Anyone with Thyroid problems?

[kk1]

Had my annual physcial last week and my GP called to say my thyroid does not appear to be functioning properly. Guess that helps to explain the 35 extra lbs I have gained in the last 18 monhts. I have to go in for more blood tests today. She wondered if it was a result of the Zoladex and was going to research thing. Anyone else with Thyroid problems?

ps. on the bright side my brain MRI was all clear! yeah.


kk1

age 47
stageIV
3 week herceptin
zoladex
aromasiin

Which is an auto-immune disease of the thyroid. I have had it for years, way before the BC. I'm not sure if it will get worse with the chemo, but who knows. Just another joy in the life of me.

I also have hasimotos contributing to low thyroid (hypo) which I had several years before dx of bc. Stage 1, er-pr-her2+++

[Barbara2]

KK1, my thyroid is sluggish also and has been for a year or so. I believe the last test was 4.5, with 5 being the cutoff for dealing with the problem. Weight gain has been on the increase for me too. About 15 pounds in 8 months. I'm also taking Arimidex and Herceptin, which may add to the increase.

My onc suggested that I see an endrocronologist for the thyroid problem and also to see what he would suggest for my recent test showing a decrease in bone density. I'm not sure why the oncologist is not giving me something to prevent more bone loss. Will have to question him more the next time I see him. I asked him (through the nurses) if I should be getting something to prevent the next step, osteoporosis, but he said no.

What number did your thyroid show?

I went through 4 rounds of AC and 7 weeks of radiation. I felt terribly tired starting at week 5 of radiation and was told I would feel better within a week after radiation stopped- I didn't. I also gained about 15 pounds and was a mess. I had a blood test that determined a thyroid problem. I was put on Synthroid and felt better within one week. I am still carrying extra weight and cannot lose it even by exercising one hour a day. I am on Aromasin, which may be part of the problem.

[jhandley]

I had a multi nodular goitre dx in 95 and symptoms of an underactive thyroid. I have since discovered that women who have goitres have a higher rate of BC.
Jackie

I developed sudden hypothyroidism 5 mos. after I started Arimidex and 11 mos. after radiation to that area. At same time my blood levels went whacky. My AST (one of liver function tests) was elevated. My testosterone level doubled. Then it went to 6 times normal although that may have been a lab error. My bilirubin was above normal. And, my CEA went above normal. This all occurred about 5 or 6 weeks after the last of 3 unexplained attacks of acute pancreatitis. (One week after last pancreatitis attack, all blood levels had been normal). At time I began having thyroid problems I became extremely exhausted--bone tired and my muscles became fatigued and ached. I also had problems reading--eyes got so tired and couldn't follow line in book. It was very strange.
It was my internist, however, who had wanted me to go on thyroid med--initially when this all happened. My onc. had ordered a PET scan. However, after internist recommended I take thyroid I called the onc. He said to me--"are you SURE you're hypothyroid?" Huh--why is he asking me. He then rechecked blood levels and said to go ahead and take the thyroid medication. Next he rescinded the PET scan and referred me to an endocrinologist. My husband called and 'argued' w/him and he put back order for PET. That showed some activity in submandibular area--but that was not further explored--plus something in lower back/spine.
I was put on thyroid med. and my levels returned to normal in about 6? weeks or so. I also stopped Herceptin--year was up--and had complete hysterectomy/oopherectomy. About the same time that all this was happening I developed a burning in pelvic area--same type of burning pain I had had at time of b.c. dx.
Although I had not previously had an abnormal pap, a pap test was done at my pre-op before the hysterectomy. The results of that showed my first abnormal pap--ever. Pathology report from hysterectomy, though, was benign.

[jessica]

