Understanding Thyroid Cancer
- Singer Ronnie Platt, of the rock band “Kansas,” has overcome thyroid cancer after undergoing surgery to combat the disease and is set to go back on tour with his band next month.
- Thyroid cancer might be a daunting diagnosis, but it is often highly curable. Even in more advanced or aggressive types, treatments continue to improve, and patients can find hope in both the science and the support offered by medical teams, family, and friends.
- People who work in the oncology field, doctors and social workers, have told SurvivorNet that they recommend working during cancer treatment if you can.
- Remember, whether it may be for financial reasons, a sense of normalcy, or simply because you like what you do, it’s important to make a work schedule that suits you during your cancer journey.
The Chicago native, who turned 65 last month and became a member of “Kansas” in 2014, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last month, but after undergoing surgery, he’s now cancer free and ready to return to normalcy.
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He continued, “It’s hard to believe that less than two months ago I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and now looking forward to getting back on the road.
“It really was just a ‘bump in the road’!!!!! Thank you so much for your prayers, your positive vibes, and encouraging and hopeful messages!”
Platt concluded, “I can’t wait for April 4 where I once again will be able to say: ‘GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO KANSAS!!!!'”
His post comes about two weeks after he informed his fans he was home after a successful surgery.
Platt wrote in his March 4 post, “I felt the power of everyone’s prayers and positive energy! You all have helped me thru this, how do I? or can I? ever thank all of you for that!!!???? Day 1 of recovery here I am!!!
“I am looking forward to getting back to what i do best! Yes, Singing, but my true job is entertaining you all and helping you at least for a couple hours forget about your problems and recharge your batteries, I take a lot of pride in that!!!! Thank you all again, CARRY ON!!!!”
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Platt’s fans, who previously welcomed him with open arms when he joined Kansas 11 years ago, were overwhelmed with joy to hear of his return.
One fan commented on his Facebook page, “What wonderful news!! So happy to hear that you are doing well. What a blessing!”
While another wrote, “Fantastic news, Ronnie! This is a wonderful answer to prayer. We will continue to pray for you and the gents as you get on down the road.”
A third joked, “Awesome news. No stage diving for at least another couple weeks.”
Speaking on The Rock Brigade podcast in an earlier interview, Platt opened up about taking Walsh’s place in Kansas, revealing his the fans of the group supported him in joining the band, according Ultimate Classic Rock.
The former truck driver, formerly of the rock band Shooting Star, said, “The Kansas fans have been so overwhelmingly accepting of me. I thank my lucky stars for that.”
He added, “Steve is not only one of the best singers of all time, but one of the greatest entertainers of all time. I attribute my voice to listening to Steve Walsh, Steve Perry and Lou Gramm.
“The stress level was off the charts for me when I did the first gig in Oklahoma. I was so nervous. In some respects it seems like yesterday – in other ways it feels like ten years from now.”
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Recognizing Thyroid Cancer Symptoms
Thyroid cancer is a disease that begins in the thyroid gland, which is at the base of the neck. The cancer will often present itself as a large bump (tumor) in the neck. It remains unclear what causes the disease. Some symptoms of thyroid cancer can be mistaken for a common cold.
Dr. Scott Strome, a head and neck cancer surgeon who is currently the dean of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, and previous chair of head and neck surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, explained thyroid cancer in an earlier interview with SurvivorNet.
7 Common Signs of Thyroid Cancer & How to Spot Them
“We’re now able to detect thyroid disease, thyroid cancers, much earlier than we used to be able to,” Dr. Strome said. “We tend to see it predominantly in younger women, but it can occur in both men and women. In most cases, I tell my patients that, ‘Your thyroid cancer is a barnacle on the ship of life.’”
Dr. Strome suggests finding an experienced thyroid expert for treatment.
Understanding Thyroid Cancer Types & Treatment Options
“Folks who have thyroid cancer, they need to go to a really experienced thyroid setting and have folks who really understand the disease. Those are for the most indolent type of thyroid cancers, called papillary,” he explained.
“Thyroid cancer is a pretty interesting disease, because papillary is a really indolent cancer. On the other end of the spectrum, you have what’s called anaplastic thyroid cancer, which may be one of (if not the) most aggressive cancers that we see. So it’s a whole spectrum of disease.”
