New Concern: Thyroid Abnormality Detected After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

My doctors wouldn’t do a pet scan on me and I wanted it. I also had HR+ and HER2 -, multi focal and lymph nodes; double mastectomy. Good luck to you. Do you have a good cancer medical team?

Hi Angie. Thyroid nodules are pretty common but depending on size and if they light up on PET… you will likely get an ultrasound and probably a biopsy. It’s more likely a primary thyroid process and may still be benign. Breast cancer can go to thyroid but fairly uncommon. Sorry this just adds more worry. Hope rest of PET was okay.

Wendy, at least i have an ideal what to expect now. Dennis, Friday will be the 2nd time I have seen my oncologist. I know i have a hell of a support team. But medical i have no ideal

I had DCIS stage zero. I had a lumpectomy…2 surgeries and went through 21 rounds of radiation. I did totally fine with no side effects other than very light redness. I’ve been done with radiation for almost 2 months and now I’m getting a red very itchy rash where I got a little pink during treatment. Does anyone else have this. It just seems why would it come now??? I’m done

Theresa, I have no idea what is happening, but I can give you ideals to help that are natural. St. Johnwort, as a topical ( in a cream, lotion), may help sooth the skin. This is one of many herbs i am hording like a dragon to help myself, When I reach that point.

Thank you Angie

Theresa, here are a few more. Again, you can find these as topical if you can't drink the teas. Topical may be the best for you. The herbs need to be in coconut oil, cocoabutter, avo ado oil, and ever castor oil

Aloe vera, calendula, and chamomile are often suggested for soothing radiation-induced skin reactions due to their anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties. While turmeric (containing curcumin) also boasts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, research specifically on its use with radiation is limited. It's crucial to discuss any herbal remedies with your doctor or radiation oncologist before use. 

My radiation team recommends Calendula cream. I finished my 21 sessions almost a month ago, but liked the cream so much, I bought more on Amazon and use it daily on my breasts.

Thank you AngieM and Sandra G

Theresa, no problem at all. Things like this are why I am in school for herbal healing.

Theresa, I also developed an irritating radiation rash after my treatments. Radiology told me this is very common. I didn’t develop my rash until a week after completed treatments and again, was told this is also common. I continued to use my steroid cream as prescribed and the Aquaphor Ultra Healing ointment until I cleared up. Best wishes. Any OTC treatments should most likely be mentioned to your physician team.

Dennie, I had an aggressive triple negative and BRCA 2 breast cancer. Initially I was node negative in surgery and all breast margins were clear with double mastectomies with reconstruction. I was not recommended the PET scan like you, but was getting 3 month Cat scans. I was only ordered the PET scan when I metastasized with a palpable lump in my axillary node. That’s when I began my chemotherapy and radiation journey. After treatments, the residual area was cleaned up with more surgeries and preventative treatment began. I had oral chemo and now, I’m currently on a PARP inhibitor after a full year of chemo, to attack the BRCA gene. I’m not a candidate for immunotherapy due to 5 autoimmune conditions and fear of severe reactions. Best wishes and do as Oncology recommends.

Angie, my stepsister just went through that with her thyroid and was told that they’re very common to see nodules on your thyroid sometimes it’s goiter it’s not always cancer and they’re very common

No

Irene R, I’m so sorry you’re going thru all of this. Yours sounds very multi focal. I’m just following instructions like a robot, doing my 19 treatments of radiation and then the hormone blocker after that. All we can do is pray our medical team is good and giving best advice.

Angie M, my thyroid is very low and my doctor has been treating my thyroidism issues for 34 years. My Endocrinologist said once I start radiation it will probably affect my thyroid, so she’s going to do an ultrasound on thyroid after treatments are over. It’s always something. 🙄

I had my lumpectomy in Sept for IDC. Did great. Had 28 radiation treatments. Again did great. Felt great. Then in middle of January I started letrozole. I had headaches and backaches . My Oncologist said take tylenol but that’s not a side . I was so mad. On the info I got with meds, it’s one of the first. Then two weeks later I got Covid. Well I taught through Covid, my husband had it, my son is a paramedic and exposed me. I never got it. I thought how strange. Then have that I had a SVT. Went to cardiologist. He ran all test. He said heart was fine. Then I had a terrible sinus infection, return of blisters I used to get after 5 years, then bronchitis and now bronchitis. My pcp said that letrozole depresses the immune system. Well i threw it away . I had stage 1 , clear margins. Radiation. Not aggressive. At 71, I would rather not spend my time in bed or hospitals.

Lot of mistakes. Got pneumonia after bronchitis

Most cancer treatments, including preventative types, may cause immunosuppression, reducing developing critically low RBC and WBCs. Also, so much of the public will go everywhere, even knowing they have viruses, bacterial infections, and Covid. Most people can fight off infections, but with cancer and aggressive therapies, we are so immunocompromised and get infected so easily. Please be careful and try to avoid what you can. Stay safe and best wishes.

Same thing occured with me had a biopsy turned out just benign nodules no problem. Good luck🙂

Finding something unexpected on a scan can feel overwhelming, especially when already managing a breast cancer diagnosis. Many community members have shared similar experiences of discovering additional areas that need attention during their cancer journey. Consider reaching out to your oncology team to discuss next steps - they can help coordinate care between specialists and provide guidance on how this finding fits into your overall treatment plan.