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Hi all, Just to let you know that there is a thyroid cancer support group in Ireland which was set up by a thyroid cancer survivor. The websiite is www.thyroidcancersupport.ie. If you are a patient going through treatment or a survivor of thryoid cancer this support group is for you.

This is an update on how Rebecca's illness is progressing. She is under the care of the Oncology department in UCLH London and finished her chemo st the beginning of December. She was due to pay her first visit to Ireland since becoming ill in 2005 but on the evening of December 11th she was admitted to her local hospital due to a high temperature and so had to cancel her trip. however she hopes to make it over on January 9th for a weekend in Donegal. Yesterday, 29th December, we were at clinic at UCLH to get the results of a biopsy carried out on December 17th and her other post-chemo results. Unfortunately some live cancer cells were found in her sacrum and her L4. A calcified spot was found on her right lung which confirmed the presence of cancer there. She was due to undergo surgery in January to remove her sacrum but the presence of live cancer cells has led to the cancellation of that. Instead she will begin radiotherapy after her return from Ireland for about six weeks. Thats about it for the moment. When you finish reading this say a prayer for her, thanks.

What is Cancer of the Thyroid Gland and what Treatment is Given? The thyroid is a small gland in the front of the neck just below the voice box (larynx) The thyroid is sometimes known as the “activity” gland because it produces hormones, which help to control various functions. Thyroid cancer is rare and usually affects middle aged to older people. The causes of thyroid cancer are unknown but there are some risk factors involved which may include :- An enlarged thyroid (goitre), thyroid nodules (adenomas), Inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis) An inherited faulty gene A diet high in fat and low in iodine Thyroid cancer can develop many years after exposure; for example, following the nuclear explosion surrounding Chernobyl in the Ukraine Children who had radiation treatment as a child may be more at risk in later life of developing thyroid cancer Treatment Surgery, radiotherapy, radioactive iodine treatment and thyroid replacement therapy can be given alone or in combination Radioactive iodine is a substance taken as capsules or a drink or injected into the vein in your arm. The thyroid cancer cells absorb the iodine and receive a very high dose of radiation, which will help to destroy the cancer cells. Many types of thyroid cancer can usually be treated very successfully and many patients are cured.

My brother has the above and it is terminal. He was operated on in March but the tumour is wrapped around his blood vessels and there was nothing they could do. He never got his health since that day. 8 weeks of chemo did not do a thing and three weeks ago he was told that was it. Yesterday he took a bad turn and was put on a pump of cocktail drugs and doctors are worried about a rattle in his chest. Has anyone any experience of this? Our other brother is getting married next week and he really wants to be there as it will be the last family gathering.