Hi~After a year of chemo, I con't on weekly Herceptin & my weight just started creeping up. To the tune of 18 lbs in 4 mos. I was tragically tired all the time, I'd fall asleep at stop lights& couldn't get thru the day without a long, deep-sleep, nap! My onc kept saying "You look fine.Do you exercise? Are you eating more?" I wanted to scream "I'M A PILATES INSTRUCTOR FOR GOD's SAKE! I'M AT THE GYM EVERY DAY!" My onc also thought I was depressed & kept suggesting I go on an antidepressant.I agreed at one point b/c I knew that Wellbutrin made you feel really speedy & was a good appetite suppresant. Ofcourse it didn't work!
I did go see an endocrinologist b/c I thought I was hypothyroid, but I wasn't. Add'l test showed that I am hypoglycemic and INSULIN RESISTANT. As it turns out, IR may be a secondary effect to long term exposure to chemotherapy. The muscles become insulin resistant, so much of what you eat is not metabolized into energy, just stored as fat. So you're literally, fat and tired.AND, to add insult to injury, steroids increases insulin resistance-so for those of us on pre-meds for chemo, the tendency to be/become insulin resistant is even greater.(I think there's something in the recent edition of CURE mag on obesity/syndrome X/insulin resistance). There was info presented at ASCO in 2004 about this.I was so frustrated w/my onc for not being aware of this-especially the steroids part.
Regardless, I'm on glucophage (aka-metformin) now-500mg bid-I've lost all but 5 lbs of the weight I gained (within 6 mos)& I have lots of energy again.I'm grateful to have found an endocrinologist that had the patience & knowledge to help me out. I was getting really discouraged about the weight gain.
Hope this info is helpful. I'll try & find those studies investigate a link between IR & increased recurrence & mortality from BC & Colon Ca.

[geraldine]

In aug 2001, I was dxd with grade 3 aggressive BC. I took part in the Taxotere clinical trial here in scotland. I had 8 treatments over 24 weeks, signing a disclaimer after the 6th course. It was a harsh chemo from the word Go and several problems arose. After Taxotere I had 24 x rads. Over and above the extra weight I gained, I had bother with eyes, ears, nose and throat i.e swollen tongue, sinus problems, no mucus in nose or ears, sight distorted. It wasn't till I was having rads that a Dr decided to check my blood and after a few tests and a second oppinion, discovered my Thyroid was non existant. They tell me it is the only part of the body, the brain, does not no is not working . I am now on Thyroxine for life. Because of the adverse affect of Taxotere, I couldn't have Taxol (sister drug) when i discovered a second lump under my collar bone 2 years ago and had to have Vanoralbine/Herceptin instead. Thank God it worked and still is. Keep Well and keep strong Geraldine

[mamacze]

Dear Geraldine,
What an incredibly difficult time you have had; I hope you are feeling better now with the Thyroxine. I too have had hashimotos and now take synthroid...hmmm it looks like we are all witnesses to a trend here...
Love Kim from CT

[geraldine]

Hi KK1, Yes some people do have thyroid problems during and after treatment. 4 years ago while on a clinical trial for Taxotere I had bother with my body temp., my sight, taste, hearing and sinus. I was constantly told it was just a reaction that would rectify itself. After finishing treatment, all these symptoms persisted, they got steadily worse. Eventually 6months later, while giving more blood for more tests, the haemotologist decided to check and discovered my thyroid was non existant. I am now on Thyroxine for life, which keeps everything working as best as pos. I still struggle with weight but I can cope with that. I hope everthing works out for you. Glad to hear your scan was clear, keep strong and keep well Geraldine

[kansasrose]

I just spent a lot of time reading this thread. And, I am mad. This is a major problem, it seems, for so many of us! I think that it is true that doctor may have the attitude that we should just be glad we are alive, and get over it. Well, severe fatigue, weight gain, stiffness, swollen ankles, lymphedema.... I think this is serious. A recent trip for scans show that I am 'clean as a whistle' but that doesn't solve the weight problem and fatigue issue. I had Graves Disease about 5 years previous to BC diagnosis. I think it is siginficant that so many of us have had problems with thyroid, diabete (insulin dependent) and that it needs to be reviewed.

I am going to see my primary care oncologist to have bloodwork done for thyroid and glucose function. I suspect something is up.

Rose

[edie]

When I was telling my med onc that I was tired and gaining weight still, she told me to get my thyroid checked because sometimes when we are getting radiation they may "cook" a little close to the thyroid, thus, it may not work as well as it did. My blood work came back ok, but I'll persist, hope you all do to.
Edie

[al from Canada]

Dear frieds,
I have read a fair amount about thyroid issues and there is one school of thought, and a credible one, that current thyroid tests do not pick-up hypo-thyroidism at a sub-clinical level although; that sub-clinical level may have just as profound effects as one with a clinical diagnosis. What I mean by sub-clinical is a thyroid function that is sub-normal BUT is not measuerable with current testing methods; think of it as a tumor too small to be detected with a mamograph.
I have attached an article on testing for sub-clinical thyroid preformance:
http://www.antiaging-systems.com/extract/thyroid.htm
Although this article is on a supplier's website, I believe it has merit.
Regards,
Al