HomeAnswersInternal Medicinecancer

Am I at risk of cancer with Hashimoto thyroiditis at age 23?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 23-year-old male, and I have had Hashimoto's thyroiditis for the past five years. It is well controlled by Synthroid and natural thyroid. Over the last few months, I have been having some worrying symptoms. I am literally so tired all the time, and I am severely anemic even if I take iron daily. I forgot what my numbers were, but they were at the very bottom, and I eat healthily and work out three times a week. No matter how much I sleep, I am so tired.

I do feel better after the gym, but I have to drag myself there, and the workouts are feeling harder to do. I have been getting headaches a lot, and I currently have a painfully swollen lymph node in my right neck area. I am also sore and achy a lot. After doing some internet searches, what stood out to me was leukemia or lymphoma.

I know my white blood cell count was a little high, just a tiny bit, and the doctor said that my body is just ready to fight an infection. But I think my last test was not normal. I think I might have cancer or something else seriously wrong.

Kindly guide.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Shobhit Shah

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Shobhit Shah is a skilled General Practitioner and Critical Care Physician with valuable clinical experience. He is dedicated to delivering comprehensive healthcare, from routine consultations to complex critical care management. He also supports patients with allergy treatments and sleep care medicine, ensuring holistic well-being. His expertise includes critical care management, allergy diagnosis and treatment, sleep medicine, and preventive healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Get a thyroid profile and a complete hemogram done. Your symptoms are very vague, and they do not point to any one disease.

Kindly revert with more information.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I have my reports, which I did at the beginning of the year, and the comparison from the past few years as well. I will attach them.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Shobhit Shah

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Shobhit Shah is a skilled General Practitioner and Critical Care Physician with valuable clinical experience. He is dedicated to delivering comprehensive healthcare, from routine consultations to complex critical care management. He also supports patients with allergy treatments and sleep care medicine, ensuring holistic well-being. His expertise includes critical care management, allergy diagnosis and treatment, sleep medicine, and preventive healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have seen your reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity).

It is unlikely that you will have cancer. I would like the following information:

  1. Is there any family history?
  2. For how long have you been having these symptoms?
  3. Is there any weight loss? If yes, then how much?
  4. What is the approximate size of the palpable lymph node? Is it hard and tender to touch?

Have an FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology) of the lymph node.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to reach out in case of further queries.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

Thanks for the reply. I do not have weight loss, but I have a decreased appetite. I do not know my family history because I was adopted.

I would say the symptoms started seven months ago, and they are getting worse. The lymph node is the size of my thumb tip. Is there anything else you see that could be going on?

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Shobhit Shah

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Shobhit Shah is a skilled General Practitioner and Critical Care Physician with valuable clinical experience. He is dedicated to delivering comprehensive healthcare, from routine consultations to complex critical care management. He also supports patients with allergy treatments and sleep care medicine, ensuring holistic well-being. His expertise includes critical care management, allergy diagnosis and treatment, sleep medicine, and preventive healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Cervical tuberculosis is a possibility, but it is uncommon in your country. I suggest you either try a course of antibiotics for 10 days or have an FNAC of the lymph node.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to reach out in case of further queries.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At May 30, 2017
Reviewed At May 29, 2026

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Shobhit Shah is a skilled General Practitioner and Critical Care Physician with valuable clinical experience. He is dedicated to delivering comprehensive healthcare, from routine consultations to complex critical care management. He also supports patients with allergy treatments and sleep care medicine, ensuring holistic well-being. His expertise includes critical care management, allergy diagnosis and treatment, sleep medicine, and preventive healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Shobhit Shah is a skilled General Practitioner and Critical Care Physician with valuable clinical experience. He is dedicated to delivering comprehensive healthcare, from routine consultations to complex critical care management. He also supports patients with allergy treatments and sleep care medicine, ensuring holistic well-being. His expertise includes critical care management, allergy diagnosis and treatment, sleep medicine, and preventive healthcare.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Listen to related tracks in our music library
Comprehensive Second Opinion

Ask your health query to a doctor online

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.