The Battle and the War against Thyroid Cancer by Francis Mutua (@don_mu2ua)

4 Principles we must embrace to fight Thyroid Cancer

The “Art of War” by Sun Tzu is still relevant after many centuries since it was first written. When engaging in warfare, you must have the concept of it all in mind; before the battle, during and after the battle. In the TY TKO project, we are seeking war with a relatively new enemy thyroid cancer. This project seeks to create awareness on thyroid cancer and to improve the quality of health care to the patients who have been affected in Kenya. This is definitely a war we have to fight and win.

Photo : Africa

What is Thyroid Cancer?

Principle 01: To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.

Thyroid cancer is a cancer that affects the thyroid gland located at the front of the lower region of the neck. It is not age specific, it occurs to people of all ages. However, people who have had radiation therapy to treat enlarged thymus glands and tonsils are at higher risk of contracting thyroid cancer. The risk is further increased if the radiation therapy was done at an early age.

Kindly visit our Knowledge-Centre to Know the Enemy

Symptoms that are common to all types of thyroid cancer include persistent coughs, difficulty in swallowing food, hoarseness of the voice, thyroid lump, swelling of the neck and a thyroid lump.

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment depends on the type of thyroid cancer with surgery being the most common treatment. The entire thyroid gland is usually removed and sometimes if the doctor suspects spread to lymph nodes, they are removed too. Radioiodine therapy may be performed using external beam (x-ray) radiation or orally using radioactive iodine with or without surgery. After treatment, thyroid hormones are taken to replace the secretions from the thyroid gland. The dose is usually a little higher than normal body requirements to prevent recurrence of the cancer. If the cancer resists surgery or radiation and spreads to other body parts, chemotherapy may be used. However, this has only been effective for a few cases.

There is no known prevention mechanism for thyroid cancer. Awareness of the risk in early stages can mitigate the effect and extent of the damage. As a preventive measure, for those with a family history of thyroid cancer, the thyroid gland is removed before infection.

Principle 2: Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.

We call for your support in our cause as we deliver a technical knock out to thyroid cancer. Our strategy is to get all citizens of goodwill, corporate and natural, to this cause. Already, Ms. Daniel Mwango has today written for the Business Daily HERE about the fight against Cancer. Diana has managed to fight and win her battle against Thyroid Cancer. This is a good sign! The more we create awareness to the cause, the greater shall be our success and the more we can help eradicate thyroid cancer in Kenya.

Principle 3: Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization

We hope to start the revolution in Kenya with your help and take it to a global front. We are developing a solid framework that will serve our citizen efficiently and effectively. We hope to tailor it and export it to the world to ensure thyroid cancer remains in the archives of medical history. This is the real war which we must win by all means necessary!

Principle 4: When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of its momentum. When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing.

There has never been a better time to mobilize and fight our enemy. Join the fight, we are all worthy of the fight. This is our battle…whether infected or affected…we are in it for the WIN!

What we plan to do as TyTKO

It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperilled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperilled in every single battle.

As TY TKO project, we have a Vision and a Mission. Apart from spreading the word on Thyroid Cancer prevention and care, we are also actively tackling the issue from multivariate positions. We have already had a meeting at the radiotherapy premises at Kenyatta National Hospital and are documenting the works to be done. We hope to renovate the existing dilapidated “Iodine Ward” and associated health care infrastructure in Kenyatta National Hospital. This is to provide better systems for treating and also create a friendly habitable space for thyroid cancer patients.

The ripple effect will be to create awareness to the public on this little known cancer. There are more than 100 types of Cancer. By raising awareness we will get more people tested and provide an avenue for proper health care through Kenyatta National Hospital and other facilities fighting the same disease. We are all this good fight!

This is a Guest Post by Mr. Francis Mutua who has joined our fight against Thyroid Cancer. We are thankful and greatful to his words! Asante Sana