Madame Marie Curie - Thyroid Cancer Canada

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Thry’vors News Spring - 2012Thriving Thry’vorsby Maria Di Stasioretells the journey of our volunteers who are either currently undergoingtreatment for thyroid cancer, in post treatment or remission. The purpose of these stories isto inspire and encourage those diagnosed with thyroid cancer and their loved ones.We continue our special series featuring stories of TCCvolunteer members. Ann Dreger has been a volunteer at TCCsince 2003. While navigating the health system at a tumultuoustime in her life after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, sheturned to TCC for support and information on her condition.Today Ann continues to demonstrate her gratitude for TCC byincreasing awareness for this illness and the support that existsout there; she is the Chair of the Distribution Committee, and isresponsible for sending bulk packages of TCC’s printed mattersuch as pamphlets, information cards and booklets to doctors’offices and clinics across <strong>Canada</strong> (over 70 packages in 2011,including over 10,000 pieces). We will see that Ann has helpedraise awareness for thyroid cancer in more ways than one. Whileher story enlightens us because she has been cancer-free foralmost nine years now, her journey includes some honourablemoments that merit attention.Ann was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in January 2003;however it was back in 1998 when she first felt something wasnot right. Ann says she was losing more hair than usual and hadridges on her fingernails. At that time her family doctor was notconcerned of any thyroid problems and during her visit did notperform any physical examination of Ann’s neck. In December2001 Ann noticed a slight bulge on her neck so she returned toher family doctor in January 2002 and was sent for a neck scan.Ann waited months before she could see an endocrinologist andwhen she finally did she was referred to a surgeon. The surgeonbiopsied what was a cyst on her thyroglossal duct and then Annhad to have surgery to remove the cyst. Several weeks laterpathology results confirmed a papillary cancer. Ann was told sheneeded a second surgery to remove all her thyroid gland. Feelinguneasy about having to undergo another surgery, she decided toget a second opinion on the matter. After consulting withanother surgeon at Mount Sinai who also recommended acomplete thyroidectomy, Ann underwent a second surgery inJanuary 2003.Ann recovered fairly quickly and resumed normal activities; shewas 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 cancercells. At the end of her medical trip Ann rewarded herself withthe purchase of a kayak; she finds it peaceful to glide through thequiet waters.Most of the schools intown poured out to linethe streets, cheering andwaving. The torch runnerswere photographed andinterviewed. Annpurchased the torch andhas preserved all clothingpieces, news clippingsand other memorabilia ina shadow box.As a follow up procedure Ann has had whole body scans andvisits her endocrinologist once a year to monitor her health. Shegoes for regular blood work to check her thyroid hormone levelsand thyroglobulin count. Just a few years ago Ann had anotherdose of RAI; she was clear of cancer and deemed cured! Whenasked how she feels and if there were any side effects, Ann saysher medication required some adjustments along the years whichtook some getting used to each time the dose changed. Ann alsosaid she now has high blood pressure, notices changes in her skinand her hair is drier. However she doesn’t know if she canattribute these changes to her thyroid issues, the medication, orsimply the aging process.Thry’vors News 6
Thry’vors News Spring - 2012When Ann became involved with TCC in January 2003 it wasin search for some outside support. She expressed that TCC is asite where you can ask just about anything and get an answer.Ann felt that people on this site understand your fears and knowwhere you are coming from, something that may not always beas easily grasped by family members around you. Ann beganvolunteering at TCC on the phone lines talking to other womenwho had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and were goingthrough the same thing. While she was of great assistance toothers, it in turn helped her just as much.However it is her journey with cancer that helpedher realize many things. Namely, Ann discoveredher strength and ability to cope with mostsituations. She also discovered who her real friendsare which resonates with many of us who havebeen sick.A few opportunities evolved for Ann from TCC. She appearedon the Avery Haines TV health show which ran an episode thatfocused on thyroid health problems such as hypo- andhyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. For the show, Ann wasfilmed at her home exercising and doing activities plus she andseveral doctors were interviewed as well. This was a uniqueexperience for both Ann and her youngest daughter whoaccompanied her to the TV studio for filming. Ann mentionedthat her daughter supported her through this appearance andgreatly enjoyed the whole studio experience.Ann talks about another honourable moment that transpiredfrom a Coca-Cola contest. Since 2006 Ann had been enteringpin codes from Coke boxes and plastic bottles for points on theICOKE site. One day she noticed a contest on the site so sheentered her ballots every day until she came out on top. Aftercompleting a skill testing math question and writing a brief story,she was chosen to be one of the Torch Runners for the 2010Winter Olympics. Ann believes that luck, chance, and good fatewas what granted her this privilege but it seems that herperseverance also played a part.Along with other torch runners from Peterborough, North York,and Scarborough, Ann was honoured in Aurora, Ontario, by thetown council with a huge gathering. Ann felt great being on theroute of this run. She received a white outfit including a hat andspecial mittens that she wore on that unique day. Studentspoured out of most of the schools in town to line the streets,cheering and waving. The torch runners were photographed andinterviewed. Ann purchased the torch and has preserved allclothing pieces, news clippings and other memorabilia in ashadow box. This was a special moment for Ann and she says shewill forever be united with the other torch runners from Ontario.Pictures of her holding the torch make her proud. Ann wasasked to appear at other family day activities in Aurora wearingher Olympic outfit and holding the torch. She made manypeople happy by letting them be photographed together with herand the torch.Ann reminisces about these memorable opportunities thatevidently made a difference in her life. However it is her journeywith cancer that helped her realize many things. Namely, Anndiscovered her strength and ability to cope with most situations.She also discovered who her real friends are which resonateswith many of us who have been sick.These are the friends whocan be counted on and have an invested interest in you.Ann’s health outcome is encouraging since she is part of thefavourable statistics that show a 98% survival rate of 5 years forthose diagnosed with thyroid cancer. However she cautions thatalthough this type of cancer may be more treatable than someothers, it is still cancer. She wishes that doctors would stopsaying that this is the ‘good cancer’ since there really is no goodcancer. Having also been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I canrelate since countless people have told me not to worry becauseit’s a ‘good cancer’. As Ann says “Would you like to have it?”There is hardly anything trivial about this illness and labelling itas a ‘good cancer’ minimizes the challenges faced by patientsliving without a thyroid gland or diagnosed with a moreaggressive form and possibly reduces the lack of public attentionto this illness.Thank you Ann for giving a public face to thyroid cancer survivors across <strong>Canada</strong>!Thry’vors News 7
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Madame Marie Curie - Thyroid Cancer Canada

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