Hypothyroidism

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hlrowe
hlrowe Member Posts: 80
edited July 2019 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I finished TX June of '12 (6 Cisplatin treatments and 35 rads, 70 Gy total - tumor near epiglottis)

My thyroid had started to underperform in 2018 and my old PCP never mentioned it from the lab tests. I changed PCPs recently and my new DO started me with 50mcg Levothyroxin. We will monitor to check for dosage changes.

I haven't had any real symptoms other than noticing being more tired in the afternoon. I figured it was lack of sleep and my age - 65.

Anyway, make sure to have your thyroid tested every year along with the other standard blood tests, CBC, CMP, etc...

Thanks!

Harry

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  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,030 Member
    #2
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    Good Advice

    Harry, my Radiation Oncologist warned me about my Thyroid failing. He stated that it wasn't a matter of "If my Thyroid Would Fail, but a matter of When it would Fail". Mine lasted 5 years before failing and I take 75mcg Levothyroxin daily. 

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

  • ERomanO
    ERomanO Member Posts: 319 Member
    #3
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    Same here - my oncologists

    Same here - my oncologists told me that most (maybe all) patients go on thyroid medication eventually.  Both, my oncologists and my PCP, are monitoring my thyroid function (good so far), but I don't think my insurance will want to pay both for doing tests.

  • Bowing
    Bowing Member Posts: 14
    #4
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    Hypothyroidism

    Hypothyroidism is very common, even in people who have not had caner. 

    Mine has nothing to do with my cancer but rather with having had Graves disease about 15 years ago.  That is an 'over' active thyroid.  After 2 doses of radioactive iodine I was cured of the graves.  After another 3 years or so i became hypo(underactive) thyroid.  

    So easy to treat and I would say at least 60% of the population has it, so not to worry.

     

  • SuzJ
    SuzJ Member Posts: 427 Member
    #5
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    Levathyroxine here too..

    I was really, really tired, thought of it as "new normal" one test, BINGO, thyroids on its way out..

  • Soldier of Love
    Soldier of Love Member Posts: 12 Member
    #6
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    Scoliosis = Hypothyroidism

    At the age of of 9 I learned that I had Scoliosis.  I received total spine x-rays which exposed me to large amounts of radation at such a young age.  At this point I had already had 7 cavaties filled. Which added on more radation to the head area. My family has the worst genes when it comes to tooth decay. It wasnt until many years later I found out that my thyroid wasn't working and almost needed to be removed however they put me on 100mcg of snythhroid.  Many yers later I started running into people that also had Scoliosis who developed Hypothroidsm sometime after.  I don't have 100% proof but there are others out there that might share some similar experiences. I just turned 50 on the 6th of July and two days later I found out that I have Tonnsil cancer.  What I can say about hypothroidism from a health perspective is to monitor your diet and learn about what foods you should stay away from and what foods will help.  Also stay away from taking calicum and iron at leat 3 hours before or after taking you pill.  All the best......

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