Anxiety after thyroid cancer

5 replies
27 subscribers
4454 views

Hi everyone! I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer aged 25 after being misdiagnosed for over a year when presenting with a lump in my neck. I was finally taken seriously after the ‘cyst’ was removed and biopsy done. I had a total thyroidectomy and left neck dissection followed by RAI. I completed my treatment in November 2017 and was given the all clear in August 2018. I had suffered with anxiety for a couple of years before my diagnosis and this has continued after. I recently came off my anxiety meds and started a new job and have had problems with my neck since. Has anyone had any issues of stress causing muscle issues in the neck? I feel like this could be there even if I hadn’t had the cancer but because of that I stress over it and it gets worse, seems to be a vicious cycle. Just wondering if anyone else had suffered with similar issues and how do you convince yourself that is isn’t cancer coming back or something equally as awful? And is there a possibility that my neck muscles won’t ever be ‘normal’? Sorry for the long post but it’s becoming hard to function when it is on my mind 247 and I don’t have anyone I can talk to who would relate to my situation. Thanks, Lydia

Lass over 5 years ago

Hey there Lydia,

Sore necks caused by stress are a well known issue, and that's in people without thyroid operations.

When a person is stressed, they often clench their jaw, tense muscles, and hold themselves quite stiffly. This creates muscle fatigue, which hurts, and can result in pulled or strained muscles even.

Cancer is stressful.

New jobs are stressful.

Anxiety is stressful.

So with that, and your comment about when you think about your cancer your neck hurts more - it sounds like you've got a good old fashioned case of stress causing muscle fatigue.

I'd suggest trying some meditation or mindfulness techniques to try and lower your stress and focus more on the now. At times, try and fucus on your neck and jaw, and consciously think of the joints and muscles and relax them. When you do, especially with your jaw, you'll find that the relief is immediate.

Hope that helps!

Lass

I have no medical training, everything I post is an opinion or educated guess. It is not medical advice.

Lydia245 over 5 years ago in reply to Lass

Hi Lass,

Thanks for your reply, I’m going to the doctors tomorrow to see about possibly going back on to anxiety meds to try and alleviate some symptoms. Will also go through the process of looking at alternative techniques but it’s hard when all you want is a quick fix!

I think just with the combination of previously having cancer, every body related issue is 100x more worrying for me and others alike. Especially when it came so out of the blue!

Your post has helped me a lot though and was exactly what I wanted to hear!

thanks, Lydia x

FormerMember over 5 years ago

Hi Lydia

I have also been experiencing kneck /throat tightnesss I’m sure it’s anxiety related as it comes and goes unfortunately when it’s the kneck we tend to think the worse I do hope you feel better soon xx

Lass over 5 years ago in reply to Lydia245

Heya Lydia245

Just wanted to check in and see how you were doing now and how the visit to the GP went?

Lass

I have no medical training, everything I post is an opinion or educated guess. It is not medical advice.

Lydia245 over 5 years ago in reply to Lass

Hey Lass,

thanks for checking in! Back on anxiety medication and feeling much better, still get occasional neck muscle tightness but it’s much more manageable now!

thanks again,

Lydia

More from this forum

Anxiety after thyroid cancer