thyroid

[fruitsalad]

twice now I have read that when someone has a underactive thyroid it may be wise to do scans to look for tumours, i have an underactive thyroid and my doctor has never suggested this to me, anyone else heard of this?

[20SilkCut]

Nope - i have never heard that either - where did you read that fruitsalad?

[Sqad]

No point it scanning the thyroid gland as NO tumours in the thyroid gland cause hypothyroidism.

[fruitsalad]

20SC i have just read it in thats life magazine under the doctor in the house page, it says, ( you need a blood test to check you thyroid function, it can be overactive, which will speed up your metabolism. or underactive, which slows it down. I also suggest scans to look for tumours).

[cazzz1975]

surely if you were having more or slightly more sinister symtoms it would be worth being checked out, over/under active thyroids are very common so I would imagine it would cost a small fortune to routinely scan all sufferers.

[cazzz1975]

*symptoms

[Sqad]

fruisalad....that is B@lls.

98% of cases of underactive thyroid do not have tumours.
The other 2% are rare, but do not involve the thyroid but the Pituitary Gland.

[fruitsalad]

only copied what I read squad, was getting a bit worried

[Sqad]

Fruisalad I think that you are confused.........if one had an overactive thyroid then scans would be helpful, indeed essential, but not for an underactive thyroid.

[fruitsalad]

I think the reason it made me sit up and take notice is because my Dad was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid when he was in his late 70's and not to much later it was found he had lung cancer, and I was putting 2 and 2 together and making 5

[Sqad]

fruitsalad.........LOL.....don´t we all at times?