Breast Cancer six years after Thyroid Cancer

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jennsaro
jennsaro Member Posts: 29
edited November 2015 in Just Diagnosed

I received my diagnosis last Monday, October 19. Invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in SITU (DCIS). I will see a surgeon tomorrow the 28th. In 2009 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, had my thyroid completely removed along with 12 nodes all positive for cancer. I had two full doses of radioactive iodine, one in 09 and again in 2010. Been monitoring ever since but seems ok. Funny, after my breast cancer diagnosis I found a research study that showed that women treated for thyroid cancer had a 33% increased risk for breast cancer and the average length between the two was six years. It was 6.5 years for me. Part of me has been screaming "I already paid my cancer dues - this isn't fair!" Then the other part of me says, you got through it once, you'll do it again. Still the waiting through each step is just so stressful to be going through this again.

I was just wondering if anyone else on here has developed breast cancer after previously treated for thyroid cancer.

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  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2015

    I bet some women will be coming along, that have, but I have been wondering lately if I have thyroid cancer now, after breast cancer. It would explain so many things. I had just gone to see my breast surgeon, for some reason, that is where my treatment center triage people sent me, because of a lump that feels huge to my fingers on the back of my neck, and also a much smaller one on the front of my throat. She thinks the one on the back of my neck is my muscle swollen from over use?!?! And she conveniently kept forgetting to even feel the one on the front of my neck. I actually think it is one of my parathyroid glands. I have been reading about that, and it seems that the parathyroid cancer can cause all sorts of other cancers. Breast, colon, prostate, etc. My PCP did a thyroid (tsh), but I don't think that test finds out anything about the parathyroid glands. I don't know whether to see a ENT, Endocrinologist, or what...

    You are right! It isn't fair! Good luck, come back to bco, and let us know what is happening with you. Great people and info here.

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  • jennsaro
    jennsaro Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2015

    TSH isn't a good predictor of thyroid or parathyroid cancer. My TSH was always fine and was fine even with the cancer of course until my thyroid was removed. When my surgeon had my thyroid out he took a little snip of each parathyroid gland and had the pathology tested while I was still on the table. It came back with no cancer in the parathyroid glands to he re-implanted them inside other muscle tissue so that they could continue to function. I thought that was really cool.

    I can't see the what you feel in the back of your neck being related, but what do I know. I wish you the best of luck. At least thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable. Still, the only thing worse than learning that you have cancer to begin with is learning that you now have a second cancer!

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  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2015

    Thanks, jennsaro. That's what I think too, that TSH isn't a good predictor of it, nor sestamibi's. I have been checking out this website, parathyroid.com, that shows how they test them all during the operation. Pretty cool. But my docs all deny that I might have it, with no testing what so ever. I will check back in with you later

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  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 721
    edited October 2015

    http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20070604...

    This seems to indicate it is the use of radioactive iodine, often used to treat thyroid cancer, rather than having thyroid cancer, that can increase one's risk for BC.

    My mother was treated with radioactive iodine due to hyperthyroidism, not thyroid cancer, about 5 years prior to her BC diagnosis.


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  • jennsaro
    jennsaro Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2015

    Right, that is why I said that women who have been treated for thyroid cancer have a higher probability for breast cancer.

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  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 721
    edited October 2015

    According to what I read (the link I posted) women treated with radioactive iodine, such as my mother, for whatever reason have a higher risk of BC. I know my mother was not told this would increase her risk of BC. Were you told that?

    You asked if anyone had with thyroid cancer developed BC later. My mother was not treated for thyroid cancer, but did get radioactive iodine treatment which I believe may have contributed to her later getting BC.

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  • ceanna
    ceanna Member Posts: 5,270
    edited October 2015

    I had my thyroid completely removed due to cancer, no lymph node involvement, had radioactive iodine treatment, and four years later developed IDC breast cancer. I asked and both MO and endocrinologist deny any connection between the two but I still wonder.

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  • jennsaro
    jennsaro Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2015

    No, no one told me. I see my endocrinologist next week so it will be interesting what he has to say.


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  • vbishop
    vbishop Member Posts: 616
    edited October 2015

    I had thyroid cancer 15 years ago; officially cured 5 years ago. After my first annual visit with my endo after BC surgeries (approx 3 months after replacement surgery), we discovered my thyroid levels were way too high. Apparently, the trauma of the surgeries played havoc on my thyroid levels (note: I didn't feel traumatized, but apparently my body did). We are still trying to level out the meds to get my thyroid levels on par. So....heads up. You probably know when your thyroid levels are off by now, so listen to your body and go see your endo if you think things are off.

    I've read several studies that suggest there is a correlation between thyroid and breast cancer. But, to be fair, thyroid disease in women is so common these days...and with 1 in 8 women being diagnosed with bc, odds are that many have thyroid issues or a history of thyroid cancer.

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  • texas94
    texas94 Member Posts: 204
    edited October 2015

    I had thyroid cancer and a complete thyroidectomy in 2004 (no radioactive iodine), then ILC breast cancer in 2007 and 2014. There's one genetic test for a link between thyroid cancer and breast cancer, but I tested negative, and the dr told me it's actually a very uncommon mutation. I agree with vbishop; I think it's more likely coincidence, since both are more and more common.

    After the past round of BC, I had an oophorectomy and started Femara, then roughly 6 months after finishing treatment, I found myself extremely hypothyroid with a TSH of 75! I'm frustrated to say the least, but as you all probably know, it's also a GREAT relief to find out you're hypo and not instead actually losing your mind. With normal TSH range being .7- 4.7, a level of 75 very much explains the severe arthritic pain and loss of roughly 50 IQ points I've endured for the past couple of months. Thanks goodness it's something I can fix.

    I hope others keep tabs on their thyroid levels better than I did!

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  • bellhouse7
    bellhouse7 Member Posts: 15
    edited November 2015

    I was diagnosed in august with breast cancer on the left, cancer discovered in lymph nodes on the right side. pet scan showed something on the left side lobe of thyroid gland. ultrasound tomorrow of the thyroid, diagnostic mammo on the 9th, and maybe a fna on the nodes on the left. apt with onc on the 9th. it keeps on and on ...

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  • jennsaro
    jennsaro Member Posts: 29
    edited November 2015

    I'm sorry that I haven't posted any updates. It's all such a whirlwind. My endocrinologist said that in all of his years treating thyroid cancer patients, he had never had one develop breast cancer. Strange! I got my genetic testing results and it's negative, thank goodness. The lymph node under my arm that was biopsied was malignant. So the lumpectomy is now on hold. Last Friday I had a port put in and see my oncologist on Thursday morning and to get set up for chemotherapy. I was so hoping I wouldn't need chemo. I'm all stressed out about losing my hair and feeling sick. I feel fine right now. I don't feel sick.

    Have any of you had any success with gofundme website? I am overwhelmed with bills and a friend suggested this to me. Can any of you help a little or at least maybe post the website to your own facebook accounts? it's justfundme . com / jennifersaroka. I spaced it out as I wasn't sure if the filter would block it. thanks so much for support in any way, moral, prayers, financial help and more prayers

    Jenn

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