DIFFERENTIATED THYROID CANCER. SOME DRS I SAW THOUGHT IT WAS ANAPLASTIC. ALL THOUGHT IT WaS AGGRESSIVE. IN APRIL, THEY TRIED FOR HOURS BUT THE TUMOR WAS INOPERABLE. I STARTED ON SUPPLEMENTS ETC IN FEB THOUGH AND NOW WHEN THEY TOOK THE BIOPSY DURING MY SURGERY, THE BIOPSY CAME BACK BENIGN. THEY ALL AGREE THO IT IS AN AGRESSIVE CANCER. I CAN FEEL IT SPREAD FROM MY EAR TO MY SHOULDER. ANYWAY, NOW I AM ON AN IODINE FREE DIET. IN TWO WEEKS I START IODINE TREATMENT AND A DRUG CALLED SUTENT. SO WE'LL SEE. I AM A POOR RISK FOR REGULAR FIVE DAY A WEEK. SIX WEEK RADIATION.GOOD LUCK0 -
childhood irradiation for thymusgrateful1 said:childhood irradiation for thymus
I WAS IRRADIATED FOR AN ENLARGED THYMUS AS AN INFANT. MY GYN FOUND A NODULE ON MY RIGHT SIDE BOUT 8 YRS AGO. THE DR SAID IF THE NEEDLE BIOPY CAME BACK BENIGN, I SHOULD STILL GET THE THYROID REMOVED. I WAS IN SUCH A HIGH RISK GROUP. BUT I HAve muscle disease and general was a risk for surgery. I WENT TO SEE ANOTHER SURGEON WHO TAKES IT OUT LOCALLY AND HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT--IT WAS JUST A GOITER AND PUT ME ON SYNTHROID.
I WENT BACK A FEW YEARS AGO FOR ANOTHER SCAN. THE DOCTOR DIDN'T TELL ME THEN BUT NOW THE TESTS SHOW I HAD DEVELOPED A NODULE ON THE LEFT SIDE. I ASKED HIM WHY HE DIDN'T TELL ME--HE SAID IT WAS TOO SMALL TO BIOPSY. THAT WAS 2006. NOW IN DECEMBER, 2009 I STARTED HAVING PAIN IN MY NECK. AFTER SEEING A DENTIST FOR TMJ AND BUYING A NEW BED. I SAW THE THYROID DR, HAD A BIOPSY AND IT CAME BACK MALIGNANT.
IT WAS CLOSE TO MY AORTA AND WINDPIPE AND THEY CALLED IT POORLY DIFFERENTIATED THYROID CANCER. SOME DRS I SAW THOUGHT IT WAS ANAPLASTIC. ALL THOUGHT IT WaS AGGRESSIVE. IN APRIL, THEY TRIED FOR HOURS BUT THE TUMOR WAS INOPERABLE. I STARTED ON SUPPLEMENTS ETC IN FEB THOUGH AND NOW WHEN THEY TOOK THE BIOPSY DURING MY SURGERY, THE BIOPSY CAME BACK BENIGN. THEY ALL AGREE THO IT IS AN AGRESSIVE CANCER. I CAN FEEL IT SPREAD FROM MY EAR TO MY SHOULDER. ANYWAY, NOW I AM ON AN IODINE FREE DIET. IN TWO WEEKS I START IODINE TREATMENT AND A DRUG CALLED SUTENT. SO WE'LL SEE. I AM A POOR RISK FOR REGULAR FIVE DAY A WEEK. SIX WEEK RADIATION.GOOD LUCK
I am stunned by the course of your medical challenges, especially the way you were undiagnosed, diagnosed, told it was too small, then too close to your aorta for surgery, then confusion over what kind of cancer it was, then a biopsy that said it was benign. I am moved by your courage not only to undergo all these challenges but to communicate them to me and others. I can only say that I hope you will stay in touch and let me and others follow your progress.0 -
to 2manyrads-thyroidcancer-irradiated as infant, etc.I2manyrads said:childhood irradiation for thymus
I am stunned by the course of your medical challenges, especially the way you were undiagnosed, diagnosed, told it was too small, then too close to your aorta for surgery, then confusion over what kind of cancer it was, then a biopsy that said it was benign. I am moved by your courage not only to undergo all these challenges but to communicate them to me and others. I can only say that I hope you will stay in touch and let me and others follow your progress.
