MPs living with cancer

MPs say their spiritual faith, family, and friends help them live with cancer, but they want to do more.
By Bea Vongdouangchanh
The Hill Times
Source

…NDP MP Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina, Ont.), who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in her neck in 2000 when she was a Toronto city councillor, said that the isotope Iodine 131, which is currently in a production shortage, was the same radioactive pill she took as treatment after her thyroid had been removed to prevent the spread of cancer cells.

“Had there been an isotope shortage then, I wouldn’t be able to take that iodine radiation pill which means that the cancer cell that I may have would still be around, which means it could be spread, which is why the isotope situation is really serious,” she said.

Ms. Chow, 52, said she discovered the cancer after ignoring a lump on her thyroid which became bigger as the years went by. She finally went to see doctors,  who told her that some thyroid cells were cancerous. “It was a bit of a worrying time. Would I be free of it?” she said.

She went in for surgery on a Thursday and was in radiation isolation at the hospital from Friday to Sunday. On Monday, Ms. Chow said she was back at work….

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