Madame Marie Curie - Thyroid Cancer Canada

V O L U M E 1 0 , I S S U E 1 // S P R I N G 2 0 1 2
IN THIS ISSUE:
1 Madame Marie Curie
3 My cottage dream
4 Decision Making about RadioActive Iodine Therapy
5 ASK THRY’VORS
6 Thriving Thry’vors
8 LID RECIPE BOX
8 POEM
Editor’s Note
Happy Spring Canada!
What a year it has been! From my diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer on
November 19, 2010, surgery, and RAI to my whole body scan, blood tests,
and six month follow-up, many of you can all relate to the highs and lows
of having such a recent diagnosis of the disease. Through the arts and
writing, I have navigated my cancer journey. Now I am excited to share
my skills with you, the Canadian Thyroid Cancer community, as the new
Editor/Committee Chair of Newsletter Committee. One thing I have learned
so far is that we, thyroid cancer survivors, are everywhere—Hollywood,
my workplace, classes I have attended… Yet we are not as visible as other
cancer survivors. Health Canada indicates that Thyroid Cancer is the fastest
growing cancer in incidence. This newsletter is one way we can share our
stories, challenges, and discoveries, legitimize and draw strength from our
experiences. Stephanie Wylie, the past Editor of Thry’vors News, writes
about the ways in which the late scientific pioneers Marie Curie along with
her husband Pierre contributed to the eventual treatment of cancer patients
with radioactive elements. Perry Monaco shares his experience with Cottage
Dreams, a wonderful organization which provides a well-deserved rest for
cancer survivors and their families. Charna Gord gives us some food for
thought when deciding if Radioactive Iodine (RAI) treatment is right for
you. We also get to meet one of our amazing volunteers, Ann Dreger, and
her thyroid cancer journey. Our community is not short of creativity as well
with a lovely poem and my favourite Low Iodine Diet (LID) recipe, No Bake
Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies. Who needs to be on the LID to enjoy them?
I certainly don’t anymore.
Peace,
Nadia L. Hohn
Editor
Thyroid Cancer Canada
PO Box 23007
550 Eglinton Ave. W.
Toronto, ON M5N 3A8
Voice: 416 487 8267
Fax: 416 487 0601
Email: [email protected]
Madame Marie Curie
by Stephanie Wylie
2011 marked the 100th anniversary of the awarding of the
Nobel Prize in chemistry to the remarkable Marie Curie. It was
awarded, according to The Nobel Foundation, “in recognition
of her services to the advancement of chemistry by the discovery
of the elements radium and polonium, by the isolation of
radium and the study of the nature and compounds of this
remarkable element”1. The isolation of radium marked a sea of
change in the way that scientists — and later, the public at large
— came to understand energy and matter. And, by choosing
intentionally not to patent the radium isolation process, Curie
allowed for other scientific research on radium to continue
unimpeded.
Marie Curie’s (nee Maria Sklodowska) life was not an easy or
comfortable one. Born in Warsaw, Poland on November 7, 1867,
This is the 33rd in a series of seasonal newsletters from Thyroid Canada. Your comments and suggestions are most welcome.
Please direct your comments to the Newsletter Committee at [email protected]
Thry’vors News 1
Thry’vors News
Spring - 2012
the young Curie had lost not only her mother to tuberculosis but
a sister to typhus by the time she was 12 years old. Her family’s
earlier involvement in Polish nationalistic revolts would lead to the
loss of their wealth and property, essentially condemning Marie
and her elder siblings to a life of financial struggle and difficulty
getting ahead. The young Marie Curie thrived intellectually
despite these hardships, graduating from high school at 15 with
highest honours. While her family put a high value on learning,
money was in short supply for a post-secondary education. And
so, at a young age Curie worked as a tutor and later at 18, as a
governess, in order to put her sister Bronia through medical
studies at university. They had an agreement that Bronia would
return the favour, and as soon as Bronia was trained and earning a
living, she indeed helped to cover the costs that would see Marie
attend the famous Sorbonne in Paris. It was here that she changed
her name from Maria to the French “Marie”.
