Anyone else with thyroid cancer too?
When I met my oncologist for the first time I joked to his receptionist that I must have reached my expiration date. Well, I just found out that I have thyroid cancer too. I was so upset that I left his office without a copy of the biopsy report so I don't even know what type it is but I do know that he said it is not an aggressive kind. Ultimately, I guess this is not a big deal but I was certain that the biopsy was going to come back benign. I had found on the web that thyroid nodules benign or malignant come up as a hypermedabolic on PET scans but sure enough my parts are expiring one by one. I will find out more after Thanksgiving but they will probably take the nodule and the thyroid out. I looked up some information on the web about thyroid cancer and there is a relationship between the thyroid and the breasts, so I'm just curious if anyone else has had thyroid cancer too? Thanks for listening to my whining...
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I was diagnosed with Graves Disease about a year ago. Perfectly healthy thyroid that was being attacked by my body. My specialists don't seem to feel that there is much relation between the breast and thyroid, except in my case, they might both be auto-immune. What I can tell you about is the surgical thyroid removal if that is the course of action that you and your team pursue.
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Thyroid nodules are common in adults and typically 95% of them are benign.
Uptake was seen in my throid nodules on two successive scans so I was sent for an ultrasound. As you described, I was very much in a "what now?" mode.
My oncologist explained that since my nodules (it turned out there were two) were solid they could not be dismissed as cysts. She recommended seeing an endocrinologist to discuss a biopsy, but she didn’t seem too concerned.
I saw the endo--My thyroid blood test came back normal–although “normal” is a definition that is hard to pin down in thyroid circles. As the endocrinologist recommended, I made an appointment to get my nodules biopsied. Nodules generally aren’t biopsied unless they are 1 cm or larger. Mine were 1.5 cm–so not so big as these things go.
The biopsy was hard, IMO, because one nodule was hard to reach. After a few pokes, I said that was it, no more! So only one was biopsied and it was ok.
In my own reading, I learned thryoid cancer is typically slow growing. One question that occurred to me, was what would I do if my nodule was cancerous? If it is so slow growing, is it worth treating given I have mets? I didn't have to answer that question, so far. But I think this is a case where a second opinion would be very justified--I learned that thryoid discussions are not always clear cut.
Hang in there.0 -
Thank you both. I am hanging in there so far.0 -
Hi Music Lover,
I had a micro-carcinoma of the thyroid, as well as Plummer's disease and Hashimoto's disease at various points. I've had my thyroid removed, one half at a time. I've also had all four parathyroid glands removed with one put back after it was cut down to size. There are actually quite a few genetic syndromes that make one prone to developing both breast and thyroid cancers. Given my life-long tendency to develop benign growths, on top of my breast and thyroid cancers, I was tested for MEN1 and MEN 2 (MEN stands for multiple endocrine neoplasm syndrome). It turned out I had neither of those. Then a clever geneticist tested me for Cowden's Syndrome, and while I don't have the most classic form of Cowden's, I do appear to have a variant involving a mutation "of unknown significance" on my PTEN gene. I'm part of a study at the Cleveland Clinic as a result.
It's actually good to know about these possible genetic syndromes. For instance, I found out about an woman in England with Cowden's and MBC who has had a spectacular result with a PARP inhibitor presently in phase 1 trials over there (AZD5363). I can only hope that drug eventually becomes available over here. But knowledge truly is power, and knowing something about the genetics of my disease does make me hopeful that more targeted treatments will eventually be found for me.0 -
I just saw this:
By Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S.
Mar 03, 2013
For years it was believed that there must be some connection between breast and thyroid cancer, but research has proven this not to be the case. And though a woman may end up diagnosed with both over time, it is not because one causes the other, though both are considered endocrine-related cancers (hormone related). It is simply the fact that breast as well as thyroid cancers are cancers that commonly effect women.
There is one exception, however, that does link these two cancers “together.” That exception is having had radiation as a child. For adults who survived a childhood cancer that involved mantle radiation (radiation to the torso, and commonly including the neck area), their developing breasts, as well as the thyroid gland, were also exposed to high doses of radiation. This radiation, though clearly needed to save the life as the child, can later in life cause cancer to form in either or both areas.
Adults who as children had radiation of the adenoids also have a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer in later adult years, too. (People who are now in their late 60s or 70s today may have received radiation to the adenoids as children, rather than having them surgically removed.)0 -
Thank you again ladies. I just put in for genetic testing so I when I find out I will post that too. There is so much information on the web it's amazing. Thanks for the article.0 -
I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had my thyroid removed. I was told (off the record) that it was likely that it was caused by "scatter" from the original rads to the chest wall after my mastectomy. The rad onc was adamant that it was just a coincidence (but I do think she was afraid I would sue her or something!). It made sense to me. A nodule lit up on the pet scan but when the thyroid was removed it was riddled with cancer. I have no history of any genetic or autoimmune disorders that would cause either breast or thyroid cancer, so I am assuming it was the rads.
That said, I sure wish breast cancer was as easy to treat! They were going to do a radioactive thing on me but when they put in the tracer there were no thyroid cancers to show any uptake, so I didn't have to do it. I take Synthroid every day and haven't had any problem since.0 -
Yes, I also have thyroid cancer. Mine was also the "good" kind, papillary. I had half my thyroid removed (long story) and take thyroid medicine. I see the ENT and have an ultrasound once each year. It's been no big deal--nothing compared to BC.0 -
Hi,
Can you give me some input? It is thought that I have a met to my adrenal gland, but I'm not so sure. In August I had my first Pamidronate treatment over 1 1/2 hours (protocol, even though I asked for 3 hours)that was really hard on me-the day after I was really sore and out of breath and anxious feeling followed by what felt like a fever the next night. I have also had blood pressure problems after my CT scans and am thinking the problem was the Gastrografin solution I had to drink before the scan. I found some information that says if the electrolytes aren't balanced it can cause blood pressure problems and hypothyroidism-my hair that's just coming back for the second time in four years was thinning over the summer..http://imaging.bracco.com/sites/braccoimaging.com/files/technica_sheet_pdf/gastrografin_prescribing_information_oct._2011.pdf
I am wondering whether I actually have a met or it is showing as shock from the Pamidronate treatment which was aggravated from the Gastrografin-I've had 5 CT/bonescans in 1 1/2 years. The doctors say right now it isn't critical (not to them, but to me it is) and I can have another scan later to see how things are. I have the option of TDM1 or possibly another chemo if covered by insurance, radiation to the adrenal or surgery. Yay. I also have a few spots on the lungs and who knows how long they've been there-they also just happen to be on the side where I had radiation, or maybe the adrenal gland put out a signal when it was stressed. Leading up to the latest scan in mid-Sept I had two Herceptin treatments, Pamidronate, flew to Van (8 hours' drive away) which can be dehydrating, and walked 8 km in a cancer fundraiser-this was over a period of 5 weeks.. I had wanted to do 10 km in the walk but my back was hurting and I had uncontrollable sweating. I had also had the sweating when I went for a walk in Van.
Most of the problems have resolved since then. My blood pressure is reading okay again, I don't have the sweating problem when I walk, although it is winter now. I don't know if I have a thyroid issue because I can't seem to have the TSH, free T3, and free T4 at the same time-the doctors have been ordering separate tests. My cortisol levels are okay and I feel pretty good. I have not had anymore Pamidronate and the doctors have said since I had taken a bisphosphonate treatment for almost 2 years (was on Clodronate before the Pamidronate) that I didn't have to have anymore. I also have said I will not be drinking Gastrografin anymore. I have been in contact with a nutritionist who recommended 1/4 tsp of a good quality sea salt over the course of the day and that has made a big difference.
Does anyone have any experience with adrenal mets or adrenal issues? Should I ask them to have a look at my last head MRI in Aug. to see the pituitary gland? Bon, do you have any recommendations? I had seen an endo in Van back in April and he said he didn't really deal with breast cancer and he assured me that I was fine-he left a voicemail for me after I had my scan report sent to him and he recommended surgery.
It's unbelievable that there isn't a specialty of endocrinology/oncology-this illness is so hormonal. I had been having adrenal problems and thyroid symptoms for years. Six months before I was originally diagnosed I had saliva testing that showed adrenal issues and although my estrogen level was okay, my progesterone was lower than the lowest level. My doctor at InspireHealth in Van said she was sure I had adrenal exhaustion before my diagnosis and they're thinking it's leading to chronic diseases and cancer.0 -
Thanks again everyone. I am wondering if the thyroid is always removed along with the nodule and why? I hope someone has information for journey61, best wishes.0 -
This past Monday I met my head and neck surgeon and he said that my biopsy falls into a "gray area", not clearly benign and not clearly cancer. So they are sending a sample to a location in California, this additional test will tell if it is benign or still indeterminate. If it comes back benign, no worries. If it comes back indeterminate, then I'll get an ultrasound in 6 months to see if there has been any growth. If it grows, then we will discuss if it should be removed. Hopefully it comes back benign, so I can remove it of the list of things to worry about. Looking for some miracles....
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Wow, I thought I would be the only one with this combo. The support I have received by being here is absolutely amazing. Where else could I find someone who would get this?! I have been monitored for thyroid nodules for a couple years (accidently found during another test). Hasn't alarmed me too much until now I am diagnosed with bc. My endocrinologist told me that my thyroid is way down on my list of priorities compared to the bc, so he did order another ultrasound, but does not want to see me until March, well after my pending mastectomy. So I have not been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, but started to think about what are the chances of having both. And here I thought that the worst I had to worry about was the possibility of thyroid cancer. BC has a way of putting other things in perspective. I no longer wake up in the middle of the night worrying about work or thyroid cancer
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TB90, Best of luck with your surgery. My oncologist said the same thing, thyroid is much lower on the list. Thyroid nodules are very common for women and I have heard that if you have multiple nodules as opposed to one, they are more than likely benign. I have one large one and a smaller one, so maybe I'll get lucky. I hope your bc is local? You don't state your stage, I hope you caught it early. Again, best of luck!0 -
MusicLover: My mastectomy is not until a week today, so it has not yet been staged. The biopsy said DCIS with focus suspicion of invasion. I know from reading other posts that Dx can change following surgery so am hoping for the best and no huge surprises. After what we have been through or are going through, I do believe our oncologists, that we will breeze through whatever they have to present us with. Keep me posted about your results if you wish to share. Nice to share this experience with someone. What did they do before the internet? I never would have found other women sharing this unique situation.
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The oncologists here stage before surgery and they don't offer surgery for stage IV. I might be able to get surgery if I push for it. I am staying hopeful that I can be around for years and years as my oncologist says I will but I think he says that to everyone. I made a huge mistake and trusted by primary physician, I won't get into the details. I would like to think that this is God's plan but it definitely was not my plan. What you are going through may not be a breeze, I am sure, but you can find peace in the fact that you have been brave and you are doing what you need to do to live. So when it gets tough just remember that. (By the way, you sound very brave.)0 -
MusicLover: Maybe your oncologist really believes that and does not say that to everyone. Maybe he sees something in your situation that makes him really believe that. I have heard about others who have been brutally honest, so I do not think they all sugar coat things. Just have some faith in his belief in you and let yourself have a bit of peace of mind. My strength comes from finding any silver in the lining of the storm clouds. I do get very scared at times of course. The possibility of having thyroid cancer on top of breast cancer would make me crazy if I did not allow myself to trust my specialist and put that problem way down on the worry list for now. I am a counselor and when I tell someone that I believe they will be fine, I really mean it. I find something else to say to the others that is also encouraging, but honest. Hang on to those positive words.
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Thank you so much TB90! I have been trying and it does help to get through the day, week, month if I keep positive. I just have a lot of regret, I mean a lot of regret and I am hoping for a miracle, you know? I have to get myself out of the rut, so thank you. At first, I thought ok I did the wrong thing and I have to live with this and now I just feel panicked that I did the wrong thing. It's terrible but I probably could have been a stage 1 if I only listened to a little voice in my head. So now, I think about leaving my family earlier then I thought I would and I think of them being all upset and then I think of my husband remarrying and life going on fine without me (I hope that they all will be fine, but you know what I mean). It's terrible all of these crazy thoughts in my head. Maybe my onc will be correct. I just hope that years and years, isn't just four years (I really am terribel at the positive thinking). As for you worrying about your thyroid nodules, don't. I doubt that it is cancer, keep me posted on that. Do you need adjuvant chemo or will you know that after they stage you? You said that no lymphnodes tested positive? That's great.0 -
Hi Ladies
I would look into an Iodine Deficiency as it affects the thyroids and breast and many other things. I have done an extensive amount of research on this and just recently started adding Iodine as part of my overall regimen. You can certainly talk to your doctor about this but if you Google Iodine Deficiency you will get a lot of reading.
