Thryroid Cancer after Breast Cancer?
Comments
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Hi Hope --
Not me, so this is only indirect. But i do have some info ...
A friend was diagnosed with thyroid cancer a week after finishing rads for breast cancer. She had a very (!) strong family history of thyroid cancer, so she may not have been typical... but i freaked out and asked my onc if there is a connection to rads -- he said, definitely not. Pure chance.
Still, both breast and thyroid cancer are relatively common, so that sort of double diagnosis can happen. I pray your nodule is in that 90% good news!! ...but (just in case): my friend says she was careful to find a surgeon who was very experienced at treating thyroid cancer because one of her relatives had permanent voice troubles after thyroid cancer because of a cut nerve. I know thyroid cancer is really, really treatable -- but i'd never have thought to worry about my voice!
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Hi Hope,
There is a connection between thyroid dysfunction and breast cancer development. Similarly there is a connection between radiation (often used as treatment for breast cancer) and development of thyroid disease. I've had both, and often wonder if I might get an ultrasound of my thyroid. I'm on Synthroid. I've looked at the literature about breast cancer spread, and as your oncologist, did not see thyroid as a common place of spread. How are your thyroid lab values, the TSH, T4, and autoimmune antibodies (thyroid antibodies)?
It's fully understandable you're worried: tough to trust those numbers after you've been bit once. I'm glad you trusted your instincts and pushed for a scan (peeked at your posts). I'll be thinking of you this week as you undergo your biopsy, fingers crossed, support given it's benign. Please keep posting to lessen your stress and know we're here thinking of you.
((Hug))
Tender
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I've had Hashimoto's Thyroiditis for years. When I had my PET scan in August, my thyroid lit up but they said it was because of the Hashimoto's. I take Synthroid. I've been feeling off since radiation ended so my PCP ordered thyroid tests. My TSH is 0 - zilch - nada - not any - not even a little. I'm waiting for her to get back to me. I talked to her nurse and my TSH hasn't always been 0. I had a thyroid ultrasound several years ago and my thyroid looked like "swiss cheese" I am hoping they'll order another US.
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I had thyroid cancer in 1975 and breast cancer in '06 & '08. No rads for any of them. Had thyroid and 3 para-thyroids removed and am on Synthroid. Discovered I had been exposed to radiation at 18 months of age from radioactive cloud after nuclere (I know this is spelled wrong, my brain just is dead tonight) bomb test in Nevada in 1954. I guess it doesn't take much when you're little. Of the 5 of us that were there, 4 ended up w/some kind of cancer. My mother & I both had breast.
All my best to everyone.
Blessings,
Wendy
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Yep. I had both, but I'm thinking the thyroid cancer was there before the breast cancer, even though it wasn't noticed until 2-1/2 years after the bc diagnosis. BTW my bc was ILC.
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Doctors just by chance found my thyroid cancer, I was sent for a pet scan for a spot on my lung (which was just scar tissue), but when I came out of the room, the techs said my lung was fine but did I ever have thyroid problems, I told them no and that my gyno had just had me take a thyroid test just a couple of weeks before cause she said she thought my eyes bugged out alittle, never been told that before..lol, anyway, I had to have a needle biopsy, which came back cancer. Was told that I was lucky cause I had the good kind of thyroid cancer, which I did get tired of hearing through this ordeal, just say the word cancer to me and my heart starts racing, I didn't care if it was the best, It still scared the h--l out of me. That was in 2007 right when I already had a date set for a hysterectomy (total), they said I was pre-cancerous, so 3 months after hysterectomy I had my tyroid removed. Then spring of 2008, I found out that I had BC, and it too was the best kind to get (is what they kept telling me) and I am thankful for getting the best kind of thyroid and BC, but it is still very scary, 1st. hysterectomy- pre-cancerous 2nd. thyroid cancer 3rd BC, I can't help but think were is it going to rear it's ugly head again, I'm probably being a big baby, but that's how my little pea brain thinks,,lol All through this every doctor said one cancer is not related to the other, especially the thyroid and the BC.
Sorry to go on so, when I see anything about BC and thyroid cancer, I have to be vocal..lol It's always bothered me wondering about others who have or had both.
Take care, Bee
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I go in for thyroid surgey May 6. Finished my BC radiation in December 2008, my PCP found low thyroid via a regular blood test in April. Had the ultra sound and found a nodule, had the uptake scan and the nodule was cold. Had a FNB and it was inclusive so now they will take out the right lobe of my thyroid. It involves a overnight stay in the hospital. Hoping for B9 but wont be surprised if it is not. Treatment is removing the rest of the thyroid and then a radioactive iodine treatment during which you can have limited contact with others for a week
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My PCPs nurse called me today and told me my PCP wants me to increase my synthroid, so I'll do that. I see her on the 12th to see where I go from there. Question - would thyroid ca elevate tumor markers? I just had mine checked and they were 9.
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I am finding this topic of thyroid CA very interesting. I got a hoarse voice and a feeling of something caught in my throat about 8 weeks ago, I went to ENT doctor, he told me I had acid reflex, gave me Prilosac. Didn't really help. Went to Onc April 6, CA 153 went to 38 from a regular level of 25. I got CT scan today and getting bone scan tomorrow. Onc doesn't seem overly concerned about rising levels, but I am scared to death. Now I am thinking maybe I have an issue with the thyroid and it is raising the CA 153 levels. Did anyone have these symptoms? Also remember we are never big babies...it is just scary to have cancer.
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Wow, i wasn't scared befor but i think im getting more scared now. It;s been 3 years since going through BC and know i've always have a soar gland on the right side which is constant. ive had my thyroid checked but i don't know what the marks were. i know its not normal. ive had the doc's check it but no swelling. i think i'll be bringing up the topic again. I didn't realize how the 2 are so popular together..also i haven't been able to grow my hair back since my treatments. maybe they all go together..
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hopefor30,
I had DCIS & LCIS, found early, so I'm cancer free, i sure hope that's right. The kind of thyroid cancer I had was papillary, my thyroid was removed, then a while after surgery (can't remember how long, just weeks), i had to go and take a radioactive iodine treatment, it was just a big capsule, that nobody touched with their hands, they told me to just let it drop in my throat so it didn't come into contact with anything for long, I was so scared, that they dropped it in my throat and I swallowed it before I even got the water to my mouth...lol, and yes everyone had to stay away from me for a couple weeks, now that was the hard part, had to do my dishes seperate, wash my clothes seperate, use my own hand towel and the list goes on...lol My house isn't that big for my husband, daughter and I to stay away from each other, we did the best we could..lol
good luck on your biopsy Thursday, I will be thinking about you. Take care and let me know how the biopsy went.
Hugs,
Bee
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Thank you for starting this tread. I am 2 years out from tx of bc. Had lump and rads only. Refused meds. I developed burning in my chest had this since rads and nobody will comment on it. Had a Cat Scan of my chest last week and they found a nodule on my thyroid. Today I am going for an ultrasound of it. My question is do you think that rads had anything to do with developing thyroid issues. They told me while I was in the hospital last week that my thyroid levels were low.
I can't help but think that all these txs we get can cause other health issues. I am really scared as they found a nodule in my right lung...but too small to do anything to it. How do you all feel after you have your thyroid removed? Thanks for your responds in advance..
Blackjack
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my best wishes to you, I can only imagine what you are feeling,,Try and keep up a good spirit..
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Hello hopefor30,
Sorry to learn of your thyroid cancer. I hope you have a small nodule and a quick treatment
process. I had a nodule discovered when I had a carotid artery ultrasound done. An ultra-
sound was done of the thyroid and biopsies were also done. The diagnosis was papillary
tyhroid cancer and I will see the endocrynologist on Monday to get more info. I was also told
that it was slow growing and treatable. Good luck to you.
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I have to go for a thyroid ultrasound this Thursday. A chiropractor took an xray of my neck last week and my thyroid came out all white on the film. My pcp wanted an ultrasound today but I couldn't get there in time. I have been on meds for hypothyroid for about 9 weeks now. I did not have rads but had 6 rounds of TAC starting in Sept 2006.
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hopefor30....I have a question... are you seeing a ENT md for your thyroid nodules. I had my thyroid ultrasound done last week and they found multi thyroid nodules and one solid one on my thyroid. I have not had a biopsy yet. Need to talk with my md first on Monday. If I have so many nodules will they biopsy all of them? Hope you are feeling better.
Blackjack
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hopefor30.. thank you for your reply. I too am waiting to hear from my pcp tomorrow about my multinodules that they found on my ultrasound. the report says that there is one solid one in the middle and lots of smaller ones on either side. I hate to think of rads destroying my thyroid gland. I can only hope for the best. Let me know how your test results come out... sending you a big healing hug your way.
Blackjack
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I've had all my thyroid removed in 2 separate operations,back in 1976,then the rest in 1996,I did have thyroid cancer,but the doc told me it was the kind that wouldn't kill me.He said it hadn't invaded the blood vessels(i think) and that i would die from something else before i died from it,and he was right.
I just had my BC diagnoses last july and a bilateral mastectomy in august,and just finished chemo this february.I feel pretty good except for the side effects of this aromasin.
Kathi
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So very sorry to read this, Hope.
Tender
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Just got a call last night that my thyroid is fried from radiation and they perscribed something called syntroid. My neck and collar bone had been swollen and hurting. I went to the ONC. thinking it was lymph nodes. I am relieved to find out it is my thyroid ( I guess it is all in perspective right?)
I had a thyroid biopsy not even a year ago as they thought I had thyroid cancer.....
This certainly explains the rapid weight gain....I thought it was the femara!
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Hi Gals,
I've had hashimoto's syndrome for nearly 9 years now.