Her hard work and many hours of study meant that she completed
her degrees in physics and math in only three years. Before
completing her math degree in 1894, however, Marie was
commissioned by the Society for the Encouragement of National
Industry to study the magnetic properties of different types of steel
as they relate to their chemical makeup. Knowing that she needed
a laboratory to conduct her experiments, she set about finding an
appropriate space. At the suggestion of a Polish colleague, Curie’s
search for lab space led to a meeting with her future husband and
physicist, Pierre Curie. It was a fateful meeting that would change
not only their personal lives, but the course of science itself.
Doctors Fran Slowiczek and Pamela Peters note that “Marie Curie
and her husband, Pierre, then began what became a lifelong study
of radioactivity. It took fresh and open minds, along with much
dedicated work, for these scientists to establish the properties of
radioactive matter.” Marie Curie wrote, “The subject seemed to us
very attractive and all the more so because the question was
entirely new and nothing yet had been written upon it.”
Antoine Henri Becquerel had already noted that uranium
emanations could turn air into a conductor of electricity. Using
sensitive instruments invented by Pierre Curie and his brother,
Pierre and Marie Curie measured the ability of emanations from
various elements to induce conductivity. On February 17, 1898,
the Curies tested an ore of uranium, pitchblende, for its ability to
turn air into a conductor of electricity. The Curies found that the
pitchblende produced a current 300 times stronger than that
produced by pure uranium. They tested and recalibrated their
instruments, and yet they still found the same puzzling results.
The Curies reasoned that a very active unknown substance in
addition to the uranium must exist within the pitchblende. In the
title of a paper describing this hypothesized element (which they
Thry’vors News 2
Marie Curie undoubtedly contributed greatly to our
understanding of radioactivity and the effects of x-rays.
named polonium after Marie’s native Poland), they introduced the
new term: “radio-active.”
After much gruelling work, the Curies were able to extract enough
polonium and another radioactive element, radium, to establish
the chemical properties of these elements. Marie Curie, with her
husband and continuing after his (sudden and accidental) death,
established the first quantitative standards by which the rate of
radioactive emission of charged particles from elements could be
measured and compared. In addition, she found that there was a
decrease in the rate of radioactive emissions over time and that
this decrease could be calculated and predicted. But perhaps Marie
Curie’s greatest and most unique achievement was her realization
that radiation is an atomic property of matter rather than a
separate independent emanation”.2
Unfortunately, the actual process of extracting radium from
uranium was a physically arduous task. “It took Curie several years
to produce one tenth of a litre of pure radium from tons of rock
mined out of the earth. She established that one mole of radium
had a mass of 226 grams. On most days she worked over a large
vat outside her laboratory shed. On rainy days, she had to move
inside though the lab room was cold and drafty. The latter turned
out to be a blessing in disguise since noxious radon gas was being
produced, and everything in the lab was contaminated. One
science historian has estimated that Marie was exposed to about 1
rem ( a unit of radiation) per week. By today’s standard, a much
smaller amount of .03 rem is considered dangerous.
The popular press around the world declared radium a miracle
drug. Marie kept a glass vial of radium salts on the stand next to
her bed at home. She was enchanted with the soft, blue glow it
produced in the dark. Both Marie and Pierre were swept along by
all the publicity, and they played down the negative health effects
they experienced. For example, their finger tips were permanently
scarred, hardened, and in constant pain from handling radioactive
samples. Pierre, Marie, and Becquerel had all suffered accidental
burns on their skin when they carried samples of radium salts in
their clothing for a few hours. Marie was always tired “without
being exactly ill,” and she lost more than 15 pounds. Today, it is
well-established that fatigue and depression are side-effects of
radiation over-exposure. The worst tragedy occurred when, after
giving birth successfully to Irene (her first child), she suffered a
Thry’vors News
miscarriage in her fifth month in 1903 probably due to radiation
exposure3.
Despite losing her life partner in 1906 and raising two daughters as
a single mother, Marie Curie continued an active career in
experimental radioactivity measurements. During these studies, she
discovered that radiation had some negative side effects and that it
could, and did, kill healthy human cells. Curie then theorized that if
radiation could kill healthy cells, perhaps it could kill diseased cells.
Her studies later concentrated on isolating radium for use in killing
tumours. Marie Curie undoubtedly contributed greatly to our
understanding of radioactivity and the effects of x-rays. The work
she undertook required hours of time and patience, and very often
the results took years to analyze. She received two Nobel prizes for
her brilliant work (the first person to do so), but died of leukemia,
caused by her repeated exposure to radioactive substances. It is
important to remember, however, that through the knowledge she
incurred, many hundreds and thousands of lives have been saved.