Good Luck and God Bless each and every one of us on this site!
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Thanks flutterbye, my onc won't let me take iodine for some reason??? I haven't posted this but I did find out from the last test of my thyroid biopsy that it is in fact a benign nodule, so at least I have that going for me (too bad that they didn't make a mistake on the bc dx!!!) God bless you too! and I hope that you are recovering well from your surgeries.
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I have not had thyroid cancer however I was diagnosed with Hashimotos several years prior to being diagnosed with breast cancer and later diagnosed with a parathyroid adenoma. The radiologist who conducted my biopsy stated that he had been noticing a correlation between breast and thyroid cancer. My boss was also diagnosed with breast cancer and then later thyroid cancer. Definitely something to think about!
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Thank you. My thyroid nodule is benign but maybe dr.'s should make the correlation between an abnormality with the thyroid and breast cancer, In other words, if they find something's up with a woman's thyroid maybe they should warn them about the possibility of breast cancer and label them as high risk for breast cancer.
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There is an iodine test that can measure the amount of iodine in your body (my endo ordered it for me; she said no at first and I pushed for it. I'm sure my GP could order it as well. It was covered by insurance too.) - I wanted to check my levels before I began any iodine supplements. I'm glad I had this test because my levels were normal - so, at this point, I'm not taking a supplement.
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I have breast cancer and thyroid papillary cancer as of today. It sucks.
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I wonder if it is possible for a thyroid nodule or thyroid cancer to throw off our hormones?
Beatrice, I hope it gets better for you, at least you found the breast cancer early.
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I have lymphedema and had an ultrasound of the arm. That's when they found the thyroid nodule. The biopsy results came today as cancer. They are both hormone related so I'm not so surprised, just sad. I am posting on this thread just in case someone is searching for this specific situation.
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I had a thyroidectomy back in 1993 and a small cancer was found in the isthmus for which I then had radioactive Iodine 131 treatment. I was then dx'ed with ILC in 2004. My Breast Surgeon said there was no connection between the thyroid issues and BC but I've read subsequently that there is a connection, especially as the thyroid controls a great deal of metabolic and hormonal activity. I think the thyroid issue was one of the factors in my BC dx.
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Last year my friend had treatment of breast cancer. She was quite fine and afterwards she got diagnosed with thyroid too. She got the treatment of cancer in some other ways.
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I just found out that I had thyroid cancer, the papillary follicular kind. It’s been a crazy two months.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. Had lumpectomy and radiation therapy. Thought that was over... never had I thought I would have a second cancer so quickly in 2 years’.
My thyroid nodule was picked up in a routine follow up and I was sent for ultrasound which found multinodular goiter. Had a biopsy but it was inconclusive. My doctor advised that I should just go ahead and have a thyroidectomy. Good thing I heeded.
The histology report was out today after I had surgery and I was really bummed out I had this second cancer.
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Back in 2013 I was discussing the possibility of thyroid cancer. Five years later it has become a reality. I truly believe there is a connection. Rereading all the previous posts does help. Any recent experiences are very welcome.
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I may have responded to this before-- dx breast cancer in 2008-- lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, drugs then in 2014 dx with pappillary thyroid cancer-- tiny- but still needed to have thyroid removed and low dose of radioactive iodine-- everyone in the medical chain of this dx said there was no correlation between the 2--I wondered if not using thyroid shield for all of my mammograms for 15 year may have played into this... I have to admit, while I know that thyroid cancer is the most low level of the cancers and the prognosis was beyond excellent, I was just pissed after having gone thorugh so much with bc.
the follow up is an annual ultrasound, clinical visit and 2 blood draws per year to check levels. taking levothyroxine.... generally feel great- but literally never had a thyroid issue or questionable levels at any point before this.... the nodule was found after a ct scan for a cough I could not shake-which it turns out was the nodule creating an irriation--so I guess I was lucky. It is just so strange to have had cancer twice.... doesn't even feel possible to me. But, on the upside, I feel great- and I am thankful for all of the good health care I have received.....
Surgery was not difficult-one night in the hospital- and I tool a long time off- like 3 weeks (it was summer) and I really wanted to be well-rested before I went back to work. Probably could have gone back after a week.
Just another bump in the road.....good luck
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