Shreen Sawhney
Mrs. Leason
English Period 9-11
April 4, 2014
Thyroid cancer is one of the main conflicts in John Green’s novel, The Fault in Our Stars. Hazel Grace, the protagonist, has papillary thyroid cancer that has metastasized to the lungs. Her disease precludes her from carrying a healthy relationship with her love interest, Augustus Waters, and the reader sees how difficult it is to live a normal life with such a life-threatening disease as cancer. There are many different causes as to why people contract thyroid cancer even though it only accounts for 1% of all cancer in the United States (Sarge 1). Furthermore, there are four subtypes of thyroid cancer with different intensities: papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. Each type of thyroid cancer comes with a different type of treatment care such as chemotherapy, thyroidectomies, and hormone therapy (Sarge 2).
Thyroid cancer is one of the more uncommon types of cancers in the United States. This type of cancer is three times more likely to affect women rather than men (Sarge 1). Even though, it is a rare type of cancer to contract, women are at a higher risk to contract or have already contracted thyroid cancer. In the novel, Hazel Grace, the main character, is a teenage female who has papillary cancer that has metastasized to the lungs. Thyroid cancer is most commonly found in people over the age of 30 (Petit 1). Only a small portion of cancers are diagnosed a year. According to recent survey, about 11,000 cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed a year, which is not a great deal when compared to other cancers (Thyroid Cancer 1). In addition to this cancer being more prevalent in women, there are certain ethnic groups that have a greater chance of having this...
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...r to tackle. This type of cancer has the ability to spread quickly and the farther that it hits, the harder it can be overcome if at all.” This form of thyroid cancer often occurs in the inherited genetic disorder multiple endocrine neoplasia” (Thyroid Cancer 2). People who have inherited multiple endocrine neoplasia will most likely have medullary thyroid cancer, but it is rarely contracted without this disorder. Next, anaplastic thyroid cancer is the most fatal of all four subtypes. This types of cancer grows quickly and metastasizes to other parts of the body rapidly. “Anaplastic thyroid cancer is more likely to develop in men over the age of 70” (Thyroid Cancer).
Thyroid cancer has a multitude of symptoms that one can use to idenfity it. For example, a lump on your neck, pain in the throat or neck, difficulty swallowing, and swollen lymph nodes are all examples
I think the chapter that helps to support her main point the most is chapter four titled “Space.” In this chapter, she discussed a great deal about the geographic distribution of cancer as well as the environment of the people who are more likely to get cancer. This includes: job type, living location, and living surroundings. To expand on each, she states that workers with
The thyroid gland is located in the anterior, middle portion of the neck. Many of the bodies’ hormones come from the thyroid. According to Porth 2011, “the thyroid hormone increases the metabolism and protein synthesis in nearly all of the tissues of the body.” (p. 784). When these hormones are not regulated, a thyroid disorder develops such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
but they are often more aggressive in adults than children. In adults, tumors in the hypothalamus are more likely to be metastatic (resulting form the spread of cancer form another organ to the hypothalamus) than they are when they occur in children. Peter Heage, of Colorado, was diagnosed with a hypothalamic brain tumor. He said that he was having headaches too often,
Williams claimed women in her family died of cancer. From all the evidences we have found, we can confidently insist that nuclear fall-out causes cancer. Therefore, Williams’ claim is evidently correct.
Head and neck cancer includes a range of cancers that originate in the head and neck. According to Parkin et al it is the fifth most common cancer worldwide [Parkin, 2005 #5], but it is uncommon in young women and very rare in pregnancy
The reasons why are unclear, but there is a sharp distinction between male and female thyroid cancer rates - females tend to develop the cancer more by nearly three times as often (“What Are the Risk Factors for Thyroid...
This is because the tissue swells around the eyes and suffer from hyperthyroidism, muscular weakness, and rapid pulse and develop a reddish, painless skin rash. People who show signs and symptoms usually are either mild or severe. It all depends on the activity level of the thyroid. The disease affects the immune system itself and no other places. Symptoms usually develop over a 3-month period. The carrier usually is not aware that they have Graves’ disease. They usually find out when the symptoms are severe. The common signs are weight loss, tremors, feeling of being hot, and palpitations. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.org). The less common sign that can occur as well. They are over activity of the intestines, which leads to frequent bowl movements. Sometimes the breakdown of protein in muscles can lead to extreme weakness, which causes trouble breathing and limited endurance. (The Thyroid Book). The thought of having Graves’ disease can be disturbing. Mood swings and thinking impairment can be difficult to handle. Crying spells, depression and feeling down are common. The patient’s personality can be different and will change. This could make work difficult and hard to keep. Generally, a person with Graves’ disease will have a thyroid that is enlarged but will not have any pain from it. This is called a goiter and can be seen in the neck most of the time. Sometime you cannot see the goiter but by feeling and examining the neck, it can be detected.
