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Has anyone had thyroid issues after head and neck radiation?
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Oct 28, 2021 | Replies (14)Comment receiving replies
Hi @srm, I know that @msherfinski has talked about having lymphedema of the neck after H&N cancer treatment. You can read his story here:
- Lymphedema in the neck after laryngectomy https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lymphedema-in-the-neck/
But you're asking about thyroid issues. Radiation therapy to the head, neck, or upper spine is one of the most common causes of thyroid problems after cancer treatment. You can read more from Cancer.net here:
- Thyroid Problems https://www.cancer.net/coping-with-cancer/physical-emotional-and-social-effects-cancer/managing-physical-side-effects/thyroid-problems
I'm glad to hear that you've already got an appointment to discuss this with your doctor as thyroid issues are treatable. Hopefully treating the thyroid will ease the throat pain. Will you update once you've spoken with your family doctor? Have you reported this to your oncologist or symptom management nurse?
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I am 1 1/2 years from my last treatments and I have the same happening - my Dr wouldn’t do the labs to test my thyroid so for a year I had symptoms and thought I was dying again - finally at another dr recheck I asked if this dr would request the labs and I had really high thyroid numbers diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I in total had 1 Dr refuse sayin this would not happen and another Dr saying it was not his job to request the labs for me - finally 1 Dr that cared enough to say sure we can do that, thank God