Anyone have thyroid issues as well as BC?

Absolutely amazing, Starwatcher.  I go on Wednesday to see about the adenoma on my thyroid.  I have had issues all along with cysts- Hashimoto's- this time the sold one.  Yikes, and I am scared to death.  The bummer is, right now I am not on synthroid and I hate feeling punky, achy and fatter.  I hate to wait and I dred surgery or more chemo.  DRAT!

Thanks Patty - really interesting article. The breasts do process iodine, in fact they compete with the thyroid. I'm a firm believer in the connection between bc and thyroid issues. Not sure if I would try to treat bc with iodine though - bit scary. I'm definitely looking at iodine supplementation to help shrink my goitre.

Sue

Patty,

Thanks for sharing this interesting article on iodine and breast cancer.  In Dec. 2010 when they were doing the diagnostic tests for the breast cancer on me they discovered a  large 7 cm growth in my chest on xray and CT scan (it had not been there in 2009).  The mastectomy I had in Jan 2011 showed on pathology that I had invasive breast cancer,  a infiltrating tumor that was not seen on mammogram, or ultrasound or MRI ( only seen when they did the pathologic exam on tissue after the mastectomy).  The thyroidectomy done in Feb 2011 showed the growth was goiter and happily was not malignant.  I wonder if iodine had anything to do with the breast cancer diagnosis and the quick growing goiter that had previously not been there. I plan to share this with my oncologist and endocrinologist.

I am currently getting chemo (started in March about 3 weeks after my thyroidectomy)  and have gained about 20 pounds since the surgeries and chemo.  My thyroid is off again and she is increasing the synthetic thyroid.  I am not sure if the weight gain is related to my thyroid, the chemo or both. The endocrinoloigst says she is uncertain if I need more thyroid because I have gained more weight (which would impact the dose needed)  or because of the chemo?   Has anyone had problems with chemo impacting the thyroid ?     Thanks for info,   these issues are complex and I don't think the endocrinoloigsts and oncoloigsts have worked a lot together on these issues

There is irrefutible evidence to the link with thyroid cancer, breast cancer and iodine deficiency. There is also a lot of misinformation about the dangers of iodine. You should check out Stopthethyroidmadness and naturalthyroidchoices. Both of these sites are a wealth of information full of testimonials of people who are taking iodine and natural thyroid like armour instead of the synthetic stuff that is not very good. You should also join the iodine yahoo group, where people from all over the world share their experiences with iodine. It is run by the gal who has the naturalthyroidchoices website.

I have been on the iodine protocol, taking over 50 mg a day for over 2 years now. After a period of detoxing, I have never felt so good in my life. Read Dr. Brownstiens books to learn more about it.

Re weight gain with chemo and thyroid issues.  I had a mastectomy in late Jan, a thyroidectomy in late February and started chemo afout 4 weeks after thyroidectomy.  I just gained another 10 pounds in 3 weeks since the last chemo.  My thyoid went off again and endo increased the dose of thyroid last week.  I can't believe the weight gain of 30 pounds in 4 months.  I am not eating much differently.  Are people having this problem?? .  They say it is due to chemo and thyroid. How often do you recommend getting a blood test for thyroid.  Does chemo impact the amount of articifical thyroid needed?   My endo is doing blood test  every 6 weeks but maybe this is not enough? 

That is a very frustrating part of all this- the weight gain.

O2Bhealthy- what kinds of test did you have to determine the thyroid cancer?  I wonder if I am going through the wait and see method like I did before I dx'd with breast cancer.  I don't like that method at all.  I feel like I should insist on a biopsy of the 'nodules" on the thyroid the doc is just "watching".  I insisted on an ultrasound and they just say " It's hashimotos".....I don't know- I still feel paranoid. 

Yes, I think I am going to ask them to biopsy the cyst they referred to.  I betcha they could easily use a FNB and answer many questions.  Waiting till december is too much- even if the latest us came back as no adenoma this time just cysts.......grrrr 

yeah, my gp wanted to take me off the synthroid and  put me through the radioactive dye to look at the adenoma to see if it was hot/cold.  The thyroid doc said absolutely not , gave me another US and said I was fine.  But...I keep going back to the radiologist saying there was an adenoma.....It's driving me nuts. 

In 2003, I was dx'd with a multinodular goiter.  The goiter would press on my trachea at night (and other times), which would make me choke and cough.  I had a Near Total Thyroidectomy the same year.  The doctor said that I would not have to take thyroid hormones because he left a piece of the thyroid.  Well, I went to the endocrinologist and she checked my levels and they weren't in normal range.  I have to take Levoxyl. 