1.The Nobel Prize in Chemistry,1911. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/
chemistry/laureates/1911/index.html
2. http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/CC/historical_background.php
Spring - 2012
Mme Curie’s research is especially relevant to thyroid cancer patients.
The principles of radioactivity are a central component of the
radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) many thyroid cancer patients
receive. In 1941 Dr. Saul Hertz of Boston, adapted the earlier discovery
to thyroid disease. Initially he found that radioactive iodine treatment
could be used as a method to ablate thyroid tissue in patients with
Graves’ disease, and by 1946 he had studied its use with thyroid
cancer patients. Thus RAI treatment is amongst those in longest
continual use, as a form of cancer treatment.
Patients are reminded of the part that both Marie Curie and Antoine
Henri Becquerel played in their lifesaving discoveries each time they
think of the dose of radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) they receive.
The measures honour their names, as the imperial measure of RAI is
known as milliCuries (mCi) and the metric equivalent is known as
megaBecquerels (MBq).
3. http://www.hypatiamaze.org/marie/c_bio_p3.html
More information about thyroid cancer at: National Cancer Institute http://www.cancer.
gov/cancertopics/types/thyroid
My Cottage Dream
by Perry Monaco
My family and I had a wonderful opportunity to go on a vacation after I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. We left the worries, the bills,
the doctor visits at home and drove up to Georgian Bay. We enjoyed a week in a wonderful cottage… for free.
Frankly, I can’t say when we’ll have our next vacation. The two year anniversary of my first RAI was December 16th, 2011 and we’re still
feeling the financial effects of being diagnosed. Cottage Dreams (www.cottagedreams.org) provided us with the opportunity to spend a
week away from reality and enjoy family time we wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise.
Cottage Dreams is a cancer recovery initiative and registered charity which offers cancer survivors, and their families,
a week at a private, donated cottage to reconnect and rejuvenate.
The application process, while extensive, is thorough but painless.
Once accepted into the program, the survivor is paired up with a
cottage that matches their medical and family needs. The only
costs incurred by the survivor are transportation to and from
the cottage and food for the week (as well as a $100 fee which
has since been introduced).
My family’s experience is one which will not be forgotten.
The family who donated the cottage was extremely kind and generous.
We loved the opportunity to play on the beach with our two year old and
experience the gorgeous Georgian Bay sunsets. Through the help of
Cottage Dreams, my recovery was able to leap forward.
Thry’vors News 3
JAN.
Thry’vors News
Spring - 2012
Decision Making about
RadioActive Iodine Therapy
JAN.
An article review by Charna Gord, MEd, RD
Charna Gord is a Registered Dietitian working at a university coordinating community health placements for medical
students. She underwent a total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer in December 2007. This is the fourteenth in a series of
JAN.
thyroid cancer related journal article and other resource
reviews that Charna has undertaken for Thry’vors News.
In this review, Charna summarizes the findings of the
following online journal article:
Iyer, N. G., Morris, L. G. T., Tuttle, R. M., Shaha, A. R. and
Ganly, I. (2011), Rising incidence of second cancers in
patients with low-risk (T1N0) thyroid cancer who receive
radioactive iodine therapy. Cancer, 117: 4439–4446. doi:
10.1002/cncr.26070
Journal Article Main Message:
The decision to use radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) after
surgery should be based on consideration of the balance between
its risks and benefits for individual patients.
Research Background:
Decision-making for treatment with RAI for well differentiated
thyroid cancers should be considered carefully. RAI is used after
thyroid cancer surgery in order to lower the risk of thyroid
cancer returning in any remaining thyroid tissue. It is not
conclusive that RAI provides benefit for low-risk patients (as
defined by the American Thyroid Association), yet there is
widespread use of it.
The complications arising as a result of the administration of
RAI range from minor, short-term to more serious and longer
term. Perhaps the most serious result is the documented increase
in the incidence of second primary malignancies such as
leukemia (especially in patients under the age of 45), and also
malignancies in organs where RAI collects (such as in the
salivary glands and the kidneys).
Thry’vors News 4
Although there is no dispute with the use of RAI for patients
who fall into the high-risk group, there is debate for those
patients who are considered low-risk and who make up the
majority of new thyroid cancer cases.
What was the research objective?
