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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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resort | @resort | Oct 22, 2023
In reply to @aspapla "Dear all, I just had a biopsy which identified thyroid cancer. I am scheduled for a..." + (show)
@aspapla

Dear all, I just had a biopsy which identified thyroid cancer. I am scheduled for a PET CT in a couple of days and then surgery. My question however is: last year I had breast cancer (triple positive) and I just finished my Herceptin treatment. What are the chances that this new cancer is metastatic from the breast? My doctor says they will know after the surgery but I was wandering, what are the chances? Thank you!

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I’m so sorry to hear this horrible news. I’m triple positive breast cancer too and still in the active treatment with Herceptin. What are your symptoms for TC? Do you feel fatigue? How was your TSH level? Pray for you and wish you all the best!

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seagoat3 | @seagoat3 | Oct 22, 2023
In reply to @aspapla "Dear all, I just had a biopsy which identified thyroid cancer. I am scheduled for a..." + (show)
@aspapla

Dear all, I just had a biopsy which identified thyroid cancer. I am scheduled for a PET CT in a couple of days and then surgery. My question however is: last year I had breast cancer (triple positive) and I just finished my Herceptin treatment. What are the chances that this new cancer is metastatic from the breast? My doctor says they will know after the surgery but I was wandering, what are the chances? Thank you!

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Hello! Fellow breast cancer and thyroid cancer survivor here. I was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer [stage 1 (because of young age) papillary with 4 lymph nodes involved) in December 2021 and breast cancer (stage 1 IDC and DCIS-no lymph node involvement ER and PR+, Onco type 17) in February of 2022. There is a correlation between the two, but most doctors I have seen ignore that for some reason, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4770576/#:~:text=Rates%20of%20thyroid%20cancer%20in,treatment%20effect%2C%20and%20genetic%20susceptibility.
I had to put my RAI on hold after thyroidectomy and neck dissection in January 2022 until my breast cancer was treated first. RAI in August of 2022 after DMX with immediate recon in May 2022. Mix of Levo and Cytomel for lack of thyroid and Tamoxifen and Zoladex for BC. I continue to have nodules that are being monitored, but no major changes at the last scan. I also have a friend who had thyroid cancer over 9 years ago and then was diagnosed with BC around the same time that I was. So sorry you are also going through this. I am happy to help answer any other questions you may have. It certainly complicates things, but what has worked best for me is really listening to my body and advocating hard for care- which I have had to do this entire process. Best wishes!

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Dream.catchr | @mickeyambrose49 | Oct 22, 2023
In reply to @mjay "Hi Chris, I think you may be confusing happy2bhere with me, mjay. I have had BC..." + (show)
@mjay

Hi Chris, I think you may be confusing happy2bhere with me, mjay. I have had BC in the past and am now facing TC. I do not know what stage yet as I have not had surgery nor met with my doctor yet. I believe happy2bhere has stage 3 thyroid cancer alone, but I don't want to speak for her.

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I have a 5.2 cm mass on my thyroid. I saw a surgeon about it a few months back and he said that he wanted to wait a year to biopsy because I had just gone through radiation for breast cancer treatment. Do you know if Thyroid cancer travels to other parts of our body. I heard it did not. And do you know if the invasive lobular cancer I had removed and radiated could have traveled to my thyroid. I have had a mass on my thyroid for over 10 years but it grew by 2-3 cm more this past year. Concerning!

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1 reply
cax75 | @cax75 | Oct 23, 2023
In reply to @mickeyambrose49 "I have a 5.2 cm mass on my thyroid. I saw a surgeon about it a..." + (show)
@mickeyambrose49

I have a 5.2 cm mass on my thyroid. I saw a surgeon about it a few months back and he said that he wanted to wait a year to biopsy because I had just gone through radiation for breast cancer treatment. Do you know if Thyroid cancer travels to other parts of our body. I heard it did not. And do you know if the invasive lobular cancer I had removed and radiated could have traveled to my thyroid. I have had a mass on my thyroid for over 10 years but it grew by 2-3 cm more this past year. Concerning!

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Thyroid cancer can reappear anywhere but is still throid cancer. I had my throid removed in 2000, then neck dissection to remove more cancerous nodules in 2003..I still have a thyroid ultrasound every year and had a whole body ultrasound about 10 years after my last surgery. No mre throid cancer!
Now had double lumpectomy for precanerous ADL and now will go on Tamoxophen. Good luck with all.

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colorado73 | @colorado73 | Oct 24, 2023

I had my thyroid removed due to cancerous nodule on right side. It's been 6mths since surgery & Dr sees something on right side of the thyroid bed so she's ordered a PET scan for next week. I had double mastectomy a year ago due to DCIS, estrogen & progesterone+. Been having pain & nerve & muscle issues since that surgery & I see an OT every week due to lymphedema.
Good luck to you.

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1 reply
maggieb892 | @maggieb892 | Oct 25, 2023
In reply to @colorado73 "I had my thyroid removed due to cancerous nodule on right side. It's been 6mths since..." + (show)
@colorado73

I had my thyroid removed due to cancerous nodule on right side. It's been 6mths since surgery & Dr sees something on right side of the thyroid bed so she's ordered a PET scan for next week. I had double mastectomy a year ago due to DCIS, estrogen & progesterone+. Been having pain & nerve & muscle issues since that surgery & I see an OT every week due to lymphedema.
Good luck to you.

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I'm glad you are seeing OT soon. I think mine saved me! She helped me get to the point that I can help myself with home exercises. My lymphedema has been reduced greatly and maybe gone for good, but I'm not giving into chance! I'll do the daily workout and wear the compression garments.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 30, 2023

Several members has talked about having had both breast cancer and thyroid cancer. See these related discussions:
- Thyroid papillary carcinoma, breast cancer, neck lymph node cancer
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thyroid-papillary-carcinoma-breast-cancer-neck-lymph-node-cancer/
- I've had 3 cancers: Thyroid cancer, Lung Cancer and Breast Cancer
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thyroid-cancer-2/

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