I completed rads last April and have recovered nicely, I think, with perhaps one exception that I didn't realize might be a problem.

I thought Trev was mailing me the weight he was losing because I seem to be packing it on. I gained 7 lbs between a doc appt in the middle of January and one earlier this week. Before that I remember gaining approximately the same amount of weight between Christmas and the January appointment, and packing away a few more lbs before that. At first it was OK because I needed to gain, but this is ridiculous. About 30-40 pounds worth of ridiculous. (One stone equals 14 pounds.)

Along with that, I'm loosing some hair (never on my legs but on my head, of course). I never figured that both might be symptoms of something else.

Earlier this week I went in for my annual OB/GYN exam and told the doc that no matter how I curb the calories, I keep gaining. She said that and the hair loss sound like standard thyroid problems and is making an appt for me to have a thyroid test.

I googled around for info and found that rads used for oral cancer can often cause thyroid probs. What is it that Julia always says? Ah, yes, "The gift that keeps on giving."

Anyone else have this problem? If so, what sort of treatment do you get? If the meds stop the weight gain, is there an automatic loss or do I have to work for that? One of the other thyroid symptoms is fatigue/tiredness but I thought that just might be the byproduct of having cancer twice. If I can lose weight, grow hair back and increase energy - wow! A whole new me!

Seems that someone is always saying, "Why didn't they tell us about xxxx?" I think that if they gave us a list of all that could go wrong we'd never set foot in a hospital again. Just give me good drugs and leave me alone!

I would have searched the site first before posing this question but Search evidently isn't working today.

Thanks for any help you can share.

Mimi

Hi mimi
Have only just joined but read your post 26th Feb yes join the club. I had breast cancer 2004 an op + radio therapy and throat cancer 2008 2 ops, radio therapy and chemo.
I too gained weight and yes it was my thyroid which is easy to put right with tablets. I havent lost the weight yet been on them over a year. Guess I have to work harder not easy when the energy levels dont seem the same but I am trying. The GP keeps an eye on the thyroid levels and ajusts your tablets acordingly. He checks the levels with a blood test sometimes I remind him and dont let it get more than about 3 months as it does change sometimes.
Mimi can you help me. I have only just joined and to access some information it says I have to upgrade and to go to personnel settings. What do I need to do. Its telling me the Dr has edited my post think that means he wrote something but cant seem to get it. Hope the info I'v given you is of some use. Kind regards Jude

Hey Jude,

I had b/c in 2005 (last month was my 5 year remission milestone). I have been taking thyroid meds and I think that the doc has settled on the right prescription for my level. Problem is that I gained even more weight since that post in Feb 09 and by the time everything was adjusted, I was HUGE! I complained to the doc that I wasn't losing weight and he very patiently told me I wasn't taking diet pills, that it was up to me to lose the weight - sensible diet and an ongoing form of exercise, simply walking would be best.

I have lost but it isn't easy! I've been doing the US Census for the past 5 weeks or so and have been walking door to door, up and down stairs at apartment complexes, etc., and I already feel 'lighter.'

If you click on your username on your post, click again.....

CRAP! I just lost this message form for the third time! Am so sorry! I wanted to be of some help.

Go to the Technical Help forum and start a new thread asking the same questions there. The Webmaster or Dr. J. will be there shortly to help you out. Dr. J. most likely edited your post because of formatting or misspellings that might be confusing to readers. He's not a censor.

Best of luck to you. Let us know how your next appointment goes.

Mimi