Thank you for your concern. I don't usually feel down--butI am tonight. I went on the iodine free diet for two weeks and went for for my iodine treatment today. I was shocked when I got there--the dr--extremely highly regarded said he couldn't proceed. I thought I would have three days treatment and a scan next week with hope the tumor had shrunk by fifty percent. He said my case was so unusual he had to see discs of my pet scans which I came home and ordered for him. I had a pet scan in Feb when I was first diagnosed with left side nodule and told it was malignant.. I had another pet scan a few weeks ago--this was after the biopsy I had while undergoing five plus hours of surgery to try to get this tumor out. This biopsy came back benign which has the doctors baffled.
I really go to top doctors at top hospitals. But there isn't agreement among them. At the end of the consultation, the doctor examined physically my neck and said this is the worst tumor I have felt in a year. That brought tears to the back of my eyes. I didn't want the woman driving me home to see me cry so I held it in. Later with my husband who came with me I cried.I do have a lot of pain since Dec. For those interested, I asked the doctor if this ongoing pain (I am on liquid morphine) was due to the severity of the cancer or the position of the tumor. He said the position of the tumor.
But my case is so confusing to the doctors--they told me it had them scratching their heads. For the record, my diagnosis is poorly differentiated thyroid cancer. I am starting to feel as though I don't know where to turn. I take Poly-mva a supplement mentioned in Suzanne Somers book Knockout. I started taking this in Feb to try to help myself. I don't know if this is what changed the biopsy to benign or not. If I didn't take this four times a day and eat a wholesome diet and take other supplements, I would feel I am doing nothing. I don't know why I have a case that so many top doctors from the best hospitals can look at and not agree on. I love my teenage children and my husband, but I am starting to feel discouraged. Thanks for listening--and caring. For those just starting this process, I would say in hindsight, don't wait for the doctor to send you a report. In 2006 if I had known a nodule had appeard on my left side, I would have been more proactive. I just assumed all was fine--no news was good news. Please don't do that. It may have beeen in a letter never mailed me or it may have been forgotten phone call. I'll never know. I'd also go for a second opinion from the get go--not at the end like now. Also, I would probably chance it and get the nodule removed. Of course, I never knew it was there until now. But a small nodule is easy to take out. One close to your vocal cords, aorta, wind pipe is another story. I hope someone learns from my expeience and mistakes. Thanks and God Bless.1 -
radiation for mole removal as 2 yo2manyrads said:childhood irradiation for thymus
I am stunned by the course of your medical challenges, especially the way you were undiagnosed, diagnosed, told it was too small, then too close to your aorta for surgery, then confusion over what kind of cancer it was, then a biopsy that said it was benign. I am moved by your courage not only to undergo all these challenges but to communicate them to me and others. I can only say that I hope you will stay in touch and let me and others follow your progress.
also had multiple rads in the 60's for a benign mole on my head age two. go for ultrasounds occasionally. t3 t4 and tsh are ok. anti-tpo is quite elevated ?110. saw endocrine who said to get ultrasound of thyroid every 2 yrs. no nodules seen. said not to worry. any advice? happened upon posts and have concerns. thanks.1 -
bonnie suebonniesue said:radiation for mole removal as 2 yo
also had multiple rads in the 60's for a benign mole on my head age two. go for ultrasounds occasionally. t3 t4 and tsh are ok. anti-tpo is quite elevated ?110. saw endocrine who said to get ultrasound of thyroid every 2 yrs. no nodules seen. said not to worry. any advice? happened upon posts and have concerns. thanks.
PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GET THOSE SCANS REGULARLY BY A TOP DOCTOR. I WISH I HAD--IT WOULD HAVE NEVER DEVELOPED INTO INOPERABLE CANCER IF I HAD. ALSO, IF THEY DON'T GIVE YOU THE RSULTS OF A SCAN--AS THEY DIDN'T TO ME WHEN MY CANCEROUS TUMOR BEGAN AND SHOWED ON THE SCAN--DON'T ASSUME THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU--ASK FOR A REPORT IN WRITING. ALSO I WOULD GET TWO OPINIONS IN RETROSPECT. EVEN THIS FEB WHEN I WENT ABOUT THE PAIN IN MY NECK, THE THYROID DR GAVE ME A PRESCRIPTION FOR DENTAL--TMJ--PHYSICAL THERAPY. I FOUND YOU HAVE TO REALLY STAY ON TOP OF IT IN MY CASE ANYWAY AND MY DOCTOR WAS LISTED AS ONE OF THE TOP DOCTORS IN THE STATE. GOOD LUCK--0 -
thanks --head and neck radiation received as baby(grateful1)grateful1 said:bonnie sue
PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GET THOSE SCANS REGULARLY BY A TOP DOCTOR. I WISH I HAD--IT WOULD HAVE NEVER DEVELOPED INTO INOPERABLE CANCER IF I HAD. ALSO, IF THEY DON'T GIVE YOU THE RSULTS OF A SCAN--AS THEY DIDN'T TO ME WHEN MY CANCEROUS TUMOR BEGAN AND SHOWED ON THE SCAN--DON'T ASSUME THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU--ASK FOR A REPORT IN WRITING. ALSO I WOULD GET TWO OPINIONS IN RETROSPECT. EVEN THIS FEB WHEN I WENT ABOUT THE PAIN IN MY NECK, THE THYROID DR GAVE ME A PRESCRIPTION FOR DENTAL--TMJ--PHYSICAL THERAPY. I FOUND YOU HAVE TO REALLY STAY ON TOP OF IT IN MY CASE ANYWAY AND MY DOCTOR WAS LISTED AS ONE OF THE TOP DOCTORS IN THE STATE. GOOD LUCK--
Thanks for your info. I have been told not to worry about having this head radiation for a benign mole as a child in the 60's and not to worry about anti-tpo? being 112. which type of doc should I see--saw endocrine. thank you. sorry to hear about your scans not being told to you and you are in my prayers.0 -
MOLEbonniesue said:thanks --head and neck radiation received as baby(grateful1)
Thanks for your info. I have been told not to worry about having this head radiation for a benign mole as a child in the 60's and not to worry about anti-tpo? being 112. which type of doc should I see--saw endocrine. thank you. sorry to hear about your scans not being told to you and you are in my prayers.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MOLE IS LOCATED BUT I AM ASSUMING THE NECK AS MY HUSBAND HAS A BIRTHMARK THERE. WHAT ABOUT SEEING A HEAD AND NECK SPECIALIST? GOOD LUCK--KEEP US POSTED.0 -
MOLEbonniesue said:thanks --head and neck radiation received as baby(grateful1)
Thanks for your info. I have been told not to worry about having this head radiation for a benign mole as a child in the 60's and not to worry about anti-tpo? being 112. which type of doc should I see--saw endocrine. thank you. sorry to hear about your scans not being told to you and you are in my prayers.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MOLE IS LOCATED BUT I AM ASSUMING THE NECK AS MY HUSBAND HAS A BIRTHMARK THERE. WHAT ABOUT SEEING A HEAD AND NECK SPECIALIST? GOOD LUCK--KEEP US POSTED.0 -
IRRADIATED FOR ACNE IN THE 60'Sgrateful1 said:MOLE
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MOLE IS LOCATED BUT I AM ASSUMING THE NECK AS MY HUSBAND HAS A BIRTHMARK THERE. WHAT ABOUT SEEING A HEAD AND NECK SPECIALIST? GOOD LUCK--KEEP US POSTED.
I am not totally sure that I was irradiated for the acne, but the dermatologist used a lamp therapy and my ENT said that we have to assume that it was. He was an older gentleman and by the time that I realized that it was a risk, the dermatologist had died and they didn't know where the records were. I had surgery in Feb 2010 for colon cancer and on my follow up CT scan, it showed that I had a multinodular thyroid, and kidney stones. Funny how you can go along and not know you have diseases until you have a test for something else. I have had the thyroid US which showed a small nodule on the right and a larger one on the left. I am having FNA on both lobes next week. My ENT doc wants to definitely do a left lobectomy and not sure about the right. I am on Xeloda, chemo for the colon ca, and won't finish until about November. The ENT doc wants to wait for me to finish the chemo before surgery, says it won't hurt to wait that long. I am very apprehensive, both colon cancer and thyroid nodules run in my family.
Did the fine needle aspirations hurt? Did anyone have the thyroidectomy done endoscopically? Thanks everyone for your help. If this is cancer of thyroid, what a rotten 2010 to have found 2 type cancers! My best wishes to everyone.0 -
Mother Radiated in 1950's
My mother died three weeks ago of a rare cancer, neuroendocrine cancer at the age of 72. She fought for years and finally lost her battle. She was always sickly and tired her whole life. In her early 20's and 30's she suffered from migraine headaches and sinus problems. In her fifties is when her real problems started. She had brain strokes, arthritis, colon cancer, thyroid disease, breast cancer, paget's disease on her breast, skin cancer on her ear, leg ulcers that would not heal and always had low white counts. When she was a child she was radiated for a runny nose/sinus problems. She lived in Johnstown, PA and I am almost sure that is where the radiation occurred. I feel confident that this radiation compromised her immune system and resulted in her almost unheard of poor health. Five different unrelated cancers in 17 years. I am currently hoping to learn more about these children that were radiated I suppose to educate myself as to why it occurred. I wanted to tell you our story and I am willing to provide you with any of her medical history. Thank you.0 -
Thymus Irradiation
Well, yes, I guess most of us know that the irradiation that was given to us in childhood and infancy was a rather large error. There is a series of very good studies from the University of Rochester, NY. They followed a group of children with irradiated thymus glands for many, many years and reported on the after effects. It can be found online. If you have trouble finding it email me and I will send the link.
