Forum Discussion
Thyroid link?
Hi ladies, Apologies I don't get on here much but I hope everyone is well.
I am currently unwell with a virus and have a feeling of something stuck in my throat. They said it was just due to my inflamed esophagus with the coughing etc but I maintained that it feels different to that and that something is stuck. They finally caved and sent me for CT scan (to shut me up) and that came back with no foreign body BUT incidental finding of an enlarged thyroid.
So yesterday I had thyroid bloods and an ultrasound and the sonographer was very much like "when are you seeing your Dr? This report will be ready first thing in the morning, have they done bloods? Be sure to make an appointment as soon as both results are ready" so of course that got me a bit worried. Phoned my Drs office to ask when bloods would be back, the receptionist dismissed me saying our process is to text you if you need to come in. When I said about them needing both report and bloods she just said "our process is different" and hung up!
I told my husband all this and he said "Not to be pessimistic but is there a link between breast and thyroid cancer?" Which of course there is slight evidence for.
This virus is 1 hell of a nasty 1, only time i remember being this unwell is after the neulasta injections with chemo, my whole body hurts! Doesn't help that my 4 year old is also unwell and hubby is trying to look after us both, run us to Drs, cook and keep up his own work (his boss doesn't seem to understand family prioroty).
Sorry for my whinge, Here's hoping the enlarged thyroid is just from the virus xxx
I am currently unwell with a virus and have a feeling of something stuck in my throat. They said it was just due to my inflamed esophagus with the coughing etc but I maintained that it feels different to that and that something is stuck. They finally caved and sent me for CT scan (to shut me up) and that came back with no foreign body BUT incidental finding of an enlarged thyroid.
So yesterday I had thyroid bloods and an ultrasound and the sonographer was very much like "when are you seeing your Dr? This report will be ready first thing in the morning, have they done bloods? Be sure to make an appointment as soon as both results are ready" so of course that got me a bit worried. Phoned my Drs office to ask when bloods would be back, the receptionist dismissed me saying our process is to text you if you need to come in. When I said about them needing both report and bloods she just said "our process is different" and hung up!
I told my husband all this and he said "Not to be pessimistic but is there a link between breast and thyroid cancer?" Which of course there is slight evidence for.
This virus is 1 hell of a nasty 1, only time i remember being this unwell is after the neulasta injections with chemo, my whole body hurts! Doesn't help that my 4 year old is also unwell and hubby is trying to look after us both, run us to Drs, cook and keep up his own work (his boss doesn't seem to understand family prioroty).
Sorry for my whinge, Here's hoping the enlarged thyroid is just from the virus xxx
21 Replies
- There is a link between breast cancer and hyperthyroidism, and interestingly many breast surgeons are endocrine surgeons. I have Graves disease but it was not even mentioned to me when duagnised with breast cancer as my family history seemed most likely risk.
It may well just be an enlarged thyroid causing a goitre so yes important to get checked. I went on to have a CT but it was just an autoimmune and is under control with medication.
Thyroid conditions are extremely common and especially in women over 50. It's often included in routine blood screening because of this. - @JoeyLiz Hoping you are starting to recover after your horrible sickness. How frightening for you. At least the nasties have been ruled out! I have had an overactive thyroid for around 20 yrs & have been on medication for that time. it was only discovered a couple of years ago that this med was quite toxic & i should only have been on it for around 6 months. It can effect my bones, liver & goodness knows what else but after my Graves disease had come back again only recently, it was decided for me to take a radioactive iodine tablet to "blast" my thyroid back into normality & now i am just on a safe drug forever to regulate it. I asked if my cancer or rad treatment may have caused it to come back at this time but the endo didnt seem to think that there was a link....but who knows!! Anyway, i do hope they get to the bottom of it. I am having regular blood tests like you, to ensure things stay on track. Good luck xx
- What a relief @JoeyLiz! Still so weird to say that about finding a health condition... But hey, it's not BC so reason to smile. I was the same with my gall bladder growth. Discovered during an US for suspicious liver spots. So weird, but that's our life now!
As well as BC, my gene mutation has been linked to thyroid cancer. I was researching tests/scans for this and learned that manual detection by a doctor is as effective, if not better, than by technology. So a couple of times a year I get my GP to check my thyroid. Very easy and low stress. You could add that into your health routine if it will set your mind at ease.
As soon as you're feeling better you crack on with Baby Two. 'Tis the season to be jolly and what could be more cheery than new life?! K xox - Hi @arpie. Yes I asked for one in September at the Freemasons Breast Clinic (Melbourne) but only when I went into the scanning room. It was just there at the side of the machine so they must be in use a bit. It's like a thick band with velcro fastening. The operator had to wiggle it a bit to get it out of the way but it was easy:)
- So you have actually used one @poodlejules ?
The thyroid guard/collar has come up in threads now & then (I started a thread on them in April) - it seems not only are they not often used (I've never been offered one) - I am not sure they are even available, if asked for as we have buses!
Did you have to request it before you arrived for your mammogram? Was it in the Bus or an actual Imaging Office?
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/20766/have-you-been-offered-a-thyroid-guard-for-your-mammogram-increase-in-thyroid-cancer-blamed-on-rays#latest - All the best @JoeyLiz. Hope you improve over the weekend. I've started asking for a thyroid collar now when I have my mammogram . I think they don't routinely use them as the may get in the way of the imaging . It seems too that dentists don't have to use lead aprons anymore either for dental x rays but I always ask for one as I feel I have had enough radiation to last a life time!
- Hoping you feel better soon @JoeyLiz - and that they can sort some treatment as well - or even find out why it happened to you in the first place? I didn't know there 'was' an infective thyroiditis!
take care xxx - Glad to see your response @joeyliz Hoping they get it sorted soon.
- This virus sure has knocked you about!
Hopefully as it clears your levels will be in the normal range.
Take care - Hi @iserbrown thanks for asking.
The Dr said ultrasound showed diffuse thyroiditis (No nodules thank goodness) but wasn't sure if it was infective thyroiditis and as I was still so unwell with this virus sent me to emergency. They did x-ray to rule out pneumonia. They are unsure what to do with thyroid so lots of follow up bloods to keep an eye on levels. Just hoping I feel better soon
