Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Cancer Community
This patient support community is for discussions relating to cancer, cancer staging, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and tumor types.
melanoma,breast cancer,papillary thyroid cancer
by solesaver, Dec 06, 2007 01:36PM
In May of 2007 I was found to have melanoma on my rt upper arm (clarks IV. 2.6, vertical growthETC), in June of 2007 I was found to have breast cancer (DCIS in 2 sites) in my left breast, in July of 2007 my thyroid became visibly enlarged I was found to have papillary thyroid cancer in the left gland (3 foci)
I have had a wide excision--clear margins, SLN for breast and melanoma was done after the excision and found clear, a mastectomy of the left breast, total removal of the thyroid--clear margins for both.
Why all on the left? Are they related?
My doctor wants to do radioactive iodine treatment for the thyroid.
I have a suspicious lesion on my liver under the diaphram that they have been watching since June.
Any advice?
I have had a wide excision--clear margins, SLN for breast and melanoma was done after the excision and found clear, a mastectomy of the left breast, total removal of the thyroid--clear margins for both.
Why all on the left? Are they related?
My doctor wants to do radioactive iodine treatment for the thyroid.
I have a suspicious lesion on my liver under the diaphram that they have been watching since June.
Any advice?
Post Comment
I'm not sure if "melanoma on my rt upper arm" meant the right arm, and the question of "Why all on the left" pertains only to the breast and thyroid.
Anyway, he predilection for the left side has no clear clinical implications. There are conditions that may predispose to both breast and thyroid tumors - but the implicated genetics are due to dysfunctional tumor suppressors - more than a shared primordial organ during the embryologic development.
The radioactive treatment for the thyroid is a good option even if there was surgical extirpation.
I think it would be best to have a discussion with your doctor on the possibility of a cancer-predispostion condition, or a familial cancer cluster. this may help in surveillance of which organs are more likely to get hit. Offhand, it may be a good idea to see a gynecologist to have your uterus evaluated.
Stay positive.