Radiotherapy or autoimmune

[Jackie-2124]

I have myasthenia gravis & lichen sclerosus among other autoimmune issues but I also had radical radiotherapy which I finished in mid January for Laryngeal cancer, both vocal cords. I was finally diagnosed with hypothyroid and started on Levothyroxine a week ago. Now everything is automatically put down to the radiotherapy although the only blood tests done were two TSH tests. It would be nice to know the exact cause. Are there any further tests I could have and would the treatment be the same anyway? I'd be very grateful for any information, thank you.

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Jackie-2124.

Having other autoimmune diseases means you are prone to developing others. Ask your GP to test thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies which will confirm or rule out autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Your GP may not be able to test thyroglobulin and if so, you may need to order a private finger prick home thyroid test from Blue Horizon or Genova to check thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Radiotherapy to the head and neck can damage the thyroid gland and cause hypothyroidism but I would expect it to take longer than 7-8 months.

[Jackie-2124 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you for that, I felt that radiotherapy would take longer too. It just seems like an easy way out to blame everything on it.