This study was developed to look at trends of administering
RAI on patients diagnosed with well differentiated thyroid
cancer who are considered at low-risk, and to determine if
there was a relationship with the risk of their developing
secondary primary malignancies from the RAI.
How was the research conducted?
In the United States, there is a population based cancer patient
registry called the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance,
Epidemiology and End Results (SEER). Data obtained from
this registry, for over 37,000 thyroid cancer patients who were
treated between the years 1973- 2006, was analyzed.
What were the research findings?
From previous studies, it is known that there is an elevated risk
of second primary malignancies with RAI. What this study
looks at is the effect on low-risk patients, for whom the
benefits of RAI are less clear. And it shows that for those
patients, who would have received a lower cumulative dose of
RAI as compared to patients at higher risk, there remains an
increase in second primary malignancies with RAI.
What were the final recommendations?
The researchers recommend the design and use of a decision
making tool to best consider the risks and benefits of
administering RAI, especially in low-risk patients with well
differentiated thyroid cancer who are under the age of 45.
Thry’vors News
Spring - 2012
Ask Thry’vors
by Melanie Thomson
The members of TCC’s Medical Advisory Panel are available to answer your general questions about every aspect of thyroid cancer.
A list of our Medical Advisory Panel members appears on our website at : www.thyroidcancercanada.org/medical-advisory-panel.php
All past Q&As are archived on our website.
You are also welcome to post your question on our website, on the “Ask Thry’vors Submission Form”.
Q1: Please explain why it is advisable for
lactating women to cease breastfeeding in
advance of RAI treatment. How and why
does RAI collect in breast tissue and for
what period of time? How long before being treated
with RAI should a woman wean her baby? In cases
where a mother is highly motivated to continue
breast feeding after RAI treatment, can she restart
lactating at a safe period post-treatment?
A1: Response by Dr. Mal Rajaraman:
Radioiodine collects in and is excreted by many glands
including the Breast; We use the 2002 SNM recommendations:
All potentially breastfeeding/lactating women should be asked
if they are lactating. If so, they should be asked to stop
breastfeeding, and therapy must be delayed until lactation
ceases in order to minimize the radiation dose to the breast.
Lactation (and the ability of the breast to concentrate large
amounts of iodine) completely ceases 4–6 weeks postpartum
(with no breastfeeding) or 4–6 weeks after breastfeeding stops.
The patient may not resume breastfeeding for that child.
Nursing may resume with the birth of another child. See Pg
859 of on SNM I-131 recommendations.1
A2: Response by Dr. Al Dreidger:
1. The lactating breast develops a high level of iodine
supporters in its cell membranes. These are the proteins that
facilitate the concentration of iodine from the mother’s blood
into the milk. This happens to be good for the baby as iodine
helps the infant brain to develop the connections that are basic
to intelligence. This is good for the baby but awkward for the
mother who happens to need radioiodine therapy for a thyroid
cancer. Treatment before the full regression of the lactating
functions will also result in a large increase of radiation dose to
the mother’s breast.
2. Practically, it is necessary for lactation to be stopped for a
couple of months. It is simply not practical for the mother to
both safely and effectively resume breastfeeding after RAI
therapy. A better solution in most cases is to negotiate with
mother for the best time for therapy to be given. RAI is rarely
an emergency and usually a couple of months of breastfeeding
can be allowed without prejudicing the outcome of cancer
management.
1. Meier, D.A et al. Procedure Guideline for Therapy of Thyroid Disease with 131Iodine. J Nucl Med 2002; 43:856–861
With thanks to the member of TCC’s Medical Advisory Panel:
Murali M. Rajaraman, MD, FRCPC, Radiation Oncologist, Nova Scotia Cancer Centre, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre; Assistant Professor,
Department of Radiation Oncology and A A Driedger MD, Ph.D., FRCP (C), FACP, FCPE, Professor of Nuclear Medicine/Oncology, University of
Western Ontario, London Health Sciences and member of Thyroid Cancer Canada’s Medical Advisory Panel.
Hold this date:
Thyroid Cancer Canada’s Annual General Meeting will be held on June 2, 2012 in the Toronto area.
The location will be announced on our website.
Thry’vors News 5
Thry’vors News
Spring - 2012
Thriving Thry’vors
by Maria Di Stasio
retells the journey of our volunteers who are either currently undergoing
treatment for thyroid cancer, in post treatment or remission. The purpose of these stories is
to inspire and encourage those diagnosed with thyroid cancer and their loved ones.
We continue our special series featuring stories of TCC
volunteer members. Ann Dreger has been a volunteer at TCC
since 2003. While navigating the health system at a tumultuous
time in her life after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, she
turned to TCC for support and information on her condition.
Today Ann continues to demonstrate her gratitude for TCC by
increasing awareness for this illness and the support that exists
out there; she is the Chair of the Distribution Committee, and is
responsible for sending bulk packages of TCC’s printed matter
such as pamphlets, information cards and booklets to doctors’
offices and clinics across Canada (over 70 packages in 2011,
including over 10,000 pieces). We will see that Ann has helped
raise awareness for thyroid cancer in more ways than one. While
her story enlightens us because she has been cancer-free for
almost nine years now, her journey includes some honourable
moments that merit attention.
Ann was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in January 2003;
however it was back in 1998 when she first felt something was
not right. Ann says she was losing more hair than usual and had
ridges on her fingernails. At that time her family doctor was not
concerned of any thyroid problems and during her visit did not
perform any physical examination of Ann’s neck. In December
2001 Ann noticed a slight bulge on her neck so she returned to
her family doctor in January 2002 and was sent for a neck scan.
Ann waited months before she could see an endocrinologist and
when she finally did she was referred to a surgeon. The surgeon
biopsied what was a cyst on her thyroglossal duct and then Ann
had to have surgery to remove the cyst. Several weeks later
pathology results confirmed a papillary cancer. Ann was told she
needed a second surgery to remove all her thyroid gland. Feeling
uneasy about having to undergo another surgery, she decided to
get a second opinion on the matter. After consulting with
another surgeon at Mount Sinai who also recommended a
complete thyroidectomy, Ann underwent a second surgery in
January 2003.
Thry’vors News 6
Ann recovered fairly quickly and resumed normal activities; she
was playing recreational volleyball three weeks after surgery.
Several months later Ann received a dose of radioactive iodine
(RAI) as a precautionary measure to destroy any lingering cancer
cells. At the end of her medical trip Ann rewarded herself with
the purchase of a kayak; she finds it peaceful to glide through the
quiet waters.
Most of the schools in
town poured out to line
the streets, cheering and
waving. The torch runners
were photographed and
interviewed. Ann
purchased the torch and
has preserved all clothing
pieces, news clippings
and other memorabilia in
a shadow box.
As a follow up procedure Ann has had whole body scans and
visits her endocrinologist once a year to monitor her health. She
goes for regular blood work to check her thyroid hormone levels
and thyroglobulin count. Just a few years ago Ann had another
dose of RAI; she was clear of cancer and deemed cured! When
asked how she feels and if there were any side effects, Ann says
her medication required some adjustments along the years which
took some getting used to each time the dose changed. Ann also
said she now has high blood pressure, notices changes in her skin
and her hair is drier. However she doesn’t know if she can
attribute these changes to her thyroid issues, the medication, or
simply the aging process.
Thry’vors News
When Ann became involved with TCC in January 2003 it was
in search for some outside support. She expressed that TCC is a
site where you can ask just about anything and get an answer.
Ann felt that people on this site understand your fears and know
where you are coming from, something that may not always be
as easily grasped by family members around you. Ann began
volunteering at TCC on the phone lines talking to other women
who had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and were going
through the same thing. While she was of great assistance to
others, it in turn helped her just as much.
However it is her journey with cancer that helped
her realize many things. Namely, Ann discovered
her strength and ability to cope with most
situations. She also discovered who her real friends
are which resonates with many of us who have
been sick.
A few opportunities evolved for Ann from TCC. She appeared
on the Avery Haines TV health show which ran an episode that
focused on thyroid health problems such as hypo- and
hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. For the show, Ann was
filmed at her home exercising and doing activities plus she and
several doctors were interviewed as well. This was a unique
experience for both Ann and her youngest daughter who
accompanied her to the TV studio for filming. Ann mentioned
that her daughter supported her through this appearance and
greatly enjoyed the whole studio experience.
