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Cancer is well known but the Cancer that took my Father's life is a very rare and aggressive Cancer. We need to get more funding
for research of this cancer and therefore more hope for those who are diagnosed with this deadly disease. Please spread awareness
of this disease as at this time knowledge is the only power we have when it comes to ATC (Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer) Early
diagnosis is really the only chance someone has for survival and the fact that most doctors have never even seen a case of
it puts a huge roadblock for people getting an early diagnosis. The treatment MUST be AGGRESSIVE and IMMEDIATE; as this disease
is aggressive.
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IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM BOHLAND
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**THYCA is always looking for volunteers. You can volunteer once or on a weekly/daily basis. Whatever time you can spare.
I chose to volunteer for THYCA because they are the group that supported me during my Dad's battle with ATC.During that
time I spoke to several people in the support group online and on the phone. I cant bring my Dad back but I CAN make him proud
and help get the word out and support others with this disease. Please help fight ATC. Be A volunteer.****
Volunteer for THYCA
Survival Statistics
The survival statistics are grim, but there are long-term survivors of ATC.
The problem with statistics is that while they are valid for a group, they say nothing about what will actually happen
to any one person.
Many believe that the survival statistics can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and that if doctors and patients aggressively
pursue treatment despite the statistics, the survival statistics will improve.
* A recent study showed the following statistics for a group of 30 patients. The study was published in 2004 and is
titled "Combined Treatment of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma with Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Hyperfractionated Accelerated
External Radiotherapy" (DeCrevoisier, et. al. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biological Physics, Vol. 60,
No. 4, pp. 1137-1143, 2004)
* 6 patients had metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Half died within 6 months of diagnosis, and all died by 16 months.
* 24 patients had no metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Half died within 12 months of diagnosis, and 6 were still
alive after 60 months.
* The Mayo Clinic study cited below studied 134 cases from 1949-1999. The median survival was 3 months from diagnosis,
and 13 patients survived longer than 1 year.
* The study of statistics from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER Program (cited below and published in
2005) summarized information from 516 patients seen in USA hospitals between 1973 and 2000. Almost one in 5 (a total of 19
percent) survived longer than 1 year.
Resources and links about ATC
Thyca Org (info on ATC)
About.com -ATC
New York Thyroid Center
American Cancer Society
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