cell phones and goiters

[naomibrad]

i was diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid gland in january. i have met with a thyroid surgeon who is recommending removal because it the goiter is too large to treat with medicine. the mass extends from my neck into the left side of my chest. it is pressing on my trachea and also encircling the two main arteries in my neck. of course, my surgery has been deemed high risk due to the delicacy of cutting around the arteries.

i read an march 2010 article about a woman who contracted breast cancer after a period of placing her cell phone in her bra while exercising. this is something i have also typically done the past few years while walking/running. i am right-handed and typically place the phone in my left bra cup--just over the place where the mass is located. could there be a connection?

i am also seeing a neurologist to diagnose/treat head jerking that occurs whenever i turn my head. the theory is that the goiter is pressing on nerves causing muscles to contract and jerk my head. i am seeing my third neurologist, a movement specialist, tomorrow to hopefully help identify the cause and solution.

your response re the possible cell phone connection and the cause of the head jerking would be greatly appreciated.

[naomibrad]

just heard back from my thyroid surgeon. here's his email response to my question about cell phone radiation:

"You raise a great question, but the jury is still out on this issue. The effects of cellphone radiation on head and neck tumors has not been shown but also not been extensively studied."

to my follow up question re 'can we test for this' and could there be a relation to the head jerking, he said:

"There's no way to test for this, and I certainly don't think it has any relation to your head jerking."

how would you feel?

naomi

[naomibrad]

they checked for cancer and it is benign. i would have gone on to surgery if not for the head jerking. the surgeon referred me to a neurologist to address this first. he wants to make sure the jerking will not occur when i am in surgery. they are yet testing and diagnosing. there is also a waiting list for the surgery. they said cancer patients go first. i am scheduled for sept.

i agree with the neurology testing first, especially since he said it will be a high risk and delicate procedure because the goiter is encircling the two main arteries in my neck. they have to cut around this. don't want to jerk when this is occurring.

and, thus, my urgency in finding sites like this. i know that the goiter has probably grown more and plan to ask for another ultrasound to see. i was also thinking this week of going to a primary care doctor that i had before--one who i believe may treat things more urgently. thank you for confirming my need to do this.

[Smilerdeb]

I dont understand why the Docs have left you for 6 mths when you have a mass in the chest?
Sorry but I would be saying 'please explain' or get another Doctor.

Its all good with you seeing a Neurologist but I would be attending to the 'mass' first as this can be from the thyroid and needs to be addressed urgently.
If the mass is from the thyroid...it can spread.
Get onto it asap and as I said...if no answers , get another Doc.
The Doc should be checking to see if that mass is cancerous or not.

[naomibrad]

my guess is that the cell did indeed have something to do with the 'abnormal mass' on the left side of my chest where i typically placed my phone the past several years. i have checked the radiation level of the phone i had and it is very high. see www.ewg.org if you'd like to check yours.

i also recall experiencing the danger signs now given, such as phone heating up on my skin. this did concern me but i still used the phone just beyond my two-year contract. i changed phones in 2008 and was diagnosed with the goiter this year.

i indeed have an enlarged thyroid gland on the left side of my neck. but this is in addition to an "abnormal mass" extending down into my chest. it's all speculation and investigation right now on my part. i have to check on my own since the doctors are still testing after some six months.

thanks to you all for your help. will keep you posted.

naomi

[blsdnsvd]

In my opinion, the theory in regards to the goiter pressing on a nerve that causes the head jerking sound more logical than the cell phone causing it because if that was the case, there would be lots of people with neurological problems.

One you get the goiter removed, that shall determine if the two are connected and it will also relieve pressure off of the trachea, besides...you do not want it to grow bigger and cause more issues because it will.  

[Smilerdeb]

My Graves and Hyperthyroidism was traced back to 1985 and I never had a cell phone then.
My Graves is hereditary.....I have one sister with Graves and one sister with Hashi's.

[Totie]

I had a huge goiter & I had never owned a cell phone, so I know cell phone did not cause mine..

[898_1]

In theory, the radiation exposure increases chance of nodule formationin the thyroid, however most of these nodules are benign. In the past after Chernobyl disaster also some investigators believed that radioisotope contamination caused diffuse thyroid swelling as well, but this have been later contributed to the endemic goiter prevalence in affected areas.(means most residents had thyroid hyperplasia due to moderate iodine deficiency before accident).
It is unlikely in my opinion that cellphone caused such rapid and large swelling.

[Smilerdeb]

There has been a lot of controversy regarding cell phones here in Australia.....all of which were found to be unfounded.
You could say the same for microwave ovens......we all use them.
Also x-ray departments....
We are all exposed to some form of radiation but it really depends on the levels I think.

What about us who have had RAI?

Two years down the track and I have no sign of cancer although there WAS cancer BEFORE RAI.
I tend to live for today and also thank God I am breathing.
To start worrying about the 'what ifs?' can be stressful enough as it is without worrying about something that might never happen.

If I get cancer, then I will deal with it...just as I have dealt with everything else.
Lifes too short to worry about the 'whats ifs'.

I think maybe the Neurologist is heading in the right direction and once the thyroid is permanantly ablated or removed, then your problems will resolve themselves.
All the best and let us know how you go.