What the Neurologist had to say
Posted mid-2009 A little over a month ago I began having more trouble breathing, my fatigue worsened, and I developed what my doctors describe as partial paralysis on the right side of my body. It feels almost like I’ve had a small stroke. The doctors were convinced it was advanced brain cancer, but the MRI showed nothing. Today I met with the neurologists. I’ve spent the day trying to process what they told me. Frankly, I’m not pleased—though I do think they’re doing their best. The MRI is clear, and my tonsil isn’t the cause. What is? They still don’t know. But they’re almost certain it’s a form of Paraneoplastic Syndrome —an autoimmune disorder triggered by the presence of cancer in the body. It’s extremely rare in thyroid cancer, and there’s no standard treatment. We’re currently considering three possible treatments: intravenous Prednisone, IV Gammaglobulin, or Plasmapheresis (where antibodies are filtered from the blood). Before any of these can begin—each being very exp...