Has anyone experienced any thyroid issues after chemo and radiation

hopeful girl 1 · December 2010

Friends,

I am alittle bit nervous (or alot nervous) that I have to go next week and have a thyroid ultrasound done. Back in June or so, I had a ct, because my glands by jaw were all swollen, but it turned out, at that time, a tooth needed a root canal and was causing the swollen glands.

However, on the ct, which came out ok, there was an "incidental" of thyroid nodules that showed up. My oncologist was not very concerned at the time, and said we would take a look at it at the end of treatment when chemo was completed, so now he has ordered the ultrasound to follow up.

He told me alot of people have thyroid nodules and many are fine. But we have to make sure. And I read on online 50% of people have thyroid nodules and are ok. And that of those found as "incidentals" on a ct, as mine were, only less than 1% are cancerous.

Has anyone else had any experience with this?

Thank you.

Hugs,
Cindy

nempark · December 2010

Thyroid
I did have some thyroid issues. Nothing to worry about. My daughter also has nodules and was advised by her Doc to do the iodine treatment. But she went herbal and she is doing fine. Before the herbs she would be very shaky all that is now gone. He did give her some bloodpressure medicine and that helped to control the papitations she was having. When mine acted up the doc didn't even do ultra sound. He said don't worry you will be fine. So I think it's the same with you---nothing to worry about. lots of love and comfort. J

hopeful girl 1 · December 2010

nempark said:
Thyroid
I did have some thyroid issues. Nothing to worry about. My daughter also has nodules and was advised by her Doc to do the iodine treatment. But she went herbal and she is doing fine. Before the herbs she would be very shaky all that is now gone. He did give her some bloodpressure medicine and that helped to control the papitations she was having. When mine acted up the doc didn't even do ultra sound. He said don't worry you will be fine. So I think it's the same with you---nothing to worry about. lots of love and comfort. J

Nempark
Thank you for the encouraging words as I am nervous about this. I just finished up my treatment, and would be crushed if I was told now there was a thyroid cancer. Did your daughter have an ultrasound for her nodules? What is the iodine treatment (even tho' she didn't get it)?

What herbs did she use instead?

What were your thyroid issues? Did you have nodules as well?

My oncologist does not seem concerned about it, but wants to do the ultrasound since it did show up on the ct.

Thanks for sending your love and comfort. I feel it, and I send hugs and the same back to you.

Happy holidays.

Cindy

nempark · December 2010

hopeful girl 1 said:
Nempark
Thank you for the encouraging words as I am nervous about this. I just finished up my treatment, and would be crushed if I was told now there was a thyroid cancer. Did your daughter have an ultrasound for her nodules? What is the iodine treatment (even tho' she didn't get it)?

What herbs did she use instead?

What were your thyroid issues? Did you have nodules as well?

My oncologist does not seem concerned about it, but wants to do the ultrasound since it did show up on the ct.

Thanks for sending your love and comfort. I feel it, and I send hugs and the same back to you.

Happy holidays.

Cindy

Cindy - No it is not cancer-
I think all of us on this board will be crushed not only you. My daughter is using Kelp. I am on Syntroid, but now I am thinking of getting off of it and go natural. Yes, she had an ultrsound and no sign of cancer. I did not have nodules, I think the chemo just affected every part of our bodies and caused a little swolen gland. By the way Doc told her she can either take them out or wait it out. I think she is doing fine. She is very diciplined and really takes care of herself. She is 90% organic (expensive). When I told her that Organic is so expensive, she said Mom, if you can put expensive gas in your car you can put expensive food in your body for your health. LOL. She is so right. My darling Cindy let's wait and see, don't be too hard on yourself. I can just imagine you are in panic mode. You will be fine. The waiting period is the worst part. Be well my friend. June

hopeful girl 1 · December 2010

nempark said:
Cindy - No it is not cancer-
I think all of us on this board will be crushed not only you. My daughter is using Kelp. I am on Syntroid, but now I am thinking of getting off of it and go natural. Yes, she had an ultrsound and no sign of cancer. I did not have nodules, I think the chemo just affected every part of our bodies and caused a little swolen gland. By the way Doc told her she can either take them out or wait it out. I think she is doing fine. She is very diciplined and really takes care of herself. She is 90% organic (expensive). When I told her that Organic is so expensive, she said Mom, if you can put expensive gas in your car you can put expensive food in your body for your health. LOL. She is so right. My darling Cindy let's wait and see, don't be too hard on yourself. I can just imagine you are in panic mode. You will be fine. The waiting period is the worst part. Be well my friend. June

Nempark-June
June,

Thank you for your nice post.

I had the test today and it showed multiple nodules, two of which are predominantly solid and one cystic.

So my oncologist's nurse said she will review with my oncologist next week as he is on vacation. He does not really handle thyroids, but he will confer with another doctor for next steps needed. I am guessing I will need a fine needle biopsy as I read online that is what they do when they are solid as if solid they need to check if cancerous.

What is Syntroid? Is that a medication to regulate the thyroid?

The report also showed my thyroid is predominant, so I am not sure if that means large.

I am really nervous. I have been going thru' the uterine cancer surgery/treatment since March and had my last chemo Nov 2nd and my bloodcounts are just starting to come back up.

So I will have to wait and see what they say-they will call me next week on what is discussed about my results.

