Thyroid Cancer Facts

Thyroid Cancer is the fastest growing cancer in both men and women. It often begins as a seemingly innocuous lump in the neck, sore throat or hoarseness. Most often thyroid cancer is confined to the neck and can be easily removed with surgery, however, advanced thyroid cancer is incurable. Though effective treatments exist for patients with metastatic thyroid cancer, including surgery and radioactive iodine, these therapies are not without side effects and do not eradicate the disease.

Lindsey's disease over the years metastasized across her entire body, including her bones, major organs and within the brain. Having endured traditional avenues of treatment, Lindsey was enrolled in clinical trials at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center and the University of Pennsylvania, with the hope of finding the drug and/ or the chemical "cocktail" that would stabilize and possibly cure her disease. 

Over the course of the 11 years, she endured surgeries to the thyroid and brain, radioactive iodine treatment, stereotactic radiation (for brain tumors), radiation to the femur and multiple rounds of experimental chemotherapy. She continuously battled through the side effects of the radiations and chemotherapy, such as mouth sores, hair loss, joint aches and skin rashes. Even at the very end, Lindsey continued to fight and demonstrated an indomitable spirit, unending optimism and envious love for life. She faced every battle without ever complaining and stayed optimistic that the treatments would allow her more time to spend with her husband, parents, family and close friends. 

It is believed that Lindsey had the cancer for many years before getting diagnosed, given how big her tumor was and that thyroid cancer is a slow-growing disease. If only she or a doctor checked her neck, we believe it would have been found earlier and possibly not spread all over her body and into her bones. Hence we need to educate the public to check their necks!

Dr. Marcia Brose is Vice Chair of Medical Oncology and SKCC Regional Chief of Cancer Services at Jefferson Torresdale Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia. Brose is an internationally recognized expert in thyroid cancer, rare cancers, and personalized therapy. She also served as global co-PI on the pivotal multi-institutional phase III DECISION trial of sorafenib in locally advanced or metastatic thyroid cancer and the COSMIC 311 trial of cabozantinib for patients in the second line.

Brose has also been named Medical Co-director of Community Clinical Research in SKCC’s Clinical Research Organization. She will be responsible for facilitating the clinical research studies at SKCC’s advanced care hubs outside of Center City Philadelphia to ensure that the clinical trial portfolios at these sites serve their community.

 “Now more than ever, patients need top-level care brought close to home,” Brose said.

Brose comes from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was Professor of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery; Director of Head and Neck Clinical Trials; Director of the Thyroid Cancer Therapeutics Program; Director of the Center for Rare Cancers and Personalized Medicine at the Abramson Cancer Center; and Co-director of the Advanced Pediatrics Thyroid Cancer Therapeutics Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Abramson Cancer Center.

“Through our advanced care hubs, we are committed to delivering comprehensive care to patients across the region. Dr. Brose is an experienced clinical trialist, and under her leadership, patients seeking care at our newest location at Jefferson Health Northeast will have access to an expanded offering of clinical trials and leading-edge treatment options that only a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center like the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center can provide,” said Andrew Chapman, DO, Interim Enterprise Director of SKCC and EVP of Oncology Services at Jefferson Health. “I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Brose to SKCC.”

Throughout her career, Brose has received numerous honors and recognitions, including the Leadership Development Program Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Clinical Investigator Award from Damon Runyon-Siemens, and a V Scholar Award from the V Foundation. Most recently, she was recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Brose is a graduate of Amherst College. She received her doctoral degree from Rockefeller University and her medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. She completed her residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. Brose also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cancer genetics at the University of Pennsylvania.