My own story-Premature birth in 1945-just 5lbs. Had trouble breathing-Peditrician diagnosed an enlarged thymus gland and decided to use radiation to shrink it at 6 weeks of age. 3 treatments. My hair all fell out when I was 2, it did grow back. At 17 I was hospitalized with my first autoimmune disease-Ulceratvie Colitis. Nearly died. Battled that since. Then came Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease, and recently breast cancer.
Would like to correspond with others who have had side effects-maybe create a group-something like "The Forgotten Children" since many of the kids died from leukemia and throid cancer before adulthood.
Wishing all good health.
Carol1 -
My thymus was also radiatedBecky7213 said:Thymus Irradiation
Well, yes, I guess most of us know that the irradiation that was given to us in childhood and infancy was a rather large error. There is a series of very good studies from the University of Rochester, NY. They followed a group of children with irradiated thymus glands for many, many years and reported on the after effects. It can be found online. If you have trouble finding it email me and I will send the link.
My own story-Premature birth in 1945-just 5lbs. Had trouble breathing-Peditrician diagnosed an enlarged thymus gland and decided to use radiation to shrink it at 6 weeks of age. 3 treatments. My hair all fell out when I was 2, it did grow back. At 17 I was hospitalized with my first autoimmune disease-Ulceratvie Colitis. Nearly died. Battled that since. Then came Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease, and recently breast cancer.
Would like to correspond with others who have had side effects-maybe create a group-something like "The Forgotten Children" since many of the kids died from leukemia and throid cancer before adulthood.
Wishing all good health.
Carol
My thymus was also radiated in 1950's.Lets talk,price@caltel.com0 -
Although born 1950, I didgramabirdie said:My thymus was also radiated
My thymus was also radiated in 1950's.Lets talk,price@caltel.com
Although born 1950, I did not have any radiation until I was 9 years old. I was taken into Stoke Mandeville hospital, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, UK, with suspected polio. After a short time it was re-diagnosed as rheumatic fever, but I failed to respond to treatment. After 3 months, and many x-rays all over my body, they eventually found I had osteomyelitis in my left hip. I was encased in plaster for the next 9 months, renewed (and x-rayed) monthly. Over the years I have suffered from many orthopaedic problems, and had many more x-rays, plus an x-ray with a camera that took "slice" pictures of my sinuses following hearing problems. Surprisingly, I have had very few dental x-rays done, which are often mentioned as something to avoid. When I had my thyroidectomy, I asked the surgeon if all those x-rays may have been a cause. He said that any x-ray taken before 1990 could be classed as a "dirty" x-ray, due to incorrect dosage or leakage from the machine, and failure to shield those parts of the body not being x-rayed.0 -
Similar tale2manyrads said:Childhood Radiation
I am currently working on a book about the tragic misuse of radiation on children for benign conditions (including thymus, earache, acne, tonsils, adenoids, birthmark, mumps, fungus, etc.) and would be very interested to hear other’s stories.
As an infant I was radiated in 1946 for an enlarged thymus gland in the mistaken belief that this would prevent SIDS. The amount of radiation I absorbed was equal to ten common CT studies today. After surgery, radiation and chemo treatments for four cancers (leukemia, thyroid, lymphoma, prostate), three open-heart operations, four years under Hospice care, and twenty-six years after being told I had six months to live, I believe that one of the reasons I am still alive is to tell this story so we can learn to use medical radiation with greater caution. I am firmly convinced that the proper use of radiation saves many more lives than it threatens—I have benefited from diagnostic and interventional radiation, without which I would not have survived the very diseases that excess radiation caused.
Below is a link to my blog if you wish to learn more about this project and talk to others who have experienced much of what I did.
