Cobalt radiation induced thyroid cancer & other health issues

Welcome @debdoc101, I moved your message to the Thyroid Cancer group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/thyroid-cancer/

As well as the Aging Well group: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/aging-well/

Fellow members @sueblue @ltecato have talked about radiation-induced late side effects and may have more to add.

Deb, this 1999 paper echoes your experience.
- Thyroid Carcinomas After Irradiation for a First Cancer During Childhood https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1105656

Hello @debdoc101, I would like to add my welcome along with @colleenyoung and others. While you wait for members to share their experience, I thought I would share this 2017 article that discusses radiation induced thyroid cancer in case you haven't seen it.
-- Radiation and Thyroid Cancer:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5454824/
Have you tried searching PubMed to see if you can find a related study? Here's a link that shows the search results for "childhood radiation induced thyroid cancer": https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=childhood+radiation+induced+thyroid+cancer&sort=date&filter=simsearch2.ffrft

Another good search engine for finding the latest medical research is Google Scholar. Here's a link with search results for the same phrase using Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C24&as_ylo=2022&q=childhood+radiation+induced+thyroid+cancer&btnG=

Thank you. I am most interested in the late effects of the Cobalt that was used in the early 1950s on a multitude of children for non-pathological reasons.
Thymus, acne, tonsils, feet for shoe size determination…
Thank you for your reply. Will go to the links you shared.

I had Cobalt treatments in the 50’s for burn scarring on my upper chest, right below my neck. (Work was done at CHOP and Dr C Everett Koop who became the US General Surgeon) I think that these were in the early stages of using this therapy. I was located by CHOP about 20 years later to be tested for Thyroid Cancer. I was OK. (Don’t know if I ever need to be retested). I ended yo with a Meningioma. Through research I found out that they were happening to people who had Cobalt treatments in the 50’s, usually for head and/neck issues. My scars are about an inch under my neck and I was wondering if the tumor was from that. Apparently it was there for many, many years before it was discovered. I understand that Cobalt treatments were stopped and the only thing that they use Cobalt for is Gamma Knife procedures. (Which I had to remove the tumor or keep it from growing). I’ll have my 6 month checkup in September. (2024).

My sister just sent me this after I unexpectedly had an aggressive malignant brain tumor removed on April 28, 2025, here in LA. See my profile @phylliszimblermiller for a brief explanation.

Below is the explanation email I sent yesterday to my siblings (Mitch is my husband of 55 years and Yael is my 41-year-old daughter with whom in Sept. we moved in together; I am the oldest of 4 followed by Jay, then Debra who sent me this info, and Edward):

At end of Mitch's and my meeting with chemo Dr. Rudnick today -- Mitch asked if they knew what causes brain tumors.

Rudnick said that sometimes it is pretty obvious -- he gave the examples of a nuclear person on a submarine and pilots who are exposed to cosmic radiation. And he said something about now finding this out 50 to 60 years later.

And then I suspected and told him:

I had my tonsils out at age 4 in 1952 EXCEPT that before then I had radiation treatments so that I wouldn't need the surgery.

P.S. Remember, Jay, that in 1972 or 1973 when Mitch and I came back from Philly for the seders you took me to that radioactive scan? That's when it was discovered that radiation treatments could cause thyroid cancer 20 years out (and I had that partial thyroid surgery in 1974; 3 nodules are still being tracked by my endocrinologist).

P.S. I do not know if it was COBALT radiation. I just know it was radiation treatments.

Interesting. I am 67 had my tonsils out when I was 5 with complications- have no idea what I received during that time. However my maternal grandmother died of thyroid cancer so I was believing that there is a genetic component. Then recently my youngest son (29) was diagnosed with thyroid cancer....just awful. He s doing well after a total and RAI...

Hi
I am a baby boomer - after war.
I was young in Wellington Hospital for tonsils and adenoids out. Scared of the plug, water and monstrous bath. My bro was in too. I was probably 4 before starting school or later 1953 plus.
I was discovered with thyroid cancer at aged 70 along with Stroke - embolic, Rapid & Persistent AF. Thr thyroid probems caused the AF which caused the clot and the stroke!
So interesting what you are saying. I'm in NZ.
My bro hasn't thyroid cancer though. Lots of other cancers amd problems.
I was very sick after operation and couldn't eat my icecream and jelly. My bro ate mine.
The surgeon couldn't say why I had thyroid cancer papillary. Yes down the lymphs.
4th year my ultrasound found 77mm macro calcification. 2 Lynohs 8 & & and 19mm x 9mm area poss thymus.

So its interesting. What you say. Any research papers I could read?

Thank you.

JOY

Hi
So if tonsils and adenoids surgery removed there would not be any cobalt radiation involved?

I can still remember the mask to put me out. Very sick after vomiting and vomiting.

After that I ask for a 'special anaesthetic. It works every time. Awake HUNGRY!

cheri JOY