1. < Lung Cancer

Cancer and TSH levels

Posted by michele1947 @michele1947, Mar 10 9:24am

Recently diagnosed with bladder cancer and lung cancer. My TSH level has gone up to 16. I have no thyroid as it was removed 20 years ago and I've been on the same Synthroid level pill for 20 years and all of a sudden boom I'm up to 16. My endocrinologist is only increasing me by a whole pill once a week and retesting in 6 weeks which I think is way too long but I don't know what to do.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 10 5:09pm

Hi @michele1947, welcome. Can you help me understand a little more so I can connect you with others? Do you have bladder cancer that has metastacized to the lungs? Or do you have 2 separate primary cancers: bladder and lung? Does your endocrinologist believe that the increase in TSH levels are related to the cancer and/or treatments?

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michele1947 | @michele1947 | Mar 11 11:57am

I am two separate cancers in the long I have squamous cell and in the bladder I have whatever that bladder cancer is but they are two separate ones. I will see my endocrinologist on the 26th but she isn't sure what the increased TSH levels are about she's trying to treat it with the Synthroid that I'm taking. She seems to think it has something to do with illness obviously Cancers and illness but I won't know until I see her and actually have a long talk with her.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sepdvm | Mar 12 9:41am

Hello @michele1947
As a veterinarian, I can tell you that in dogs other illnesses can affect thyroid levels. So they should be doing a total thyroid screen, not just looking at TSH. That is probably what your endocrinologist is doing for you. If your other levels of thyroid hormones are normal then you don't need more synthroid. TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and it tells your body to produce more thyroxine (T4), etc. If the TSH is elevated by other disease, then looking at the T4, T3, total T4, and other thyroid hormones tells you if you should increase Synthroid or not. You can ask your endocrinologist some questions to see what they are testing.

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1 reply
michele1947 | @michele1947 | Mar 12 4:23pm
In reply to @sepdvm "Hello @michele1947 As a veterinarian, I can tell you that in dogs other illnesses can affect..." + (show)
@sepdvm

Hello @michele1947
As a veterinarian, I can tell you that in dogs other illnesses can affect thyroid levels. So they should be doing a total thyroid screen, not just looking at TSH. That is probably what your endocrinologist is doing for you. If your other levels of thyroid hormones are normal then you don't need more synthroid. TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and it tells your body to produce more thyroxine (T4), etc. If the TSH is elevated by other disease, then looking at the T4, T3, total T4, and other thyroid hormones tells you if you should increase Synthroid or not. You can ask your endocrinologist some questions to see what they are testing.

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Thank you

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Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Mar 24 8:05am

Hi @michele1947, I’m sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with both cancers.
I have lung and breast cancers. It can be challenging managing separate doctors and treatments. Have you started treatment for the lung or bladder cancer? Do you have an appointment scheduled with your endocrinologist?

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michele1947 | @michele1947 | Mar 24 10:06am

Yes I've started my immunotherapy treatment which is supposed to take care of both cancers And I have an appointment on Wednesday with my endocrinologist. She will follow why my TSH is going crazy as I do not have a thyroid.

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