Iodine, thyroid, and breast cancer??
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Kira, that's totally understandable; I seek to get my nutrients from whole foods as much as possible. It would be worth seeking out a kelp source that has a mercury-purity guarantee (not sure if that exists, but it should).
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Julia, I will try seeking out a kelp source, but a question how do I add it to my diet? I'm sure where I live I will not be able to get a mercury-purity guarantee I live in a very small town.
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I used to order kelp in bulk over the Internet, but it's been a while since I did that... you may want to do an online search and include words like "mercury" in your search. As for adding it to your diet, I used to put kelp in soup (any soup, but it's especially good in miso soup). You can include it in many things you cook... casseroles, stir-fries (you'll need to soak it first to re-hydrate it), etc.
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I've been lurking, so may have missed this. I'm hypothyroid and have thyroid nodules. I have the iodine and was about to start taking it when I read that people who are hypo and have nodules should not take it. Can anyone point me to a source that could help me decide? Or maybe I should just return it. Can't decide. Confused.
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Julia, Thanks for the info. I like the sound of adding kelp to soup, and stir frying it sounds great.
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lol Deanna - If only we were like cars - plug us into the computer and diagnose the problem!!!!
Love to all, Patty
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It sure would be great if they could diagnose us like that. It is interesting though as I move through this maze how things are so connected. I have a non working thyroid, I had exema before the breast cancer was found. In fact both issues came up about 7 years ago. It really makes me wonder if they are some how connected. To make things even stranger the exema has not given me any trouble since the surgery which is not normal, I usually needed the steroidal cream daily.
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Just wanted to add something to this whole "thyroid and breast cancer" thing. If you remember, I'm the one that kind of proves the theory wrong - being severely hyperthyroid and later being diagnosed with breast cancer.
It comes out now that I cannot do the hormone therapy - I had started Arimidex as the chemo has put me in chemopause and my levels showed me borderline menopausal.
Little did I know that the estrogen INHIBITS thyroid uptake. In my case, the lower my estrogen, the higher and more dangerous the thyroid levels - to the point of being uncontrollable by thyroid medication. I'm seeing my endocrinologist today and we'll try to work on this issue.
But - why I wanted to bring this up - I am wondering of all the ladies who have hypo-thyroid and got BC, how many of you were ER/PR+? See the train of thought here? High level of "bad" estrogen --> low thyroid -->fueling BC.Which brings up logical conclusion that once anti-hormonal (ER) therapy is started, the thyroid should go more towards normal function, so I am wondering how much the iodine treatment was efficient vs the thyroid getting more towards normal function because of theanti-estrogen medication.
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Day, What an interesting observation. My ER is 99%. PR is 37%. It will be interesting to see as my levels come down what my thyroid levels will do. I usually only have my thyroid levels checked 1 time per year. I will ask the Onc. to check my thyroid levels when he runs my blood work up.
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That's really interesting, Day, and quite logical, since estrogen affects so many body processes. I took the increased dose again yesterday, and had that pain again. And I was starting to think that it's not a good sign (when is pain ever good?) --- and that the additional Iodoral is possibly overloading my thyroid and making it work too hard. Deanna
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Kira-skin eruptions like eczema, acne, roseacea, etc are generally a reaction to the body being overwhelmed with toxins and is trying to detox it out through the skin. Perhaps, getting the tumor out, enabled your immune system to readjust. There is also the theory that skin cancer and breast cancer are caused by the same things, which according to Dr. Epstein, is all the cosmetics we put on our skin.
Estrogen does not cause breast cancer. It is a catalyst for cancerous cells to grow. Instead of blocking estrogen, I never understood there was not more emphasis on lowering exposure to toxins and keeping the immune system healthy.
The reason I think iodine is such a powerful link to preventing breast cancer, is because it gets rid of toxic overload. Nothing else seems to do it as well.
Day, I do think you are onto something with your theory. I also know that some on the iodine group seem to promote iodine for hyperthyroid too. I suppose we all need to see what works best for our own chemistry. What kind of thyroid meds are you on? I have heard many people on the yahoo group comment that different meds, even the more natural ones, affect people differently. Have you tried different compounds?
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Vivre - iodine is out of my life for 7 years now, non-iodine salt, no sea food, no kelp, no anything. My thyroid has a very high iodine uptake and reacts instantly - a shrimp meal would bring on heart palpitations if I dont' take extra Tapazole.
I've been on Methimazole (Tapazole) as ATD medication (in various dosages) + Toprol ER, and as side-treatment, broad-leaf plantain plant-tea as well as fresh leaves poultices on my goiter. I had a significant goiter (was pushing my trachea to the side it was so grown) in 2004, it went completely away by 2006. Now you can't even tell I ever had one.
My Graves Disease was triggered by stress. Even now, my thyroid reacts right away if I go through stress, major stress that is. I was able to avoid it reacting during chemo and surgeries by taking extra Tapazole and Toprol.
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Hi Day, I would like to ask you about your hyperthyroid. I too have hyperthyroid and also have new nodules from my Thyroid US I just had done last week. My endo wants me to have the new ones biopsy(2) and start taking Methimazole 5 mg. I am not sure I can due meds as I have many reactions to meds. I have not found many bc gals with hyperthyroid. Any thought you can share about your experiences would be appreciated.
