Cancer and TSH levels

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?

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.

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.

Thank you

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?

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.

Thx for your reply. No feedback from cancer center but received referral to endocrinologist - earliest appt is in 5 mths. (Great demand in FL, hope this can wait.)

- 4/10 TSH 0.005 LOW
- 5/15: TSH 20.70 HIGH,
ThyroxineT4,Free(Direct) 0.74 LOW,
Triiodothyronine (T3), Free 2.2 OK

@abob, that does seem like a long time to wait after such a sudden change. Are you on an immunotherapy? I might pressure your cancer team a little more about this. My husband's oncologist handled his thyroid medications when Keytruda caused thyroid damageabob That does seem like a long time to wait after such a sudden change. Are you on an immunotherapy? I might pressure your cancer team a little more about this. My husband's oncologist handled his thyroid medications when Keytruda caused thyroid damage.

Yes, he has been on Keytruda immunotherapy for 1 year.
Side effect of Keytruda is thyroid issue.
He developed Afibs, also possibly caused by Keytruda, and is now taking Amiodarone for 3 months (started after the very low reading but before the very high one) which also causes thyroid issues.
Limited endocrinologists within 60 miles, few with new pt appts and those also far out.
Message from cancer RN to person I got in the phone on Wednesday is “reaching out to dr, will get back to you”. We may have to go to cancer center when his dr is at his facility next week. Again, disappointing that their communication is so poor.

Re: Husband with very low > very high TSH:
I reached a cancer center RN today. Altho still no reply from cancer dr re his 5 mths wait to see endocrinologist, this RN saw that dr ordered iron for my husband at upcoming visit next week. We’ll speak with PA at this visit,

I asked RN to put a reminder in notes for Dr that in between husband’s low & high TSH readings, EP did cardiac ablation and started him on Amiordone for 3 months, and I see that this drug increases TSH.

Thanks for listening. I appreciate your feedback and moderating this group.