The conference came to a close this morning with the final session being an open question and answer session with the panel of expert doctors in the field of Graves' Eye Disease. As I sat at my table I reflected back over the last few days and realized what an exceptional experience this had truly been. And everyone in attendance felt the same way.
To experience the life-altering autoimmune disease called Graves' Disease is one thing, but to be in a room packed with patients (and some of their family members) who've all gone through this journey was quite humbling. And to have the privelege of hearing from the world's foremost doctors was equally humbling.
Here's a short summary of what the doctors are working on in the study of Graves' Disease:
Dr. Anca Avram: assessing impact of tissues after RAI and the affect of radiation on organs
Dr. Barbra Miller: investingating ways to provide adquate care to patients who would not otherwise have access to it; addressing the lack of surgical volume (as she stated even true general surgeons are disappearing).
Dr. Larry Wood: Teaching people to look for premature gray hair in younger people, because even one premature gray hair may be a sign of a malfunctioning thyroid gland; educating parents on what to look for in their children
Dr. Cesar Brinceno: Standardization of clinical trials; investigations of pathogenesis of thyroid disease
Dr. Ray Douglas: preventative clinical trials with regard to Graves' Eye Disease (where you could take a medication to prevent the eye sumptoms/involvement), with results being available in about 2 years; testing of more drugs in those with severe eye complications; additional Rituximab testing (18 months long) with Dr. Terry Smith
And here is a photo of the panel of doctors as we were assembling this morning, plus Graves' Disease Foundation founder Nancy Patterson (at left)
For more information, please go to the Graves' Disease and Thyroid Foundation website.
