I need some advice

ShakerMom
ShakerMom Member Posts: 10
in Breast Cancer #1

Hi,

I don't normally post, but need some advice from all of you.

I am a three year survivor of stage 1 ER+/PR- breast cancer.  I had chemo and radiation and am currently on anastrozole.  I recently had a physical and my internist sent me to an endocrinologist as my bloodwork indicated that I have hyperthyroidism.  The endocrinologist retested me and the tests indicate that I have subclinical hyperthyroidism (TSH 0.04, T4 0.88, T3 at the upper end of normal). I had a toxic nodule removed 40 years ago and the endocrinologist thinks that may be what I have now, but wants to wait and retest in 3 months.  Here's my problem.  I have had hair falling out and breaking off, a dramatic increase in night sweats and hot flashes as well as an increase in insomnia.  I called my medical onc survivorship person (a nurse practitioner).  Her solution is to increase the amount of effexor I'm taking for my night sweats. It seems that my specialists only want to treat their little world and not talk to each other.  How can I get to the bottom of what's going on and get it taken care of.  I really don't want to empirically treat my symptoms any more than I already am and nobody seems to care that my symptoms are getting worse after two years of everything being stable.

Help!!!

Natalie

 

Comments

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #2
    i ended up wi hypo thyroidism

    My endocrinologist treated me and she conferred with oncologist.  i had nodules, one got so big it took up the whole left side of thyroid.  She treated me, and she conferred w/onco!  But they were in agreement and they worked together.

  • bonbondidit
    bonbondidit Member Posts: 116
    #3
    Hyper Thyroidism

    Shakermom,

    Tell them no, you're not comfortable with waiting 3 months. Ask for them to send you to get a gadolinium mri scan. It's an MRI that is used to detect cancer cells. The dye contrast will stick and highlight to any cancerous areas. That is how I found out I wasn't a stage 1 but a stage 3. It was able to detect that my breast cancer went from my breast to my arm.  Please have them do this for you, DEMAND IT. I did and they're mouths dropped when the results came back. I didn't "look" like I had invasive cancer ...but I did.

    Go with your gut!

    Hugs!!!!!!

    Bonbon

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