Treatments for thyroid cancer can include surgery, hormone therapy, radioactive iodine, radiation, targeted drug therapy, and chemotherapy.
Platt only need surgery to remove his cancer, but it’s important to note that radioactive iodine therapy is extremely effective for thyroid cancer patients.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) radioactive iodine therapy puts radioactive iodine into a patient’s body either through a pill, drinking a liquid, or getting a shot in your vein.
“When RAI is put into the body, it collects mainly in thyroid cells. The radiation from this treatment can destroy the thyroid gland and any other thyroid cells that take up iodine (including cancer cells). Because most of the RAI collects in thyroid cells, the radiation has less effect on the rest of your body,” the ACS explains.
Meanwhile, thyroid hormone therapy, which involves taking levothyroxine pills to replace nature hormones that are no longer to be made by the body after a thyroidectomy (surgical removal of the thyroid) can be done to help reduce recurrence risk and keep a patient’s metabolism normalized, as per the ACS.
A thyroidectomy (surgery to remove the thyroid gland) is “the most common surgery for thyroid cancer, especially for larger tumors or for cancers with higher-risk features,” the ACS explains.
Patients can either get a total thyroidectomy done, which is when the entire thyroid gland is removed, or they can get a near-total thyroidectomy, when most of the gland is removed.
Symptoms of thyroid cancer include the following:
- A lump in the neck, sometimes growing quickly
- Swelling in the neck
- Pain in the front of the neck, sometimes going up to the ears
- Hoarseness or other voice changes that do not go away
- Trouble swallowing
- Trouble breathing
- A constant cough that is not due to a cold
“Most people have no discrete symptoms; the majority of cases now are found incidentally,” Dr. Allen Ho, an ENT at Cedars-Sinai, said in a previous interview with SurvivorNet.
“However, a sizable number of people may first discover their cancer when they feel a bump on their neck. Other possible late symptoms include problems swallowing, the sensation of something in their throat, neck compression when laying flat or voice changes.”
The good news is that many of these possible symptoms, including lumps in the thyroid, are both common and commonly benign — but it never hurts to ask your doctor.
Chances of cancer recovery increase significantly with early detection, so it’s important to address any warning signs of thyroid cancer, or any cancer for that matter, with a medical expert swiftly.
Working Through Cancer
SurvivorNet experts say working during cancer treatment can help your prognosis. People who work in the oncology field doctors and social workers have told SurvivorNet that they absolutely recommend working during cancer treatment, if you can, because work can really establish a sense of normalcy in a person’s life.
Not only does it provide a needed source of income, but it also reminds you that you have a life apart from cancer as a valued employee, a great boss, or a trusted co-worker.
A work life also encourages regular contact with others. Sometimes cancer can make you feel isolated and lonely, and being around people can be a great comfort.
It’s important to talk with your doctor before taking the big step of going back to work, whether it’s in an office, a warehouse, or a TV show set. Some people can continue to work during cancer treatment and those who need to take some time away.
The reality is it depends on the person, their individual cancer, and the treatment.
Advice for Going Back to Work
Some cancer warriors choose to work to stay busy, maintain a sense of usefulness, or keep camaraderie among coworkers and friends.
On the other hand, some cancer patients work during treatment because they feel they can’t afford not to.
WATCH: Working during cancer treatment.
Whether it be for financial reasons, a sense of normalcy, or simply because you like what you do, it’s important to try to make a work schedule that suits you during your cancer journey if you want to continue working.
It’s also important for you to know there are people out there to help you navigate the process of not working if that’s your preferred option.
Laurie Ostacher, a social worker at Sutter Bay Medical Foundation, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview how she helps people figure out their working situation after a cancer diagnosis.
“Some women choose to continue working [through cancer] because working is a significant part of their identity, they enjoy the job, and there’s flexibility built in,” she explained.
“I help folks think about whether it makes sense to work … If you don’t want to but are worried, you’re not going to be able to make ends meet, then I’ll sit down and help them figure out, you know, with your disability insurance, would this be possible?”
No matter what, it’s important to do what’s right for you and seek out valuable resources like Ostacher if you need help deciding on the right course of action when it comes to working during a cancer battle.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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