My Mom's Status
First, I would like to thank everyone who have dedicated their thoughts and prayers for the welfare of my Mom. I believe that our communal effort will benefit her in one way or another.
My mom underwent total thyroidectomy with removal of the surrounding lymph nodes last Sept. 26, 2008. Her biopsy results were available by last Wednesday, and the prognosis (outlook) of the disease is quite bleak: she was diagnosed with Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma, and it has invaded most of her thyroid (left and right glands, and isthmus). The surrounding lymph nodes (which are practically considered as the gateways that indicate if the disease has spread or not) have been completely replaced by cancerous anaplastic tissue. Therefore, the possibility that the disease has spread to other organs is quite high.
Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma is probably the most aggressive form of thyroid cancer. It spreads quickly and is likely to recur when surgically removed. The primary site of metastasis are the lungs. Heavy invasion of the neck area by the tumor is usually the hardest thing to deal with clinically, and is usually the cause of death.
For now, she has been released from the hospital and is recovering from her thyroidectomy. The doctors were gonna wait 2 weeks before they start with imaging and chemotherapy, but I insisted that they should immediately do CT, MRI, or sonography as surveillance for metastasis.
I have found that there is a clinical trial going on in USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, where I work as a research assistant and thesis student. It is testing for the safety and efficacy of a triplet combination of chemotherapy drugs against comparable standard treatment. If she meets the eligibility criteria, it might be best for her to fly here and have her treatment.
I pray that the disease has not spread to other organs, and that my Mom will have a better prognosis than the worst-case scenario. Again, I would like to ask for your thoughts and prayers in these times of hardships.
Thank you so much.
My mom underwent total thyroidectomy with removal of the surrounding lymph nodes last Sept. 26, 2008. Her biopsy results were available by last Wednesday, and the prognosis (outlook) of the disease is quite bleak: she was diagnosed with Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma, and it has invaded most of her thyroid (left and right glands, and isthmus). The surrounding lymph nodes (which are practically considered as the gateways that indicate if the disease has spread or not) have been completely replaced by cancerous anaplastic tissue. Therefore, the possibility that the disease has spread to other organs is quite high.
Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma is probably the most aggressive form of thyroid cancer. It spreads quickly and is likely to recur when surgically removed. The primary site of metastasis are the lungs. Heavy invasion of the neck area by the tumor is usually the hardest thing to deal with clinically, and is usually the cause of death.
For now, she has been released from the hospital and is recovering from her thyroidectomy. The doctors were gonna wait 2 weeks before they start with imaging and chemotherapy, but I insisted that they should immediately do CT, MRI, or sonography as surveillance for metastasis.
I have found that there is a clinical trial going on in USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, where I work as a research assistant and thesis student. It is testing for the safety and efficacy of a triplet combination of chemotherapy drugs against comparable standard treatment. If she meets the eligibility criteria, it might be best for her to fly here and have her treatment.
I pray that the disease has not spread to other organs, and that my Mom will have a better prognosis than the worst-case scenario. Again, I would like to ask for your thoughts and prayers in these times of hardships.
Thank you so much.
posted by young_invincible at
10/06/2008 02:30:00 AM
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