Radio Active Iodine for Thyroid and Radiation for BC

karynhelen

Hi All,

I was just wondering if any of you had ever had to have Radioactive Iodine to treat hyperthyroidism, and if so, did you go on to have radiation for BC or not?

I was treated with RAI about 8 years ago...

Any input would be so helpful!

Karyn

badger

hi Karyn, I had radioactive iodine to treat a hyperactive thyroid 20 years ago but did not go on to rads for BC.  Best wishes!

karynhelen

Hi, thank you for your reply. Did you NOT have radiation for BC because of the RAI, or for another reason?

Again, I appreciate your help,

Karyn

badger

hi Karyn, I think the RAI tx was unrelated to BC rads decision.  Onc said I wasn't a candidate for rads due to the location of tumor, near the front of the breast, and wide clean surgical margins from BMX. 

ann1106music

HI!

I had radiation for a thyroid problem in 2004.  Then I had radiation for BC in 2008.  I keep asking different doctors it the thyroid radiation could have caused the breast cancer and they keep saying NO.  Anyway, had to do the whole "stay by myself for 11 days, could not eat with my family, flush the toilet 3 times, etc."  No fun either time!

karynhelen

Thank you for your reply... There doesn't seem to be a correlation between RAI and BC... glad to hear that, but concerned about more radiation...I guess it's different.

I see your picture was taken in San Francisco... That's my neck of the woods, hope you enjoyed your trip!

Thanks again for your reply. I guess if I have a lumpectomy, they will want to give me radiation... hummmm.

Not looking forward to that, but I'm just thankful to all the women, and men, who have travelled this road before me...

Best of luck,

Karyn

purple32

There doesn't seem to be a correlation between RAI and BC...

Nope

Maybe not, but I do see LOTS of women with thyroid/endocrine disorders ( like me) who also end up with BC. I do not think it is by chance.

Michele2013

I found out I had thyroid cancer from a pet scan.

GoWithTheFlow

I had RAI for thyroid cancer two years ago.  I start RADS for breast cancer in a week.

Michele2013

I did not have to have the radio iodine and very thankful. There was no node involvement and got clear margins. I tried to learn about thyroid issues, but due to chemo brain I just let it be.



I have one more week of rads. I used aquafor and hydrocortisone mixed together. The itching really bothered me. The anti itch really works.

SheilaB330

Add me to your count. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Secondary Hyperparathyroidism, Hyperglycemia (Low level Diabetes 2) Hypercalcuria, Osteopenia. Hmm. Did not know that all that endocrine put me into a higher risk for BC. I have never had radiation treatment for thyroid. Weary.

jane1234

Hi, I wanted to add my experience, even though this is a few months after this thread was started.

I had radiation for thyroid cancer three times (Total around 500 miCu). When I had surgery for breast cancer, I ended up having a right mastectomy for multi-focal disease. I did a single dose of radiation (16 Gy) to protect the skin in the nipple area due to close margins.

My oncologist is specialized in breast cancer and endocrine diseases....we have discussed the amount of total radiation I have been exposed to and, in light of that, have opted out of getting an annual bone scintigraphy. This is also because due to my young age, I get MRIs with contrast more often.

I hope this helps someone.