I also found out this week my employer is terminating me-because of the length of time I have been on disability so that was crushing news I received yesterday.

Thank you for the well wishes!

Hugs,
Cindy

nempark · December 2010

hopeful girl 1 said:
Nempark-June
June,

Thank you for your nice post.

I had the test today and it showed multiple nodules, two of which are predominantly solid and one cystic.

So my oncologist's nurse said she will review with my oncologist next week as he is on vacation. He does not really handle thyroids, but he will confer with another doctor for next steps needed. I am guessing I will need a fine needle biopsy as I read online that is what they do when they are solid as if solid they need to check if cancerous.

What is Syntroid? Is that a medication to regulate the thyroid?

The report also showed my thyroid is predominant, so I am not sure if that means large.

I am really nervous. I have been going thru' the uterine cancer surgery/treatment since March and had my last chemo Nov 2nd and my bloodcounts are just starting to come back up.

So I will have to wait and see what they say-they will call me next week on what is discussed about my results.

I also found out this week my employer is terminating me-because of the length of time I have been on disability so that was crushing news I received yesterday.

Thank you for the well wishes!

Hugs,
Cindy

Cindy I wrote to you on the other post
Cindy, I really feel that it is nothing. Synthroid is hormone for controlling the thyroid. My daughter's nodules were really big. The size of a quarter she has two and they are solid. I also have a friend who had them and they turned out to be nothing. Much comfort your way. Check out if it's legal for your employee to fire whilst on disaility. I want to hug you and squeeze that anxiety and fear out of you!!!! That waiting period is horrible. Hang in there. J

patsplace · December 2010

Like the others said,
Like the others said, thyroid issues are generally controllable. My ct for radiation planning last April showed possible calcifications and nodules on my thyroid,& I had been exposed to IR191 from nuclear testing in the 1960s, and had thyroid cysts about 15 years ago (followed by a few years of synthroid), so I was concerned. I had a needle biopsy of the thyroid done in June (and it's no fun!), and that pathology showed follicular & Hurthle cells, both potentially cancerous, but no cancer so far. The docs are simply recommending monitoring, which means at least an ultrasound 1-2x year. If anything in its appearance changes, we'll do another biopsy. You may want to talk with an endocrinologist for a second opinion.

hopeful girl 1 · December 2010

patsplace said:
Like the others said,
Like the others said, thyroid issues are generally controllable. My ct for radiation planning last April showed possible calcifications and nodules on my thyroid,& I had been exposed to IR191 from nuclear testing in the 1960s, and had thyroid cysts about 15 years ago (followed by a few years of synthroid), so I was concerned. I had a needle biopsy of the thyroid done in June (and it's no fun!), and that pathology showed follicular & Hurthle cells, both potentially cancerous, but no cancer so far. The docs are simply recommending monitoring, which means at least an ultrasound 1-2x year. If anything in its appearance changes, we'll do another biopsy. You may want to talk with an endocrinologist for a second opinion.

Patsplace
How long does then needle biopsy take? Did they use a fine needle? They are supposed to be small right? Did it hurt alot? Don't they numb it?

Thank you,
Cindy

barb55 · December 2010

hopeful girl 1 said:
Patsplace
How long does then needle biopsy take? Did they use a fine needle? They are supposed to be small right? Did it hurt alot? Don't they numb it?

Thank you,
Cindy

nodules
Cindy, I also had thyroid nodules. 3 years ago I was getting a second opinion from an oncologist at Yale about my UPSC and he felt them. I had a biopsy. Yes the needle was small. No problem but I get a simple yearly ultraound to watch them. I don't remember the procedure as being painful - maybe uncomfortable, but honestly, we have been through much worse with the UPSC. I think it is not uncommon and almost always not serious- good luck and yes check about being laid off while going through a health problem- I too think it's not feasible, but I'm not sure. BARB

hopeful girl 1 · December 2010

barb55 said:
nodules
Cindy, I also had thyroid nodules. 3 years ago I was getting a second opinion from an oncologist at Yale about my UPSC and he felt them. I had a biopsy. Yes the needle was small. No problem but I get a simple yearly ultraound to watch them. I don't remember the procedure as being painful - maybe uncomfortable, but honestly, we have been through much worse with the UPSC. I think it is not uncommon and almost always not serious- good luck and yes check about being laid off while going through a health problem- I too think it's not feasible, but I'm not sure. BARB

Nodules
Everyone,

Thank you for your encouraging words. I am really nervous.

It was really a rough week, getting terminated from my job of 9 years this week while still on disability, and then the thyroid nodule ultrasound, which showed that two of the larger nodules are predominantly solid. My bloodcounts had just come up on Monday, so I thought I was going to be set to be released to return to work.

I hope you all are right that the thyroid nodules will be nothing.

I am concerned because my neck felt wierd a lot during chemo, like my glands were swollen, and I thought it would go away when the chemo ended. My last chemo was Nov 2nd. Whenever I would mention it to my oncologist he would just say that was unusual, or not to be concerned about it. More recently the area of the thyroid has been feeling uncomfortable as well.

I am not certain on the laws of holding the job while on disability. Perhaps I will check with the wellness center in my area. I think they offer some information with regard to patient's rights.

I wish everyone a happy holiday.

Hugs,
Cindy

Has anyone experienced any thyroid issues after chemo and radiation

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