Hi Folks,

As someone who had thyroid CA, I spent some time looking up information
for my personal use, although it was about 13 years ago. Lactnet has
offered some updated info on options, at least for some types of thyroid
CA.

Re:  the mom who has "a particulary aggressive form".  There are 3 types
of thyroid CA:  follicular, papillary, and medullary.  Medullary is the
most agressive form, and, if I remember correctly, needs to be treated
more quickly and aggressively.  Sometimes, the cancer types are mixed,
as in my case -- follicular and papillary.  (I sure hope I'm spelling
these correctly!)  The radiation treatment is a radioactive "drink", not
a focused beam, in most cases.  As Dr. Hale mentioned at the 97 ILCA
conference in New Orleans, that there is an affinity of I-131 to
breastmilk, and a potential for developing cancer (am I remembering
correctly, Dr. Tom?). I remember reading all the informed consent
information before drinking the stuff and wondered if the cure was worse
than the disease, because it listed all the different types of cancers
it could cause.  On seeing my body scan, I figured my bladder must have
been glowing and the eggs in my ovaries were "fried"  :)  The half-life
is pretty long, and thus the required separation and/or distancing of
the children from the mother, since the radioactivity can damage their
thyroids.

If the type of thyroid cancer cells can be posted, this will help "our"
Lactnet docs in providing advice on this moms options.  (You're welcome,
doctors, as I hear your thanks for volunteering you!)

In other words, all thyroid cancers are not created equal, and thus the
therapy must be appropriate to the type.


Best wishes to this client,

Sandy Hess