The thyroid gland is found in the front of the neck and produces two main hormones. The hormones are called thuroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). Together these hormones regulate the body’s metabolism by increasing energy use in cells, regulate growth and development, help to maintain body temperature and aid in oxygen consumption. These two hormones are regulated by hormones produced by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The hypothalamus senses changes in body’s metabolic rate and releases a hormone known as thyropin-releasing hormone (TRH). This hormone then flows through connecting vessels to the pituitary gland which signals it to release another hormone. This hormone is known as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH then makes its way to the bloodstream until it reaches the thyroid where it is then signaled to activate T3 and T4 production [1]. This mechanism is controlled by a negative feedback loop meaning that when there is a sufficient amount of thyroid hormones in the blood stream, this will signal back to stop production of thyroid stimulating hormones. Complications occur when the thyroid hormones keep increasing even though there is already a sufficient amount of T3 and T4 in the blood stream. This process of over expression of thryroid hormones is known as hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a general term that includes any disease that has a consequence of an overabundance of thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism is a general term but there are many variant diseases that are in the hyperthyroidism category. These diseases include diffuse toxic goiter, Basedow’s disease, thyrotoxicosis, Parry’s and Graves’ disease.
People with cancer often begin to define themselves based on their experience with their illness, this self-definition through one’s cancer is one that the characters fear in John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. The novel shows how the characters strive to discover their identities, but despite that are still identified by their illness. The novel also makes the argument that young people with cancer are not any more virtuous or different than other kids rather, they are just normal kids living with an illness. Augustus wants to be remembered and also be more than just a boy who battled cancer, but despite his efforts is still identified by his illness.
I, myself, have suffered from hypothyroidism since I was 21 years old, and depression during my high school years. This disorder came to us by surprise since nobody in the family has a history of thyroid disorder. The age the disorder came about was probably the most shocking part that left even the doctor questioning the blood tests. But in the end, it was something that was going on inside of me that needed medical attention before it became it worse and symptoms would be more apparent. Such diagnosis has lead me to make certain decisions in my life such as exercising and eating the right
The book begins with a narrative of cancer relating back to its history. Cancer in the book is discussed as a confusing, complex disease that was hard to decode by doctors for over a century. Mukherjee gives rich details about the way people assessed breast cancer in the nineteenth century discussing how radiation and chemotherapy were once used before modern times. Further, into the book, Mukherjee shares with personal experience working in the field of
Thyroid cancer starts in the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the front part of your neck below just below your Adams apple. The thyroid isn’t really that noticeable making it very difficult to be felt for. Your thyroid gland controls thyroid hormones that help to regulate metabolism, mine works as slow as state government. On occation there can be too much or too little hormones produced which can cause all sorts of other problems. The thyroid also control how the body utilizes calcium. (American Cancer Society, 2012)
The Fault in Our Stars Exceeds All Expectations John Green’s novel, The Fault in Our Stars, depicts the life of a terminal cancer patient named Hazel. She never wanted to live life until the day she met cancer amputee, Augustus Waters, who completely changes her outlook on life. A story of their struggle, not only with the typical adolescent emotions, but with cancer as well. Veering from predictable plots about teen love, Green immerses the audience in a heartbreaking portrayal of life cut too short. Through excellent characterization, brilliant plot twists, and outstanding detailed chapters, this novel achieves a merit that goes beyond the stars.
However, if the bone involved is deep within the body tissues, then a lump cannot be noticed. If the bone cancer involves a joint, then the swelling and redness may make using the joint difficult. IF the affected joint is in the leg, it can cause a limp and if it involves spine, it may press on nerves, causing numbness and tingling in the limbs. If the bones of the neck is affected with cancer then, a lump may develop on the back of the throat that can lead to trouble swallowing or breathing trouble.
Hazel Lancaster Grace: She is diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid cancer with metastasis forming in her lungs, but has managed to live with her disease owing to doses of an experimental drug called Phalanxifor