Hello Ladies, I am nearly 3 yrs on from Breast Cancer treatment and last week was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland). I have been referred to an Endocrinoligist,but was wondering if any of you ladies have had the same thing,either before being diagnosed with Breast Cancer or not long after Breast Cancer treatment.
Thank-You
Franca
xxx
Moved to “Living with and beyond breast cancer”
This reply was posted bi Mac123
12-10-2013 08:42 PM
Hi Franca
I posted on here several weeks ago about my weird and abnormal thyroid blood results but had minimal response. I finished chemo in August and in May this year my thyroid levels were normal. In July I was in hospital with neutropaenia and when my thyroid levels were checked, they were raised (Hyperthyroidism). However, when they were checked again a few weeks later they were low (hypothyroidism). My Onc cannot understand this variation and I am due for a repeat blood test at the end of this month. If still abnormal, I will be referred to an Endocrinologist. The professionals have no explanation for these changes other than it may be chemo related. I am now waiting with some trepidation to see what the next blood test reveals. It will be interesting to see what your Endocrinologist can make of it. Hope all goes ok for you x
Posted by Mac123
Hi,
I had very low levels of thyroid stimulating hormone after treatment. I was excessively exhausted (even for someone post chemo), but having low TSH is suggestive of hyperthyroidism, whilst my symptoms are suggestive of hypothyroidism. The level just kept getting worse and I eventually saw an endocrinologist. She told me that it is not unusual for her to see ladies after BC treatment. Treatment just sends everything out of balance and it often sorts itself out. It does seem to be very slowly returning to normal. It has taken about 6 months though. I will see her again for a final check next year, but I feel much better.
xxxx
Hi Franca, I read your post with interest. I was diagnosed July 2012 with Breast Cancer, probably as a direct result of my thyroid raging out ofcontrol! I will explain… I thought I had found a thickening in my left breast at least two yrs prior to this - but repeated trips to GP did not get me referred I was repeatedly told I was “too young” to have BC and it was just normal cyclical changes. Anyway, my health started to go downhill from Jan 2012. I felt tired all the time and lost about a stone in weight. GP fobbed me off with stress + anxiety and told me to have a holiday! Anyway by June I was really unwell with racing heart beat and had developed tremors in my hands. Finally GP took me seriously and did a load of bloodtests. It was at this point I was diagnosed with Hyperthyrodism (overactive). I was told I was extremely thyro-toxic and in danger of having a thyroid storm and a heartattack. The blood tests also threw up tumour markers and at this point I finally got referred for a mammogram. I was then also diagnosed with IDC, grade 3 and it was also confirmed it had spread to my lymph nodes. Because the thyroid was still going crazy and I was quite unwell, I was put on 40mg of Carbizamole and given primary chemo, as too dangerous to operate onuntil thyroid stabilised. I was fortunate enough to have a brilliant endocrinologist at Royal Surrey (the best in the country I have been advised!) and an amazing BC surgical consultant who has a thyroid specialism. They really looked after me. I am pleased to say my thyroid is now stable and under control and I hope to be completely off the carbizamole soon. My BC is very ER+ positive and grew quite aggressively and I am sure this is directly linked to the thyroid raging out of control. No one can advise me if there is a correlation between the two. I think there has been a bit of research in the states but there us not a lot published about it. However, although the thyroid probably made the BC worse, I think it saved my life as my GP would not listen to me and I may not have been diagnosed with BC until it had spread even further. I hope your endocrinologist sorts you out… The carbizamole has really controlled the thyroid thus far. Hyperthyroidism (overactive) is rarer than hypothyrodism (under active) and much more dangerous. My endo had never come across someone with Hyperthyroidism and BC - he said its as rare as hen’s teeth!
Hi Hotmonma, I’m sorry to hear you’ve got an overactive thyroid and hope your endocrinologist sorts it out for you.
I’m hypothyroid not hyperthyroid so can’t really help at all I’m afraid but just wanted to jump on this thread to ask if anyone else has heard of a link between levothyroxine (synthetic thyroxine for hypothyroidism) and BC? I read somewhere that even if you are well controlled on average as I have been, levels of synthetic thyroxine in the blood can temporarily go too high and can act like a growth hormone, fuelling tumour growth. If this is true, what am I supposed to do about it? Should I ask my GP to reduce my dose a bit and go slightly hypo to avoid cancer recurrence? Never had too many hypo symptoms anyway, just really heavy periods which the chemo and Tamoxifen will sort out anyway! I’m just finished chemo so based on the comments before I might expect my TSH to be all over the place for a bit anyway 
Morning ladies
Well, I had my blood test for thyroid levels 2 days ago and my GP rang me yesterday-my TSH has gone up from 49 to 73 so I definitely have hypothyroidism! I have to start Thyroxine ASAP. I don’t feel that I have been particularly symptomatic as I put any lethargy and fatigue down to recent chemo and radiotherapy. However, when I think about it now, my periods were excessively heavy prior to my BC, I have suffered with constipation for a long time and I have struggled with my weight for several years so I really don’t know how long thyroid has been abnormal. What is even more confusing is that apparently a blood test in May for thyroid function was normal so I’m very confused!!!
Wishing all of you the very best x
Well i am well confused now! I have been on Thyroxine for Hypothyroidism for at least 5 years, then diagnosed with ILC in Oct 2012. Had no problems with it (regular blood checks during chemo showed no problems) until last Sept wheni started Anastrozole and my system went haywire! Worst thing was my heart went crazy - hospital said it was prob hormone related and gave me Bisoprolol ( betablocker) until further notice. Considering that Thyroxine is a synthetic hormone and starting Anastrozole (also synthetic hormone) has caused me to have this happen resulting in having to take a heart pill and i have a 24hour monitor being fitted next weekend? My GP did full bloods recently and mentioned something about Phosphate levels were borderline/thyroid ‘seemed’ okay i wonder if it is worth asking for another blood test to compare? I am sure that all these drugs can’t be good…Cheers, Michele 