Thyroid Hormones & OC

[Doggies221]

Hi everyone, has anyone been taking levothyroxine for hypothyroidism as an OC patient? Does supplemental thyroid hormone to address hypothyroidism have an effect on cancer? A doctor I asked said no, but I did some research and came up w this, which says it does, so now I’m wondering if it’s advisable to treat another medical condition (hypothyroidism) bc of OC history. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

frontiersin.org/journals/en...

[ZenaJ]

Hi, I've been on Levothyroxine for about 20 years and haven't noticed any changes. I was diagnosed stage 3C 11 years ago and still taking the thyroid medication. I'm sorry I haven't read your attachment but thought I'd let you know that I haven't noticed any effects.

All the best, Zena

[Doggies221 in reply to ZenaJ]

Thank you so much Zena. I’m glad to hear not only that you’re a survivor but also that the levothyroxine hasn’t had an effect on you. The surgeries for OC somehow messed up my thyroid so I went from normal to hypothyroid. I don’t know if I’m an exception or this happens generally as a result of these surgeries. May you continue to be very well!

[Irisisme in reply to Doggies221]

Hi Doggie221,

I’m similar to Zena, I started taking Levothyroxine in 1994 and have been stable for all this time. I was diagnosed with OC 3C in 2016 and had a 10 hour debulking and am 5th line but doing ok. My thyroid has stayed stable.

I’ve not heard of surgery for OC leading to hypothyroidism.

Iris 🤗

[Doggies221 in reply to Irisisme]

Thank you so much, Iris. Wishing you to stay well always!

[Bananasmoothie]

Hi, the paper is interesting but of course doesn't mention the problems of untreated hypothyroidism which include heart failure, depression, cognitive decline and, if very severe, death.There are other things which can affect cancer outcomes to a similar degree like diet, weight and exercise which we often find easy to ignore.

As ever, there's a balance to be struck. I'd think it very reasonable to take throid meds to get to maintain 'normal' levels and just make sure it's monitored to keep levels stable.

Hope this helps!

[Bandung in reply to Bananasmoothie]

Hi Doggie221 and everyone, I had a complete cytoreduction surgery last year with radical hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy then I was diagnosed with Subclinical Hypothyroidsm which I never have it before the surgery. GP monitored it for every 3 months and the recent blood test, they said that my thyroids seems to back near normal, so GP will check my thyroidsm again in next 12 months.

[Doggies221 in reply to Bandung]

Thank you for sharing. Same consequences here from this surgery. Hypothyroidism I never had before, as well as increased LDL (bad) cholesterol; 15 pound weight gain despite eating fruits & veggies and running every day and weightlifting; fatigue; lack of energy; brain fog; it’s like the body got handicapped from this surgery and created problems I’ve never had in addition to having to worry about the C diagnosis. I feel like my life has been ruined, although I’m alive and breathing and supposed to be functioning in society. What a situation🙁.

[Doggies221 in reply to Bananasmoothie]

Totally agree with your observation that this all a balance.💕 I’ve started HRT despite doctors freaking out about it. So much uncertainty with every effect of every single thing on the body and the C. If you or anyone has any HRT experience to share, I’m all ears and appreciative as always. I learn more about how to manage the destruction from C treatment from the ladies here, than from doctors.🙁

[Bandung in reply to Doggies221]

I've started HRT (estrogen only) patch in the last couple of months. I started the patch on lowest dose, then increase the dose after 6 weeks because one patch seems doesn't effect anything. I'm having Evorel50 at this moment. Hopefully these Estrogen patchs will help my energy because I always feel extremely fatique, insomnia, brain fog, dry skin, joint pain, etc. My hormon drop became zero (non-hormon at all) since my surgery last year.

