1. First name: Heather
2. Current age: 52
3. Sex: Female
4. State/ country: Australia
5. Age at diagnosis (dx): 45
7. Year of dx: 1995
8. Diagnosis: MALT lymphoma in Thyroid. Hashimoto's
thyroditis.
9. Stage: first dx - low grade second dx - medium grade
10. Medical history (Hx) before dx MALT:
I have a genetic condition "Ectodermal Dysplaxia Syndrome".
It is a condition where the cells of the ectodermis do not form
correctly as a foetus resulting in various manifestations/severity
[teeth malformations; absence of baby/adult teeth; lack of growth in
lower jaw; lower density of sweat glands (inability to control body
temperature in severe cases); hair growth is retarded or absent; hair
can be 'baby hair' - fine, whispy, dry; dry skin; malformation of
nails (soft, thin, misshapened)] I have various allergies - food (all
fruits high in Vitamin C; chocolate; cough lollies and syrups),
penicillin Slight tiredness. I saw a lump in the thyroid area
and suspected a goiter.
11. Medical history after dx MALT:
Right lobe of thyroid was removed in 1995. Oncologist saw me on
a regular basis for 5 years and then I was told that there was little
chance that the cancer would come back and that further visits were
unnecessary. CT scans in 1995 revealed a growth on left adrenal gland
- follow up revealed that it is not malignant Late 2001 I noticed
another lump and MALT lymphoma was diagnosed after needle biopsy.
Left lobe was removed early 2002. Oncologist suspects that this
lymphoma is not the other lymphoma reoccurring but a completely
separate occurrence. The cancer this time had 'escaped' the
thyroid capsule and some muscle was involved. CT scans after removal
of left lobe revealed some irregularities in the throat area but CT
scan done 3 months later showed that these irregularities, although
still present, had not changed so a wait and watch regime has been
adopted on these. CT scans in 2002 revealed a growth in lower pelvic
area - suspect that it is a fatty cyst. No follow up done on
this.
12. Treatments (Tx): Removal of thyroid and involved muscle. Am
now on Thyroid replacement therapy. Nothing else
13. Looking for common factors (example: polio vaccine):
Had polio in 1954
Polio vaccine in 1956
More polio vaccine sometime in the 60s
Rubella vaccine - 1972
HepB vaccine - 1995, 1996, 1997 (all post-vaccine blood tests showed
that I
had not gained immunity so further boosters - even a double dose! -
were
given but when I still showed no immunity it was decided that I would
never
gain immunity and no further boosters were given)
Was on a contraceptive pill 1972 - 1974
Have osteo-arthritis in many joints. Rarely take medication for
this (pain
and inflammation usually controlled by diet and exercise). If
necessary I
take NSAID when pain/inflammation flares up.
15. Job, family etc.:
Teacher
3 children (born 1975, 1977, 1979)
No thyroid problems in any other family members of my generation or
other
generations
Optional email address: hbee@bigpond.com