Thanks.BJ
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BJ,
From the very beginning I have tolerated Methimazole with absolutely no side effect. I was in the beginning terrified of the effect it might have on the liver because back in 1990 I had Hepatitis B (I am not a carrier) - but it never had any effect. Honestly. Nothing. The only effect it had was that it helped my thyroid levels to come back to normal. I was on as high a dose as 60 mg/daily. Apparently my free T4 levels have rarely been attained without dying from it. I was in two thyroid storms (one of them very scary with over 200 bpm HR). But here I am, 7 years after my diagnosis, one year after a RAI to kill my thyroid (I will need a second one as it seems my thyroid is very stubborn). I did have a "cold" nodule from the beginning. Never grew more than 5 mm, never lit up on scans, nothing. They are observing it.
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Hi Day, Thank you for your response about your experience. I have an iodine allergy so I am refusing to due a thyroid scan and uptake. I do have new nodules noted from my ultrasound and will see my ENT next week for a biopsy. I already had one last year which was neg. I think my thyroid issues are due to all the scans I had done over the past 3 yrs with bc. Being hyperthyroid is really making me sick. So I will look into maybe taking this med. I will keep you posted.
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
BJ
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Hi Leah -- I use Iodoral so I'm not familiar with the # of drops to use. Go to the yahoo iodine group....someone there will know.
I use Celtic sea salt and the yahoo group likes that one too. Not familiar with Redmonds.
Funny, cuz I transcribe medical reports for a Cardiology clinic and it is interesting to note that many patients (probably more than 50%) also have thyroid problems.
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How can I find the yahoo iodine/thyroid group?
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Here's the place to subscribe.
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Vanderlady: There is a new doctor's blog on breastcancerchoices.org that discusses this in great deal. http://jeffreydach.com/2009/11/13/iodine-against-breast-cancer-the-overwhelming-evidence-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx?ref=rss.
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dbh823,
That is very simple. Extra iodine results in extra thyroid hormone, hence the people who are hypothyroid do so good on extra iodine, while for hyperthyroid people it would put their life in danger.
Vanderlady, that is a huge problem. Most cardiologists are not aware of the effects thyroid has on the heart. At my last hospital stay, I signed AMA and I did expressedlywrote in it that the cardiologist who was on duty on the cardiology floor was not competent enough to take care of me - the endocrinologist had seen my thyroid results and had recommended increase of ATD and betablocker, and the cardiologist said that he doesnt' think it would affect anything. Out the door he went.
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Day: I am always amazed at the amount of ignorance in the medical community! I have seen many of your post before about the dangers of iodine for a few people. I highly recommend anyone considering iodine to do it under a dr's care.
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Interesting theory, but some estrogen is protective against bc. It depends on the metabolite of estrogen in circulation. If you have a high estrogen levels, but tend to produce the favorable metabolites like 2 methoxyestradiol, instead of, for shortness sake, the "4" estrogen, then you have a much lower risk of every getting bc. It gets confusing!
So let's say you have high estrogen, and low thyroid as a consequence. If you are producing the favorable protective estrogen metabolites, your risk remains low.
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MBJ -- There you are.... I thought you were on vacation or something. Perhaps it's the new picture..... don't recognize you as a pie
. Yes, Dr. Dach is wonderful and so knowledgeable. He is only 2 hours from me and I contemplated going to see him a few years back. Called his office for info and he actually got on the phone and gave me advice. Day -- actually hyperthyroid patients will also benefit from iodine... the iodine helps to reduce the overactivity... helps the thyroid to stabilize. It is iodine that the thyroid needs and with all the bad food we eat and the chlorine in our water and bromine in our bread, our thyroid absorbs that instead of the iodine. Hence, causing lots of thyroid problems. So what's ATD? Good girl listening to your body and not those MDs! Boy, we really have to fight to stay healthy, don't we?
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Vanderlady: Yes, I was in Kentucky for a week with those pies!
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Vanderlady, there's got to be some connection between the thyroid working properly and our body metabolism working the way it should and that would include the estrogen connection.
I finally got my MD to put me on Armour instead of Synthroid that i had been using for close to 10 yrs. During the time on the Synthroid my cholesterol was 240. After starting on Armour it is now below 200. I think there is a connection, now trying to convince the MD of the same.
And BC can be active how long????
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Samsue -- Yes, I took Synthroid for 10 years and developed BC and borderline osteoporosis. That's when I said hold on..... something is not right. Switched to Armour and started iodine. I truly believe my bones are stronger now with the iodine (also stopped the calcium) but I refuse to have another bone scan.
MBJ -- Love the new picture... best one yet! Kentucky.... don't you live in LA? Boy, that must have been culture shock.... hahaha. One of my best friends is from Kentucky and she goes back every year to visit her family who still live in the holler..... love to hear her stories. :-)
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Vanderlady: Thank you-my hair is almost to where it was prior to chemo. Kentucky was beautiful and quite a culture shock indeed! They have a shooting range connected to behind their property for wild turkeys and deer!
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MBJ - Hmmm, so I'm thinking you had some fresh turkey for Thanksgiving! So, did your hair grow in different? I hear sometimes it gets curly on people.
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Vanderlady, I haven't started the iodine yet because I wanted to take each new med one at a time to see if there were any difference/side effects. Not really sure how to start the iodine. I did get some lugols that you put in water.
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Just got an email from somebody who attended the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
There were two presentations on iodine for breast cancer! I don't know the details yet.
Stay tuned.
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