Late Side Effects Radiation

SIRENAF42
SIRENAF42 Member Posts: 202
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I am almost 2 years post-radiation treatments to my sinus's areas and lymphs in neck. I am now having issues with my thyroid and petuitary glands not producing or producing to much of different hormones, which is causing havic with my body. They said it is "late side-effects from radiation". MDAnderson referred me to a endocronologist, which I saw yesterday for blood tests... go back in 2 weeks for results and what to do next.

Anyone else gone through this? I just feel like it never goes away... always something.

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    TSH Levels
    TSH is one of the blood counts they do periodically on me (14 months out). It's one indicator of how your thyroid is functioning. As you are finding out, the thyroid takes a huge hit during our particular type of treatment. As I've been told it's not uncommon and probably more than 50% eventually have thyroid damage due to the radiation.

    Normal levels vary depending on the reference you look at, any where form .5 - 5.0 to a number less than those. My levels have increased from a year ago from a little over 1.0 to 4.9 as of a month or so ago. TSH is not the only indicator and from what my ENT says, hormones have a lot of unknowns at present. In other words, you might have a TSH level of somewhere around 10 and still not have other symptoms of thyroid damage. That being said you might have a TSH level within range, but displaying damage.

    Also, from my understanding, it's easily treatable with synthetic thyroid meds. With a trial and error period based on wieght and other factors I believe. I know there are a few on here that have already been going through this and can add better and personal insight.

    Best,
    John
  • SASH
    SASH Member Posts: 421 Member
    #3
    My thyroid
    My thyroid was under active and started showing signs probably about 8 months after I finished my radiation. I have been on synthetic thyroid meds ever since. Easily treatable with 1 pill a day in the morning. They haven't even had to adjust my dosage in years. If your doc prescribes synthroid and it works ask about the generic where Wal-Mart and Target have it for a 90 supply for $ 10 without going through insurance.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    Hi Sirenaf


    That is about right my Thyroid gave out about a year and a half after my last treatment. This is just one of many side affects. I am a little passed 5 years from my last rad treatment and any time something new starts to happen I am told it is just another side affect of my treatment….

    Life is still good.
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #5
    I was warned.
    Yep. I was warned about the late effects to my thyroid. My GP was told to track it on a yearly basis. I was also told that 5 or 8 years out, I could start having issues with my carotid arteries. Radiation damage can make them appear as though you have advanced antherosclerosis, or something similar. Not sure what that would lead to... Perhaps some kind of stent or bypass?

    Yep. Life is still good. Especially the "life" part.

    Deb
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #6
    Hondo said:

    Hi Sirenaf


    That is about right my Thyroid gave out about a year and a half after my last treatment. This is just one of many side affects. I am a little passed 5 years from my last rad treatment and any time something new starts to happen I am told it is just another side affect of my treatment….

    Life is still good.

    Continue
    Hondo you are so right. The side effects continue for the rest of our lives. I call it Radmo (radiation & chemo) disease.

    I am blessed, life is good, each day is wonderful... just many different degree's of wonderful.

    John
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #7
    D Lewis said:

    I was warned.
    Yep. I was warned about the late effects to my thyroid. My GP was told to track it on a yearly basis. I was also told that 5 or 8 years out, I could start having issues with my carotid arteries. Radiation damage can make them appear as though you have advanced antherosclerosis, or something similar. Not sure what that would lead to... Perhaps some kind of stent or bypass?

    Yep. Life is still good. Especially the "life" part.

    Deb

    Took nine months for mine to go south
    Nine months post and mine went south. Levothyroxine is usually prescribed. My cousin who is not a cancer patient has been on the stuff for 25 years. My last prescription for thirty days cost me 67 cents. I was fatigued a lot and now seem to have plenty of energy. More reason to stay close to those follow-up blood tests. This is a minor bump compared to what we've been through.
  • SIRENAF42
    SIRENAF42 Member Posts: 202
    #8
    ratface said:

    Took nine months for mine to go south
    Nine months post and mine went south. Levothyroxine is usually prescribed. My cousin who is not a cancer patient has been on the stuff for 25 years. My last prescription for thirty days cost me 67 cents. I was fatigued a lot and now seem to have plenty of energy. More reason to stay close to those follow-up blood tests. This is a minor bump compared to what we've been through.

    Met with Endocronologist today my Thyroid is fine, no issues with it. Its my pituitary gland that is acting up with High levels of prolactin (no pituitary gland tumor, MRI clean). So now I am taking 2.5 mg of Bromocriptine to reduce the amount of prolactin in the blood. Also have really low levels of Vitamin D, so am also taking supplements to help with that. Will get annual Thyroid checks to make sure it doesnt start acting up....

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