Could I have thyroid cancer?

[llamehtdos]

About 12 weeks ago I thought I would get a thyroid blood check as I keep putting on weight (one and half stone), yet my diet and exercise has not changed. Also my eyebrows have almost disappeared, really dry itchy skin, tired, night sweats (I'm pasted menopause, age 57), average heart rate of 58 (down to 45 at night) , painful joints, painful lright shin at night (I've had scan, nothing there), chest pain - but could be due to GERD, soo tired, Short of breath up stairs and hills (ever since I had COVID in January, I was so ill). Ferritin was 286 and Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs 277, both high. Recently I just keep busting into tears and soo down, totally out of character. So I made an appointment with GP, which I have next week, but thought I would repeat tests. Done first thing in morning, before eating and I only take Naproxen when needed. The results are as follows:

Biochemistry

CRP 3.38 <5.0 mg/L

Ferritin H 357.0 1 3 - 150 ug/L

Magnesium 0.82 0.7 - 1.0 mmol/L

Hormones

Cortisol (Random) 288.0 6am - 10am 166 - 507 nmol/L, 4pm - 8pm 73.8 - 291

Thyroid Function

TSH 0.62 0.27 - 4.20 mU/L New range & unit

T4 Total 84.0 66 - 181 nmol/L

Free T4 15.7 12.0 - 22.0 pmol/L

Free T3 5.12 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L New range

Immunology

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs 24 <34 IU/mL New units

Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs H 461 <115 IU/mL New units

Vitamins

Vitamin D (25 OH) 69 Optimal 75-200 nmol/L, Adequate 50- <75

Insufficient 25 -<50, Deficient <25

Vitamin B12 283 145 - 569 pmol/L

Serum Folate 15.20 8.83 - 60.8 nmol/L

Both the Ferritin and Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs have increased more. I do have multinodular goitre, I have had a scan and biopsies of 3 large nodules about 3 years ago. The results were negative and was reassured that I do not need to worry, so was discharged from hospital. Both my Grandmother and Auntie on my mum's side died due to thyroid cancer. My Aunt was 60, so you can see I'm a little worried.

I also have MCTD and my GP blames everything on this, the answer is always take some anti-inflammatories. Due to COVID I have not seen my rheumatologist for 2 years now.

What should I request my GP to do?

Many thanks.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Feeling low, weight gain, eyebrow loss, dry itchy skin, being tired, low heart rate & reflux are all hypothyroid signs. night sweats likely other cause.

Breathlessness can be low iron,but your ferritin is high which can be a marker for inflammation. Although CRP another marker is normal.

Your thyroid function is euthyroid & looks healthy.

It common to have low ferritin, Folate, B12 & vitamin D with thyroid issues partly as low stomach acid hinders absorption. Ferritin high. folate, b12 and

Vitamin D are on the lower side not deficient but not optimal either.

You don’t have positive TPO but you do have High Anti-Thyroglobulin both are associated with autoimmune.

Once nodules are cleared with a FNA doctors are taught that it doesn’t need to be repeated as they have no higher risk of becoming malignant. I would argue with your family history it should be checked. No wonder you are worried.

Do you any issues with voice? Any Pain around jaw or collar bone swelling in thyroid area? Ever have difficulty swallowing food / choking. That sort of thing? Are any neck lymph glands enlarged? Especially for a prolonged time?

It’s really frustrating when you have an existing diagnosis and GP blames every new symptom on it. My GP does this and blames everything on my my hyper thyroid nodule. Yet when I do see the specialist it’s never related.

Do you have a follow up appointment with doctor?

[llamehtdos in reply to PurpleNails]

Thank you for your reply. No swollen glands, but tender around thyroid area but I do have goitre. I do choke on bread and that type of thing, but I think that's mainly due to MCTD/GERD.

I have telephone appointment with GP Wednesday, our GP is still refusing to do face to face appointments 🙄and 3 week wait. I'm going to insist on ultra scan on thyroid, just to check.

[Hidden]

I can 'only really comment on your cortisol level which if it was done between 8-9am is slightly on the low side it should be nearer to 350-550nmol/Ls at this time of day. However it is more usual to lose weight with low cortisol rather than gain. You should have at least spoken to your rheumatologist in the last 2 years, none of my appts have been cancelled but some have been F2F or phone appointments. Hope your GP can help.

[llamehtdos in reply to Hidden]

I got one phone call at beginning of lock down, to cancel an appointment and to say I'm extremely vulnerable and to take care. Tried chasing them but told that they no longer have rheumatology department at hospital but will be in touch. In addition to above I will get GP to refer me elsewhere.

[Batty1]

Hello, I had thyroid cancer and I can tell you from my experience the symptoms are really not much different then what you read here from most people with thyroid disease and the THYROGLOBULIN and THYROGLOBULIN AB test don’t alway discover thyroid cancer my test have always been normal even at the time of cancer discovery but you stated you have a family history of thyroid cancer and you have nodules and because of this you should be checked yearly with a FNB or US as well as blood test.

Not to alarm you but nodules can become cancerous Im living proof that this is true and your family history should be taken in high consideration.

[llamehtdos]

You are right, I need to be more pro active and insist on regular scans. The fact that my Ferritin and Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs are both increasing means something is going on. Also the weight gain, tiredness, bursting into tears for no reason, night sweats etc I just hope I get a doctor on Wednesday that is willing to listen and not brush me off 🤞