[Doggies221 in reply to Bandung]

Totally understand. Same symptoms here. My C is estrogen receptor positive and progesterone receptor negative so theoretically estrogen patch might be bad if there are any C cells left, although the low dose patch has such low dose of estrogen that it’s prob unlikely to have any negative effect cancer-wise. But, vaginal estrogen has been a life saver from sexual function perspective and probably urinary perspective; of course, it doesn’t help w/ the fatigue, brain fog, insomnia and muscle /joint aches and pains. I’m seriously considering biting the bullet and taking the estrogen patch. Aside from the vaginal estrogen, I’m about to start nightly progesterone which supposedly helps w sleep and I started taking 10mg of DHEA pills daily and will start using a testosterone cream daily on my arm (supposedly it helps w energy, motivation and libido). Now, thinking if to tackle the newly arisen hypothyroidism by also taking levothyroxine. All I can say is removal of organs premenopausally has been a total disaster for my functionality that no one warned me about. Did you test the ER and PR receptors on your tumor cells before deciding on the estrogen patch? Thanks a million for sharing.

[Bandung in reply to Doggies221]

I've been taking Vagifem 10mcg Estradiol since 6 months ago alongside mirabegron 50mg Betmiga, because I've overactive bladder.No, I didn't test ER and PR receptors before deciding the estrogen patch because I had both ovaries and uterus removed, beside removal of my peritoneum, both fallopy tubes, some bowel tissues, cervix.. all those had gone completely from my body.

If women who had only the ovaries removed, they would need both estrogen and progestin. That's because estrogen alone can increase the risk of cancer in uterus, so adding progestin removes this risk.

[Beaver54]

Hi Doggies 221. I’ve been taking levothyroxine for many years now and I’m not aware of any adverse effects. This is the first I’ve heard of it too xx

[Kazzh]

Afternoon! I too have been taking thyroxine for many years & not heard about any impact on cancer. Your post has however prompted me to mention this to my consultant next week to check if my levels are stable, although Im sure they do check this with the regular blood tests. All the very best,

Kaz xx

[Doggies221 in reply to Kazzh]

I don’t think they check thyroid hormone w the normal CBC and composite metabolic panel. Hope you’re healing well! Sending you my best.

[Alpacalama]

Hi I also became hypothyroid after chemo and debulking surgery. Also have high BP and high cholesterol which I’ve never had before. So now have 3 meds to take daily!! (Along with meds for skin) It all knocks your body out of balance but thankful to still be here and NED at mo albeit having chronic fatigue.

Wishing you all the best for future x

[Doggies221 in reply to Alpacalama]

Exactly. Same situation here after OC surgery for early endometriosis associated cancer. What a disaster removal of unaffected organs has caused to my previously excellent health. After this surgery, became hypothyroid, hyperlipidemic, chronically tired, gained 15 pounds, not mentally as sharp as I used to be, sexual dysfunction, problems with sleep and frequent urination… I don’t even know if I should worry about cancer or about the rest of the body falling apart. Putting cancer aside, the consequences of this supposed “treatment” have been horrific for my overall health. Now, I’m bouncing around from endocrinologists to hormone specialists- the only doctors I’m avoiding are the oncologists cuz they generally can’t do anything about the destruction to the being that follows their cancer treatment. Sorry to be so blunt but I say it as I see it. I spend hours researching the effect of all sorts of hormones on cancer as I’m tempted to take all of them so I can deal w my dysfunctions despite the uncertainty as to their effect on cancer.🙁

[Bandung]

May try "balance app" by Dr Louise Newson or newsonhealth.co.uk which is worth to listen. We may find her webinar copy at one of ovacome link.

[Doggies221 in reply to Bandung]

Thank you so much for the suggestion. I’m impressed the doctors were ok w prescribing the estrogen patch without knowing the tumor’s receptor status. They’re concerned normally to prescribe hormones when the tumor might express the hormonal receptors but who knows 🤷‍♀️.

[Bandung]

The oncologist has checked that CA125, CA199, CEA.. which were negatif. That's might be why they're ok to give the approval.

[Betti99]

Hi- I was diagnosed with 3C ovarian cancer 4 years ago and have been taking levothyroxine for over 30 years. No changes at all for me!