Thyroid Nodules found 2 years after breast cancer radiation treatment

Posted by mjay @mjay, Aug 24, 2021

Has anyone experienced thyroid issues/nodules after having BC radiation? In looking back, I may have had undiscovered thyroid issues before BC, but didn't learn that I had nodules until recently via a cervical spine X-ray. I have a host of other issues that may be attributed to thyroid, but my thyroid levels are "normal" according to conventional medicine standards. I'm also on letrazole now and wondering if this drug or anastrozole has played a role in the thyroid nodule formation as well. Anyone else have similar issues?

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I have not heard of this before, but I will see if I can find any information on this.
Edit; I found some information about the different kind of nodules and the reasons for them but without knowing more information about yours I hesitate to post it because it is just too much. Needlessly wading through non relevant information is a waste of time. That being said, please follow up with your doctors and get to the bottom of it. It might or might not be serious, better to know.
What do they tell you about these nodules?

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I'm not sure if this is okay to post if it's unrelated, this is my first post, but what would be ways to uncover thyroid issues if they are normal by conventional medicine standards? I suspect I've had the same problem but it goes unresolved because of that.

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@auntieoakley

I have not heard of this before, but I will see if I can find any information on this.
Edit; I found some information about the different kind of nodules and the reasons for them but without knowing more information about yours I hesitate to post it because it is just too much. Needlessly wading through non relevant information is a waste of time. That being said, please follow up with your doctors and get to the bottom of it. It might or might not be serious, better to know.
What do they tell you about these nodules?

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Two nodules were confirmed on ultrasound. One was large enough to biopsy and was of low suspicion due to it being a mix of solid and fluid. Solid nodules have a higher risk of cancer. I did have a biopsy due to its size being over 2 cm and am awaiting results. The other was a solid nodule which is more suspicious, but due to its small size is not able to be biopsied yet so I guess it turns into a watch and see situation. Thank you for your response.

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@eileenl

I'm not sure if this is okay to post if it's unrelated, this is my first post, but what would be ways to uncover thyroid issues if they are normal by conventional medicine standards? I suspect I've had the same problem but it goes unresolved because of that.

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My understanding is 50-60% of the population have undetected nodules. 5-10% of nodules may be cancerous. Women have more nodules than men. The most likely way for nodules to be discovered is by happenstance via an X-ray or other scan of the neck area. I suspected thyroid issues almost 4 years ago, two years before my BC, and my conventional doc said since the TSH number was fine, there was no need to investigate further, and, if the TSH number was fine, insurance wouldn't pay for further testing. Thank you, insurance company! I now regret not being adamant about an ultrasound or at least the further panel of thyroid tests, which consists of several other factors than just TSH. Regardless, my numbers were within range, but according to my naturopath, they were low enough to be addressed. Everyone is different and the conventional med numbers may be too inclusive causing missed diagnoses of thyroid issues. I've experienced all kinds of GI issues, burning mouth, dry eyes, brittle nails, depression, and now numbness and tingling in lower legs, etc., the classic thyroid symptoms, and have probably suffered longer than I should have had things been addressed 4 years ago....not to mention the potential for correlation between thyroid's relationship to BC. I'm going to meditate now! Word to the wise: Be persistent in checking out your suspicions!

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I am hoping you get good news and some help from your test results.

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@auntieoakley

I am hoping you get good news and some help from your test results.

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Well, not such good news. I now have thyroid cancer. Good news is it’s of the papillary type which is very treatable. Meeting with doc next week after CT scan. Really makes me wonder what came first, TC or BC, or if BC radiation treatment was what gave me TC. I have a genetic SNP for both so I guess in the end it doesn’t matter. At least this diagnosis wasn’t as traumatic as the first BC diagnosis. I’m getting more experienced! LOL. I hope I will have enough “experience” after this episode to last me the rest of my life. 🥲😂

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@eileenl

I'm not sure if this is okay to post if it's unrelated, this is my first post, but what would be ways to uncover thyroid issues if they are normal by conventional medicine standards? I suspect I've had the same problem but it goes unresolved because of that.

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Sorry, if my response didn’t answer your question previously. Tell your doctor your symptoms and insist on a thyroid ultrasound that will pick up any growths. Good luck!

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Thank you! I will do that, that's helpful to know what to ask for.

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@mjay

Well, not such good news. I now have thyroid cancer. Good news is it’s of the papillary type which is very treatable. Meeting with doc next week after CT scan. Really makes me wonder what came first, TC or BC, or if BC radiation treatment was what gave me TC. I have a genetic SNP for both so I guess in the end it doesn’t matter. At least this diagnosis wasn’t as traumatic as the first BC diagnosis. I’m getting more experienced! LOL. I hope I will have enough “experience” after this episode to last me the rest of my life. 🥲😂

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I am sorry, I thought you were still waiting on those results. I wonder if someone could pull that size 11 shoe out of my mouth now. However, I am glad you seem to be keeping a bit of a sense of humor about it. Husband and I find that it helps us get through it all.

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@auntieoakley

I am sorry, I thought you were still waiting on those results. I wonder if someone could pull that size 11 shoe out of my mouth now. However, I am glad you seem to be keeping a bit of a sense of humor about it. Husband and I find that it helps us get through it all.

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Thank you, and no worries. I just got the results last night. Just trying to keep things in perspective. Apparently there is a relationship between thyroid issues, not necessarily thyroid cancer, and BC, and I’m pretty convinced my TC went undiscovered for quite some time unfortunately, so hopefully others can treat their thyroid issues before BC.

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