Thyroid

ricksmithgolfer
ricksmithgolfer Member Posts: 88 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Had blood test for Thyroid yesterday and it is starting to fail. My numbers were normal in March and are now over the normal range. I start medication for my underactive thyroid as soon as I pick it up at the pharmacy. I finished treamentt for Tonsil Cancer last September and had 35 rads and 3 high dose Cisplatin chemo treatments. Side effects up to this point have been minimal. As my doctors said, Thyroid failure for head and neck radiation treatment is very common. They say it can happen anytime from treatment to 5 years out on average, so for me this was not a big surprise. It still kind of confirms the reality of how severe our treatment was and the potential side effects we may endure. Hopefully, the doctors get the right dosage of medication figured out quickly. They say once the right dosage is being taken all is well with the thyroid. As with everything concerning this disease, time will tell.

 

Rick

Comments

  • Pclark21st
    Pclark21st Member Posts: 126
    #2
    Weve had a loss of thyroid

    Weve had a loss of thyroid shortly out of the gate.  They were able to get dosage right initially...has had to change 1x since.

  • katlou
    katlou Member Posts: 83 Member
    #3
    thyroid issues for years

    I have an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's thyroiditis where I have antibodies destroying my thyroid gland.  This was not caused by radiation for head and neck cancer.  I had SCC of tongue two years ago but only required surgery.  I have been on Synthroid for 25 years due to this and it is under control and I feel fine.  I was extremely fatigued prior to my diagnosis but once I started on the Synthroid it straightened things out.  Just wanted to join in to let you know that thyroid failure is a treatable condition and you should feel fine soon.

  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,034 Member
    edited October 2019 #4
    Levothyroxine for me

    Rick, 

    My Radiation Oncologist told me that it was a matter of WHEN my Thyroid failed not IF it would fail. I was lucky as mine didn't fail until about the 5 year mark. On Levothyroxine now and it helps with the fatigue.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

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