ATA News Release 2009

Media Contact: Randolph Fillmore, Florida Science Communications, (813) 850-7614 rfillmore@nasw.org

Thyroid cancer treatment for elderly patients or patients who are pregnant presents special challenges

Falls Church, Va. (Jan. 20, 2009) – Challenges in treating thyroid cancer - either among the elderly or treating thyroid cancer during pregnancy - will receive special attention from Steven I. Sherman, M.D. of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center when he presents at the American Thyroid Association’s National Thyroid Cancer Workshop II to be held January 23-24, 2009 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Miami Florida. The session will be at 9:30 a.m. in Americana 3, 2nd level.

Thyroid cancer and the elderly
“Risks for disease aggressiveness and co-morbidities are important management considerations when treating thyroid cancer among the elderly,” says Dr. Sherman. “Curative surgery is not feasible in ten percent of patients over age 75 due to co-morbidities. Typically, these patients may have higher rates of asthma, emphysema, renal failure, arrhythmias and other serious conditions.”

Dr. Sherman suggests that physiological age rather than calendar age is the primary influence in postoperative outcomes among the elderly.

Treating thyroid cancer during pregnancy
According to Dr. Sherman, experts disagree on many aspects of treating thyroid cancer during pregnancy. There is ‘a consensus of nonconsensus’,” he said.

Data show that thyroid cancer is the second most likely (behind breast cancer) cancer diagnosed during pregnancy and that diagnoses for pregnant women are more likely to occur during the third to sixth month of pregnancy. The better news is that 60 percent of those cancers are localized.

Dr. Sherman will present several management strategies for treating thyroid cancer during pregnancy.

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The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is the lead organization in promoting thyroid health and understanding thyroid biology. The ATA values scientific inquiry, clinical excellence, public service, education, collaboration, and collegiality. ATA members are physicians and scientists who work to enhance the understanding of thyroid physiology and pathophysiology, improve diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases, and promote the education of physicians, patients, and the public about thyroid cancer. Thyroid diseases are the most common disorders of the endocrine system, affecting almost 13 million Americans.