Parathyroid disease and breast cancer

I realize that this is the IDC forum, but I'm posting here because of the hyperparathyroid topic. It looks like most people commenting on this have had IDC. I had DCIS in 2016, so I apologize if I shouldn't be posting here.

This thread caught attention because I had hyperparathyroid surgery in 2015. It seems to be quite common, but it was actually me who diagnosed it and went to my doctor saying "I want to discuss my labs with you". This doctor had started monitoring my calcium level in August 2013. He told me that my calcium was too high and to stop taking my calcium supplement to see if that would improve my levels. It didn't. I decided one day to go on line and looked at my labs. I noticed the PTH being high and researched it. I went back to my doctor and asked him about it. He excused himself from the room (obviously to go do some research on it) and came back after about 15 minutes saying that I needed to see an endocrinologist who specializes in parathyroid problems. I had the surgery soon after. The bone density test was done several months later and showed that I had osteopenia. I left that doctor shortly thereafter. I have asked my new doctor to have the bone density test again to see if it has improved. Since my calcium levels are normal now, she has said that we should wait.

My DCIS was diagnosed less than a year after the parathyroidectomy. My oncologist didn't put me on any meds after my lumpectomy and radiation treatment due to both the osteopenia and an inherited gene that my dad gave me (lol) that puts me at high risk for blood clots. I think I will push for it at my next visit, I really want to know if my bone density has improved.

I have to wonder about this. About five years before the hyperparathyroid my first calcifications were found and biopsied, which turned out to be benign. Now almost five years after the DCIS I had calcifications (benign) again. Does anyone know whether the high calcium in the blood contributes to the calcifications in the breast?

I will do some additional research as I do find this interesting.

zebra

Hello Zebra,

I have just read your interesting post.

You can see my own parathyroid and breast cancer story on this thread. When I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2005, I was told that they could see calcifications around my neck. I had high calcium levels in the blood and it was though that my cancer may have spread. My oncologist, breast cancer surgeon/endocrinologist carried out tests. They would have carried out parathyroid hormone tests, PTH, as well as the calcium level. They diagnosed hyperparathyroidism. I went through my cancer treatment and recovery and finally had a parathyroidectomy to remove a large, non malignant adenoma on the lower right parathyroid gland. My calcium etc. Immediately became normal. I was told that the adenoma had definitely preceded the breast cancer and that I had had it for a long time.

Bone density scans showed osteoporosis. I have not had any follow up scans but I do get calcium in my diet and do not take calcium supplements. I take plenty of vitamin D, high doses, and have sugar-free soy milk with added calcium etc., enriched sugar free soy yoghurt, and eat plenty of nuts and seeds, tinned wild red salmon and sardines with their bones.

Sending best wishes.

Sylvia

HI Jons-girl, there's no such thing as a stupid question--just a learning opportunity!! Ask away! A PTH test measures the parathyroid hormone level in your blood. Results may vary over time, as do blood calcium levels, but they are an indicator if something is going on with your parathyroids if either/both is high. I'm not sure anymore, of the "normal" range, but they suspect if over 10. It doesn't sound like either of your mother's readings are too high. Calcium levels, especially, would be high, not low, in the parathyroid results if there was an adenoma. She might ask to have her Vit. D. level checked. Low D can cause osteoporosis.

As for you having joint pain, it could be a symptom of parathyroidism. Your blood calcium, though, sounds fairly normal, but it doesn't hurt to ask your doctor for additional tests like the PTH and pursue answers if it keeps rising. Here's a list of symptoms and tests https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15043-parathyroid-adenoma-diagnosis--treatment

Related question – hope that is ok.

Has anyone had trouble with their remaining thyroid after radiation or starting AI's (particularly anastrozole)? I had a parathyroidectomy in 2003 – had 3 paras and 1 thyroid removed. I have something called mulitple endocrine neoplasia – inherited. Thyroid has been fine, but I take calcium to make up for my lost parathyroids. Fast forward to Jan 2019 diagnosed with ILC, then surgery, then radiation in May/June, started anastrozole in July. My TSH at that point was 1.3 but has risen to the point that it was in the 7's last month. My new endo did not really have a reason for why, but it just occurred to me (and my husband) that maybe it was the anastrozole or the radiation that ruined my remaining thyroid. Has anyone else had remaining thyroid go bad after starting Ais or having radiation? If so, just wondering how you fixed it. Dr. put me on thyroid meds which I am not happy about…taking the AI (now letrozole) is bad enough.

Ceanna - Thanks I may try that ~ if I can figure out how to. It is such a small segment of the people here I imagine there are even fewer that are affected by Parathyroid AND thyroid issues...

Autismmom, there may be more people with both than you think. I had both thyroid and parathyroid surgeries, but I never took AIs so don't have that in common with you. To start a new thread, go to the "All Topics" section, find the forum you want to post under and click on that forum. Then look for the button to "Start a new topic."

Lillyishere thank you for posting. I switched to the Letrozole because the Arimadex was messing up my joints so bad, but I am not better off joint wise with the Letrozole. And if there is even the chance it is messing up my thyroid then I want off of it. I have an MO appointment next week, going to discuss the possibility with them. Take care!

Howdy albc70,

Same here Breast cancer then PTC, Had the same thing happen graves disease hit me like a hammer . While my thryroid did suddenly enlarge it was not until my numbers went crazy and I lost 60 # in about 5 mts. They told me from all the test my thyroid did not have any cancer then ended up finding a 2.2mm spot in same side as breast cancer

Hello everyone,

It would be nice if we could keep this thread active.

I remain convinced that my breast cancer was caused by an over-active parathyroid gland that was undiagnosed and not showing any symptoms of which I was aware.

My breast cancer surgeon/endocrinologist told me that the parathyroid problem had preceeded the breast cancer.

Best wishes.

Sylvia