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Q: Possible thyroid cancer symptoms ?
asked by: Dasher10 on August 6th, 2009
New User
A little over a year ago, the right gland under my jaw grew swollen. I went to the doctor, he said that I had a throat infection, put me on some medication and then it shrunk but didn't ever return to normal.

In January, I got a very severe pain on the right side of my throat that hurts worse when i press on it. The gland on the left side of my throat under my jaw is now swollen. I went to the doctor, he looked at my throat and said that it was most likely minor throat damage that would heal in time.

It still hasn't gone away.

And my hair started thinning out on the lower right side of my head which isn't consistent with male pattern baldness but might be a sign of a thyroid issue.

About a month ago, I started getting horrible stomach cramps and chest pains, the former originating form the area near my liver. I took some medication for two weeks that got rid of the stomach problems but the chest pains remain.

I'm currently 21-years-old. What are the chances that I have thyroid cancer and what are the chances that it has metastasized and spread both lungs and my liver?
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MyrahU
replied on August 6th, 2009
Active User, very eHealthy
The place you describe (right under your jaw) isn't where your thyroid is. The thyroid gland is slightly below your Adam's Apple.

Most thyroid cancers are very slow growing and wouldn't spread to your internal organs so fast. Also, thyroid cancer rarely alters the levels of thyroid hormone in the blood, so it shouldn't cause baldness.

I don't think that the pain is your liver. It could be your gallbladder, which is right above your liver, below your ribs on the right side. Does it hurt to press on that? Does the pain get worse after you eat fatty foods? The pain in your chest could be what they call referred pain from your gallbladder. But the fact that the stomach pain went away and the chest pain stayed makes that much less likely.

Go back to your doctor and insist on a complete physical with blood tests and a scalp sample (something is making your hair fall out). Also ask for a chest x-ray. Don't let the doctor dismiss your symptoms and tell you they will go away.

Write down a list of all your symptoms, when they started, the severity, what makes them better or worse, and which have gotten better. Take this list to the doctor. If your current doctor won't listen to you, get a second opinion.

Good luck. Let us know what you find out.
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Dasher10
replied on August 8th, 2009
New User
Apparently, the doctor said that my chest pains are still related to my intestinal problem and there's nothing wrong with my lungs and that my throat pain is tonsillitis.

Thanks for the reply
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