My mother had a Near Total Thyroidectomy, also.  The doctor told her that she didn't need to take hormones as well.  She did not take any hormones,  The piece of thyroid regrew down the side of her trachea into her mediastinum (chest area).  It, eventually, compressed her airway. She was unable to breathe.  When the EMTs tried to intubate her they had a really hard time. By the time that they got her intubated, she had developed anoxic brain injury.  She died from complications of this.

I was dx'd  with breast cancer in Oct. 2010.  I don't know if there's a connection or not.  My mother did not have breast cancer.  I have/had (One died from BC.) two sisters that also breast cancer; but they did not have any thyroid problems.

I have Hypothyroid problems as well, found just before my breast cancer was discovered.  I do not have nodules. Medication was perscribed for the hypothyroidism because it is a dangerous problem for people.  The weight gain before the synthroid was not fun tho. I wonder if hypothyroidism is a warning sign for breast cancer?  I will have to read the above article.

Agada

I'm glad I found this thread. I'm surprised at the number someone quoted of about 50% of breast cancer patients having some kind of thyroid problem.

It's been a little over a year since I finished treatment for breast cancer and I've been on Tamoxifen since then. I went to see my oncologist last week. My bloodwork showed higher than normal levels of TSH. My TSH level was 5.29 mcUnits/ml ("normal range 0.55-4.78 mcUnits/ml"). My T3 and T4 levels were within the normal range. My previous TSH levels were 2.40 a year ago and 1.81 eighteen months ago. I've been advised to follow up with my PCP.

Should I be concerned? I have gained a lot of weight (25 lbs) since I finished chemo but I was inclined to blame Tamoxifen or thought my metabolism was just completely messed up from chemo. I don't think I have any other symtoms of hypothyroidsm. I certainly don't have intolerance for cold (I actually love the cold) or the puffy, dry skin.

Hi,

 Interesting that several of us who have had chemo and thyroid issues, also have weight gain issues.  I have been trying to get my endocrinologist to do thyroid testing when they do the blood work just before the chemo infusions.  Any ideas on whether a simple TSH is ok or should a T3 and T4 also be done?   Also, has anyone on this list had a thyroidectomy/  I had thryoidectomy done in Feb and my neck is still numb from chin down.  Often if it feels as if someone is tightening a necklace around my neck.  I wonder if this is due to the chemo I am receiving or just nerve damage from the thyroidectomy.  Anyone else had these symptoms after thyroid surgery?  My ENT says nothing.  I am also concerned if there is any connection between taking synthetic thyroid and breast cancer?  Anyone have any ideas  on that?  Thanks

I had my thryroid function tested by oncologist two weeks ago. My TSH level was 5.29 mcUnits/ml ("normal range 0.55-4.78 mcUnits/ml"). My T3 and T4 levels were within the normal range. My PCP repeated the test this week as part of my annual physical. TSH level a little higher 6.76 (ref range 0.358-5.04) but with different labs I suppose this is to be expected.

Doctor said I had subclinical hypothyroidism since my TSH is high but my T3 and T4 levels are within the normal randge. She gave me an Rx for synthroid. She suggested that I might want to see an endocrinologist first.  

I have been hyothyroid for over 20 years and was just diagnosed with IDC last week.  Still waiting for lymph node biopsy results.  One thing I noticed in the past year, I have been getting cold easily.  I was never like that.  Was always the first one to take off a jacket, first one in shorts.  Now, it is the opposite.

Having reading your posts, I am wondering if there is any link.  Could my thyroid levels be off?  I am scheduled to see my endocrinologist  in two weeks for my annual visit and plan to bring it up.

Anyone having trouble with cold tolerance since being diagnosed with BC?  I have heard that happens with chemo treatment but I have not gotten to treatment yet.

I'm going to chime in.  I myself had a blood test on the same day as my mammogram.  The blood test came back, TSH 3.13 which isn't high as far as the lab was concerned but my doc wanted to put me on some drugs.  Of course this all happened after I was DS with BC so I said lets deal with that after I get through treatment.  But I got to wonder, is that a warning sign?  High TSH levels? should women who have thyroid problems be watched more carefully?  I wish someone would look more into this

Ditto....hypothyroid for at least 12 years prior to BC.  Still on Synthroid......