In this interview, the following topics are discussed:

• Better treatment options for thyroid disease
• Better testing for thyroid disease
• Mental challenges
• Juggling career and Hashimoto's
• The word insignificant
• The role of T3 and biological connections
• Diagnosed at twelve years old
• Disappearing eyebrows
• You can’t have thyroid disease because you’re not overweight
• Always cold
• Depression and anxiety
• Integrative medicine
• High TSH levels
• The myth of fork to mouth disease
• Armour Thyroid
• Cold intolerance
• Saliva testing and cortisol levels
• Lyme disease
• The problem of testing TSH levels only

NOTES

Thyroid Change Resources

Website:  www.ThyroidChange.org
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/ThyroidChange
Twitter:   www.twitter.com/ThyroidChange

In this interview, some of the key points include:

• Self-discovered thyroid nodule
• Diagnosed thyroid nodule
• FNA and biopsy
• 5 cm nodule
• Juice cleanse and no more red meat
• 3 hour surgery
• Regret about a Friday afternoon surgery
• Outpatient surgery
• Vocal cord paralysis
• Impact of vocal cord paralysis
• RAI six weeks post surgery - 176 mc
• RAI diet
• A positive and optimistic approach to the disease
• Surgeon did not present consequences of thyroid surgery
• Ran cross-country in high school

Jody Gelb is a Broadway singer and actress.   Six months ago she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer, during a doctor's visit for an unrelated issue.  This news sparked immediate research and discovering an alternate path that does not include surgery.

In this episode, the following topics are discussed:

• Broadway musical and tour
• Voice used during work as a performer, singing and acting
• Diagnosed with thyroid cancer while going to the doctor for a minor back strain
• MRI on back lead to discovery of thyroid nodules
• A scare, at one point being told cancer could be medullary
• BETHESDA scale
• Book by Dr. Gilbert Welch
• Incidental findings
• Watch and wait or active surveillance as an option to removing your thyroid
• Conflicting and inconsistent information from healthcare professionals to the patient
• Maximilaist or minimalist
• Cultivating a wherewithal to ask questions, even when being told something by a healthcare professional
• Dr. Atul Gawande
• Dr. Henry Marsh
• Choosing active surveillance and then feeling isolated or alienated
• Sharing selectively
• The importance of Google and Twitter and searching ‘papillary thyroid cancer’

NOTES

Regarding Thyroid Cancer, Are You a Minimalist or a Maximalist? with Dr. Michael Tuttle from Sloan Kettering

Diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer and You Say No to Surgery with Dr. Louise Davies

Avoiding Thyroid Cancer Surgery, Depending on the Size with Dr. Miyauchi from Kuma Hospital in Kobe, Japan

1 in 3 People Die With Thyroid Cancer — Not From with Dr. Seth Landefeld from UAB

Rethinking Thyroid Cancer – When Saying No to Surgery Maybe Best for You with Dr. Allen Ho from Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles

American Thyroid Association

Overdiagnosed: Making People Sick in the Pursuit of Health

Best Time of Day to Take Your Thyroid Medication and Other Questions for the Endocrinologist with Wendy Sacks, M.D. from Cedars Sinai

Jody Gelb

blog

Twitter

18 years ago Lorrie was diagnosed with Graves’ disease.  Then, in 2017 she received a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. 

In this episode we hear Lorrie describe the following:

• Papillary thyroid cancer
• Long delayed pathology results
• Graves’ disease
• Balancing Graves’ disease and a thyroid cancer diagnosis
• Emotional roller coaster of feeling optimistic and other days of sadness.
• The feelings and emotions of related to a cancer diagnosis
• Being careful about the information shared on the Internet and potential negativity
• Support network and family
• Nodule size was 1.1 cm, but with history of Graves’ disease, she decided to forego active surveillance

PATIENT RESOURCES

American Thyroid Association

In this episode, we visit with Carla. She had thyroid cancer surgery.  During the interview, we discuss:

• 50 biopsies of the first nodule
• 5 cm nodule
• Biopsies
• RAI
• Weight gain
• Support from family

NOTES

American Thyroid Association

23: You Have a Thyroid Nodule, What Happens Next? with Dr. Regina Castro from The Mayo Clinic

64: Managing Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules, with Dr. Kimberly Vanderveen from Denver Center for Endocrine Surgery

This episode is a thorough presentation of Graves' Disease from Kimberly Dorris, an educator and expert, and also a patient.  In this episode, listeners will gain a thorough understanding of a disease that is often confused with other diagnosis.  

Kimberly Dorris is the Executive Director and CEO of the Graves' Disease and Thyroid Foundation, a small nonprofit organization based in Rancho Santa Fe, CA.
She began working with the GDATF as a volunteer in 2010, and took over day-to-day management of the Foundation in 2011.  

In this episode, we hear from Judy O'Reilly.  
Judy was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2011.  Following surgery, Judy speaks about the frequent challenges, including adjusting medication dosages, hypothyroidism, and her energy levels hitting the wall during daily activities.  

For Judy, the cancer diagnosis forced the conversation of talking about death with her children and husband.  A singer and musician, the thyroid cancer and resulting surgery has caused vocal challenges.

In this episode, we hear from Judy O'Reilly.
Judy was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2011.  Following surgery, Judy speaks about the frequent challenges, including adjusting medication dosages, hypothyroidism, and her energy levels hitting the wall during daily activities.

For Judy, the cancer diagnosis forced the conversation of talking about death with her children and husband.  A singer and musician, the thyroid cancer and resulting surgery has caused vocal challenges.

She is the founder and former facilitator of THYCA Atlanta. Prior to starting the once/month support group held at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute, Judy O'Reilly offered email and phone support. Judy began her involvement/volunteering with THYCA one year after diagnosis/surgery/RAI. Prior to thyroid cancer, Judy O’Reilly had been a music educator and an entertainer. She was the female vocalist for the Atlanta Blue Notes Big Band, as well as their Combo. As a solo performer (piano/vocals), Judy specialized in senior care facilities offering up an extensive selection of the great American songbook. Ms. O’Reilly resigned/retired from performing soon after a second surgery - a completion of a previous partial thyroidectomy - due to complications. In 2015 Judy began a return to entertaining as a volunteer in the grand piano lobby of the Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta.