Stats on Thyroid cancer after Breast cancer and chemo

I have been taken off the Tamoxifen due to a progating DVT in Feb 2011. 6 months of blood thiining injections and I am now on Arimidex.

I had 23 nodes removed in the Axcillary clearance with 2 being affected. I didnt have the right breast removed but did have 2 ops on it to get the clear margin and had mild reconstruction work done at the time. My lump was under the right breast on the back muscle wall - so my reconstruction work was like a breast reduction operation.

I also was HER2 positiove & had the herceptin for the 12 months. Have been in remission for 2 years now so its fingers crossed that continues.

At present I am going thru the stages for genetic work. Very interesting.

Thyroid is also considered to be a "Forgotten Cancer" so I am also registered with the 'Cancer Council Victoria' & doing that survey which may require some saliva swabs in the future too.

Off in October to the BCNA National Conference in Sydney.... really looking forward to that and hearing all the speakers & meeting those in a similar phase of life.

Kerry

So glad to hear you are doing well......lets hope it continues that way.

Kerry xxxx

I had 2 tumours on the right side of my thyroid. I have only had one round of RAdioactive Iodine. I hope I dont have to have more. They have found I have crohns disease since having chemo. So Not sure if that is connected in any way. I am still on Tamoxifen for Breast cancer for another 4 years. I have had one year of Herceptin infusions. Right Breast removed Oct 2010 and 17 lymph nodes removed with sentianal node with cancer. So I am now back at full time work and feeling really good after all the treatments. Still seeing doctors every 3 month and the usual blood tests and CT Scans etc.

Take Care, Thanks for all the info and research you have found.

Chrissy D :) xo

I had my

Thyroid removed on 29th October last year and also had Radioactive Iodine in Royal Brisbane in April this year. I am also on Thyroxine tablets until I die.

I feel really well now and looking forward to the rest of my life.

Hope you are doing well.

Chrissy D xo

When the Dr at Breastscreen was feeling my glands he mentioned that I had a goitre. It wasnt a goitre but a 3.3cm tumour in the right lower lobe of the thyroid. I have had the thyroid removed March 2010. Since then I have had 3 rounds of radioactive iodine - Nov 2010, June 2011 & May 2012. The last round was a larger dose than the others in the hope I wouldnt have to another roundf of iodone. There have been evidence that the thyroid cancer cells are in my lungs and even though my cancer cell count is dropping it hasnt dropped enough to stop treatment. It will be another 3 odd weeks before I know if the last lot of treatment has been successful or not.

Hi Chrissy,

My diagnosis of Breast Cancer in Dec 2009 resulted in identifying I had Thyroid cancer  (Jan 2010) as well.

Thyroid cancer is usually a slow growing cancer so it is most likely that I had thyroid cancer first.

I am a little unusual as both cancers are primary.

My research has indicated that when a woman has thyroid cancer early in life & it is removed it is possible that 10 to 15 years later Breast cancer can occur due to the taking of Thyozine. It is believed that this drug replacates the neccesary hormones us women need.

There is also another line of research that scientists are following that the hormones these 2 cancers affect are very similar, hence the possible connection.

My oncologist does not beleive that there is an increased risk of me developing secondary breast cancer, so I am invetsigating this avenue of my own. I recently had my 3rd round of radioactive iodine treatment (Thyroid) & spoke to a dr who believes there is a link.

I guess it is an individuals interpetation of things but I certainly would not dwell on the possibility to the point of being distressed, but certainly keep channels open for ongoing information.

Best of luck

Kerry

HI Chrissy,

 I spoke with my oncologist today about a link between thyroid cancer and breast cancer. He doesn't believe there is a link. He said the supposed link was thought to come from radiation of the breast which might be too close to the thyroid. He doesn't think enough radioactive scatter could occur to cause this. My research through Google suggested that breast cancer might follow thyroid cancer, but not the other way around. I think I prefer to go with the oncologist on this one, as I don't want anything else to worry about.

Love Chris xx

Thank you Chris for your reply. It does make you wonder.

See if anyone else has an opinion.

Love Chrissy D xo