On my site there are many links to other blogs and people determined to alert parents to the risks from the increasing amount of radiation children are receiving from CT scans today. According to a recent New England Journal of Medicine report, “there is direct evidence from epidemiologic studies that the organ doses corresponding to a common CT study result in an increased risk of cancer. The evidence is reasonably convincing for adults and very convincing for children.”
http://childhoodradiation.blogspot.com/
I was radiated in 1948 and my mother had to beg for money from her friends and our relatives for the treatment. They told her I had an enlarged thymus and needed this to survive. She held me in her lap while I was radiated at Mount Sini of Philadelphia. She developed lung cancer in 1986 the same year my thyroid was removed for suspect lumps. I was in the US Army at the time. They said the lab results were inconclusive and I would not suffer side effects from the surgery. What a lie. It changed my mood, sex life and I gained a lot of weight . It also took forever to get my levels adjusted and I have been on antidepressants ever since. The VA refuses to recognize the thyroid removal as a cause of my depression but the antidotal evidence is undeniable.1 -
Radiated at 7mo. for tonsillitisbouncer said:Although born 1950, I did
Although born 1950, I did not have any radiation until I was 9 years old. I was taken into Stoke Mandeville hospital, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, UK, with suspected polio. After a short time it was re-diagnosed as rheumatic fever, but I failed to respond to treatment. After 3 months, and many x-rays all over my body, they eventually found I had osteomyelitis in my left hip. I was encased in plaster for the next 9 months, renewed (and x-rayed) monthly. Over the years I have suffered from many orthopaedic problems, and had many more x-rays, plus an x-ray with a camera that took "slice" pictures of my sinuses following hearing problems. Surprisingly, I have had very few dental x-rays done, which are often mentioned as something to avoid. When I had my thyroidectomy, I asked the surgeon if all those x-rays may have been a cause. He said that any x-ray taken before 1990 could be classed as a "dirty" x-ray, due to incorrect dosage or leakage from the machine, and failure to shield those parts of the body not being x-rayed.
1954 my parents were told that radiation would cure me of tonsillitis, but two years later they were surgically removed. When I turned 14 my gym teacher mentioned I looked lethargic and for some reason I mentioned it to my mom. Within two months, 3/4 of my thyroid was removed along with half the muscles in in neck. Unfortunately I was not followed up correctly and within ten years, the thryroid cancer returned to eat up the last 1/4 of thyroid I had left and then it decided to continue to my lungs. I had at least 4 treatments of I-131(over 20 rads each)which seems to have worked. I am still here at 58. I recently lost my right breast to breast cancer and thankfully I was not required to take Chemo or radiation. Catch 22 - I have been told I have had my limit of radiation for a lifetime, whether I need it or not.0 -
Radiated 2x on thymus glandJudySurvivor2 said:Radiated at 7mo. for tonsillitis
1954 my parents were told that radiation would cure me of tonsillitis, but two years later they were surgically removed. When I turned 14 my gym teacher mentioned I looked lethargic and for some reason I mentioned it to my mom. Within two months, 3/4 of my thyroid was removed along with half the muscles in in neck. Unfortunately I was not followed up correctly and within ten years, the thryroid cancer returned to eat up the last 1/4 of thyroid I had left and then it decided to continue to my lungs. I had at least 4 treatments of I-131(over 20 rads each)which seems to have worked. I am still here at 58. I recently lost my right breast to breast cancer and thankfully I was not required to take Chemo or radiation. Catch 22 - I have been told I have had my limit of radiation for a lifetime, whether I need it or not.
I was radiated as an infant for an enlarged thymus gland and then again at age 6 to remove scar tissue (I was told). I have had breast cancer, have become allergic to all antibiotics except 2 and since it happens over time as I use them I will probably become allergic to those also. Also have other drug allergies i.e. Crohns meds as I have Crohns disease, osteoporosis, esophagitis, thyroi8d nodules, a poor immune system and now have developed environmental allergies. I also developed hyperthyroidism and was treated with the radioactive iodine pill which apparently did not kill off the gland as now I am within the normal thyroid levels of TSH and t4. Just waiting for the bomb to drop.
Could all this be related to the childhood radiation? I know the radiation oncologist said I could never have radiation to the chest area because they used unmeasured cobalt back in the end of 1938 and early 1940's.
I think we were guinea pigs!!0 -
Sorry new to board and myJudySurvivor2 said:Radiated at 7mo. for tonsillitis
1954 my parents were told that radiation would cure me of tonsillitis, but two years later they were surgically removed. When I turned 14 my gym teacher mentioned I looked lethargic and for some reason I mentioned it to my mom. Within two months, 3/4 of my thyroid was removed along with half the muscles in in neck. Unfortunately I was not followed up correctly and within ten years, the thryroid cancer returned to eat up the last 1/4 of thyroid I had left and then it decided to continue to my lungs. I had at least 4 treatments of I-131(over 20 rads each)which seems to have worked. I am still here at 58. I recently lost my right breast to breast cancer and thankfully I was not required to take Chemo or radiation. Catch 22 - I have been told I have had my limit of radiation for a lifetime, whether I need it or not.
Sorry new to board and my comment went in twice so tried to take out 2nd one.0
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