Ann talks about another honourable moment that transpired
from a Coca-Cola contest. Since 2006 Ann had been entering
pin codes from Coke boxes and plastic bottles for points on the
ICOKE site. One day she noticed a contest on the site so she
entered her ballots every day until she came out on top. After
completing a skill testing math question and writing a brief story,
she was chosen to be one of the Torch Runners for the 2010
Winter Olympics. Ann believes that luck, chance, and good fate
was what granted her this privilege but it seems that her
perseverance also played a part.
Spring - 2012
Along with other torch runners from Peterborough, North York,
and Scarborough, Ann was honoured in Aurora, Ontario, by the
town council with a huge gathering. Ann felt great being on the
route of this run. She received a white outfit including a hat and
special mittens that she wore on that unique day. Students
poured out of most of the schools in town to line the streets,
cheering and waving. The torch runners were photographed and
interviewed. Ann purchased the torch and has preserved all
clothing pieces, news clippings and other memorabilia in a
shadow box. This was a special moment for Ann and she says she
will forever be united with the other torch runners from Ontario.
Pictures of her holding the torch make her proud. Ann was
asked to appear at other family day activities in Aurora wearing
her Olympic outfit and holding the torch. She made many
people happy by letting them be photographed together with her
and the torch.
Ann reminisces about these memorable opportunities that
evidently made a difference in her life. However it is her journey
with cancer that helped her realize many things. Namely, Ann
discovered her strength and ability to cope with most situations.
She also discovered who her real friends are which resonates
with many of us who have been sick.These are the friends who
can be counted on and have an invested interest in you.
Ann’s health outcome is encouraging since she is part of the
favourable statistics that show a 98% survival rate of 5 years for
those diagnosed with thyroid cancer. However she cautions that
although this type of cancer may be more treatable than some
others, it is still cancer. She wishes that doctors would stop
saying that this is the ‘good cancer’ since there really is no good
cancer. Having also been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I can
relate since countless people have told me not to worry because
it’s a ‘good cancer’. As Ann says “Would you like to have it?”
There is hardly anything trivial about this illness and labelling it
as a ‘good cancer’ minimizes the challenges faced by patients
living without a thyroid gland or diagnosed with a more
aggressive form and possibly reduces the lack of public attention
to this illness.
Thank you Ann for giving a public face to thyroid cancer survivors across Canada!
Thry’vors News 7
JAN.
Thry’vors News
Spring - 2012
LID Recipe Box
JAN.
No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Procedure:
1. In a saucepan over medium heat combine the maple syrup, oil,
cocoa and cinnamon. Boil for three minutes, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla until
well blended. Then stir in the oats.
These vegan cookies are chewy and freeze well.
2/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup oil
5 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
JAN.
2. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto waxed paper and chill to set,
about 30 minutes.
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup peanut butter
Yield: 24 cookies
1 cup rolled oats [not instant]
2 tsp vanilla extract
To view more than 300 LID-compatible recipes, see the TCC Low Iodine Diet Recipe Collection, 4th Edition on our website at
www.thyroidcancercanada.org (at this time, the recipes are available in English only).
Poem
The Thyroid Gland
by Maureen Harris
Just a butterfly in the neck
they say
A simple neck check is all
it takes
Doesn’t bother anyone day
to day
But good news isn’t all that
it breaks
But when certain problems
arise
Starting with blood-work/
ultrasound and that biopsy
trick
Stress and concern reach as
high as the skies.
If the end result is the BIG C
Then we are looking at a
new strategy
More tests, checking and
looking
Usual end result, surgery in
the making.
Results are sometimes
what one would rather not
predict.
Post surgery a whole new
regime unfolds
It governs your life like
you’ve never known
Testing and adjusting of
meds and lifestyle forever
Trying to keep life in balance,
without saying NEVER!
Please feel free to submit your poetry to our Editor Nadia Hohn.
[email protected]
Thyroid Cancer Canada thanks Brightworks Interactive Marketing for newsletter-design services. Brightworks is a digital
communications agency with a strong focus on healthcare, who are proud to support TCC in this way. For more information
on their services, see www.brightworks.ca
L ike you, we have been touched by thyroid cancer.
We are a non-profit organization and we are all volunteers.
If you would like to donate or to become a volunteer
please visit www.thyroidcancercanada.org
Thry’vors News 8
Donation cheques may be made payable to:
Thyroid Cancer Canada
Mail to: Thyroid Cancer Canada
PO Box 23007, 550 Eglinton Ave. West
Toronto, ON M5N 3A8