Hypothyroidism runs in my family so it was no surprise to me when I was dx'd. I've had a heck of a time getting my levels straight,.
Synthroid is no biggie. Has no side effects but DO make certain you take it EVERY day on an empty stomach. I keep my thyroid meds next to my bed w/ a glass of water. It's the first thing I do when I wake-up.
They think part of the reason mine is so unruly is I had cancer when I was 5. I had chemo & rads. They think the rads made it worse...along with a bunch of other things...including dental issues that made me get dentures at 37.
Anyway, just wanted to offer you some encouragement. Make sure you get your labs done.
It's not really that bad for most.
xoxo
Lursa5
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Very frustrating indeed. The surgery to remove the thyroid was a piece of cake. What I hated about this treatment was the low iodine diet two weeks leading to the Radiation Iodine Pill and isolation. For me it entailed 2 days in the hospital and one week solitary confinement in my bedroom. I felt like a leper. Not fun.
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Hopefor30,
My brother's wife was dx'd with breast cancer a year before i was dx'd with breast cancer. She and I both had DCIS. She had a wide excision lumpectomy and had radiation treatments afterwards, but no chemo. I had several lumpectomies, both without clear margins, so i ended up having a mastectomy because of my wide spread DCIS. I did not need radiation or chemo. About a year after my SIL's radiation treatments she was dx'd with thyroid cancer and ended up having her thyroid removed. She had never had any problem with her thyroid before. I had heard often in the chatroom of a lot of problems women had with the thyroid after rads or chemo. I have often wondered if there is a connection between thyroid cancer and the rads or chemo done for breast cancer.
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I'm just jumping in, another sister on the boards (Margerie from November 05 rads) had thyroid cancer as well. She found out after breast cancer tx. was over, she is doing fine.
One other thing: on a personal level, I just had surgery for colon cancer. I couldn't believe that I had been given yet another cancer diagnosis. This cancer was totally unrelated to the bc except for the likelihood of it being a genetic issue (Li-Fraumeni). I'll have answers on that soon. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that the pure insanity you must be feeling right now is completely to be expected.
Hang in there. Love and prayers, Deb
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whoopsiedoo,
Sorry to learn of your colon cancer. Do you have a treatment plan yet? Hopefor30, I also
didn't have rads or chemo and I got thyroid cancer. Maybe I had it first and didn't know it?
I am going to wait till my scans and other workup are done next week for my breast cancer
before I decide what to do about the thyroid and when to do it. Yes, it does suck to have to
have more surgery. Best wishes.
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My PCP has ordered a thyroid US as well as an echocardiogram, pulmonary function test, dexa and some bloodwork related to the pituitary. I think it is very interesting that there does seem to be a correlation between bc and thyroid cancer.
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Can anyone tell me about their experience from a thyroid biopsy. I am schedule to have one done Weds. for a solid nodule in the isthmus and on the right side. My thyroid scanned showed multi nodules on both sides. I am very concerned about this. I had blood work done last week.. waiting for the results. I am going to an ENT. Did anybody have one done by an ENT or did you go to a surgeon? All info would be helpful and appreciated.
Blackjack
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Oh, hopefor30, that truly sucks. I am already sending out healing thoughts and hoping for a speedy recovery. It's just sickening that more and more of us are creating posts such as this (thyroid cancer after bc? Colon cancer after bc? etc.). Please keep us updated as you are able. You will have the Elephant Sisters circling in at any moment!
MomoB-thanks for the well-wishes. I actually only had a hemicolectomy (still recovering from it), and since it was Stage 1, I don't require any further tx.
Love and prayers, Deb
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hopefor30..yes, I am stage 1, grade 1, tubular IDC and ER+. I am not on any hormonal meds as I refused them. I am 2 yrs out from diagnosis. I thought I was doing really well until this thyroid pain started. I got my blood work faxed to me by accident from the hospital lol and it look like it may be hypothyroid. It could explain some of the hot flashes I am having even though I am in menopause. lol I really don't want this biopsy. It is freaking me out. I read that if your thyroid is out then there is wt gain from it. I worked so hard to loose wt I don't want to regain my hard work.
I hope all goes well for you. Keep me posted. Hugs to you.
Blackjack
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I had my biopsy done by an endo surgeon last Thursday and should hear the results in the next couple of days. I was happy that I saw him and had it done the same day to get this all moving. They gave me a local and took two samples from the one nodule. My neck was a bit stiff after the anesthesia wore off but it's all relative, right?
They only discovered the nodule after my latest CT scan which has been done every six months since my recurrence in 07 but they had never included the neck area before. Who knows how long the nodule has been there? I also had blood drawn to see how my thryroid is functioning.
I mentioned to the doctor what I have read relative to thyroid disease/cancer and breast cancer from this site and he is very much aware of it. He teaches at the medical school and has done some studies relative to thyroid disease following a previous cancer diagnosis.The waiting game has been really hard this time and I told him I will be calling him Tuesday for the results.
Hang in there everyone!
I
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