Thyroid levels on chemo

[brilliantbobbie]

Hi everyone! I have quite a specific question but just looking for general feedback really. I was diagnosed with cancer in November, since then have major op to remove tumour and am now on chemo. My GGT levels were high so I went back over old blood tests to check what they normally were and turns out that the last time they were this high (85) was just before I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's. So my instinct was maybe my thyroid was out of whack again. I asked them to test it when I had my latest bloods done which were done today prior to my next cycle of chemo starting on Friday and sure enough - TSH 22.9, T4 12.8.... so seems I'm pretty underactive again despite being on Levo. Am phoning my GP tomorrow but what's the highest levo I can have? Thinking I'll need to up it quite drastically while on chemo to hopefully reduce again after I finish.

Thank you!

[greygoose]

There's no limit to how much levo you can take - you need what you need. But, it is not advisable to increase by more than 25 mcg every six weeks because it stresses the body. And your body is being stressed quite enough by your cancer, at the moment.

Your TSH is very high, yes. But we don't know why. Perhaps a response to the chemo? But impossible to tell what the FT4 is like without the range. Ranges vary from lab to lab, so we need the range that goes with your result.

[brilliantbobbie in reply to greygoose]

Ah thank you - good to know! I should get the print out of the results on Friday so will see the range then. Only six more weeks on chemo (hopefully) so not too long and praying it will revert then.

[greygoose in reply to brilliantbobbie]

Well, it won't revert instantly. These things take time. It's going to take your body quite a while to get over all this trauma.

[brilliantbobbie in reply to greygoose]

Understood, I need to lower my expectations! x

[greygoose in reply to brilliantbobbie]

[brilliantbobbie in reply to greygoose]

Thanks greygoose x

[greygoose in reply to brilliantbobbie]

You're welcome.

[Rita-D]

I have Hashimoto’s and after much effort and tweaking, I got my thyroid levels at an optimal level and was feeling the best I had for years when in 2019 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My tumour was large and very aggressive (hormone driven HER2) so I was really worried about how all this would affect my hormone levels. My oncologist said she wasn’t able to manage my thyroid issues and suggested I speak to my endocrinologist,

Having blood tests before every chemo treatment meant I could keep an eye on the hormone levels and I spoke to my endo at the beginning of treatment and he suggested that I up my levo by 25mcg to 125mcg and to leave my liothyronine at 10mcg.

Whilst chemo was hard for me, my thyroid levels stayed stable throughout and I found the fatigue from treatment was better than the fatigue when I was under medicated!

So sorry for your diagnosis. Good luck! xxx

[brilliantbobbie in reply to Rita-D]

Thanks Rita! I'm thinking I need an endo really as I don't convert well to T3 but haven't any T3 medication which would be ideal. I spoke to the pharmacist today who wasn't able to prescribe but asked me to send over my blood results and then hopefully the GPs can up my Levo for me. I am currently alternating 75 and 100 so I too thought a raise of 25 to 100/125 might be a plan for now. Thank you so much! I hope you're ok now? xx

[Rita-D in reply to brilliantbobbie]

Yes I am good now thanks. My thyroid levels are still good. I was worried about the vaccines too but I just had my 4th last Saturday and apart from a few symptoms for 24 hours I’ve been fine. But we’re all different so you might react differently. You’ll just need to keep a close eye yourself to make sure you’re OK. That’s the trouble with specialists - they can only deal with their area of expertise so you need to keep on top of things. Good luck, I hope all goes well for you. 🙏xxx

[brilliantbobbie in reply to Rita-D]

Thank you so much! x

[DeeD123]

I have had to alter my dose since having treatment for cancer and it looks lie I might need t3 adding as it’s dropped to bottom of range. My treatment however ( immunotherapy) is known to affect the thyroid so I kept an eye on it. Does your gp not get your results sent through from hospital. Mine does but refuses to look at them which is why I monitor myself.

[brilliantbobbie in reply to DeeD123]

I don't think they do you know? Or, if they do, like you, they don't monitor it. My cancer diagnosis has shown me how things get overlooked and it's important to stay on top of your treatment and advocate for yourself so that's what I do now! Thank you xx

[DeeD123 in reply to brilliantbobbie]

Good luck on your journey. X

[brilliantbobbie in reply to DeeD123]

Thank you Dee - and yours! x