Link between DCIS and elevated cortisol levels?

chibae

Hi all. This is my first post, so a quick back story. In September of 2018 mammogram showed micro-calcifications. A needle biopsy was negative for cancer. a second mammogram six months later showed no changes. Then in October of 2019 a follow up mammogram showed changes and an exsisional biopsy showed DCIS, non invasive stage 0, grade 4. Not hormone reactive. My breast specialist feels the needle biopsy may have missed it. I am having a second surgery on 1/31 to clean the margins then will be doing radiation.

Okay, about the same time as the first biopsy I started having episodes of illness lasting from 2-5 days, intermittent with no ability to say when one would occur or what triggered them. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, no appetite, inability to sleep and shortness of breath. I have been hospitalized twice for them and had a full gambit of cardiac and pulmonary tests done. The culprit seems to be an intermittent overproduction of cortisol. But my cortisol producing glands have scanned negative for tumors.

Does anyone have a clue if the DCIS and my cortisol problems could have a common cause? I am 64, had a total hysterectomy including ovaries and cervix in 2003 and also have hypothyroidism.

Thanks in advance, Chib

Edited to ad that I have osteoporosis and had my first of three reclast infusions in October of 2018

Beesie

To my very limited understanding, elevated cortisol levels can be tied to stress. Since your episodes started around the same time as your first biopsy, could this be a stress reaction?

JaynerK7

Hi

I have hyperthyroidism (pregnancy induced 25 years ago) and have read some studies showing possible link but nothing conclusive nor huge sample sizes. When it seems to come out of nowhere, with no known family history, you start to consider everything. Sorry you are now dealing with this on top of the other health related concerns

chibae

"To my very limited understanding, elevated cortisol levels can be tied to stress. Since your episodes started around the same time as your first biopsy, could this be a stress reaction?"

It is a good thought, but first biopsy was negative with the cortisol levels jumping up seven times during the year after that. I can't see a stress reaction to a negative biopsy.