News/views: Maatta to have tumor removed

Just want to wish him luck, great kid!

First a stroke. Now, possibly cancer. Young Pens dealing with serious off ice health concerns not typically associated with the young.

God bless and get well.

Stay strong, Olli. And, God Bless you!

Hockey becomes secondary at a time like this. Keeping you in our prayers Olli.

Thoughts and prayers to you Ollie...

All the best to him. He seems to be an exceptionally nice young man.

Scary stuff. Great player and an even better kid! The thoughts and prayers of Pens Nation are with Olli.

Good luck Ollie. Get well soon.

Stuart

Sort of puts all the talk about "systems", etc. into perspective, no?

Sounds like a low grade cancer that won't need radiation or chemo, hopefully.

In looking up this I saw that Cards' outfielder Taveras died in a car crash.

F--k you cancer!

I'll second that. It's really tough for not only the one impacted directly but for their family and friends. Good luck to the young man.

I've not listened to the video so please correct me....but this sounds like indeed a low grade cancer which will not more treatment than surgery and possibly a one-time irradiation (not like radiation therapy we hear about in other cancers).

In 2005 I had thyroid cancer and here is what I know. There are 4 types, amongst them only one is dangerous, aplastic, and this is very rare rare. Chief Justice William Renquist had it and did not survive. But that is by far the exception.

Of the remaining three, they are quite benign. Papillary is the garden variety type so I'd bet that's what Olli has but let's wait to see.
The main thing is, it doesn't kill anybody. If your oiled choose a cancer to get, it's thyroid. They don't even have mortality stats on it.

Having said that - I'd like to know if they plan on conserving Maatta's thyroid, I.e. Only removing the part that is affected.
Traditionally they take out the whole thing, which is now becoming more obviously a bad idea, since it requires the patient

...to take thyroid hormone pills the rest of his life (you cannot survive without it)....and pills in no way substitute for a functioning, very critical endocrine gland like the thyroid. It runs your whole metabolism.

Anyway, sorry the lecture Peeps, but I HOPE they leave Our Olli with as much of his thyroid as possible. It will be critical for him to maintain his energy and a healthy metabolism.
If he has to live on pills, life will be very hard indeed.
Fingers crossed.

Ok, have thyroid cancer, one until biopsy is confirmed he still has chance it is not. 2., Recovery is more than 4-6 weeks, you do iodine radiation pill, you are isolated for 6 days. If thyroid is removed he goes on Synthroid rest of life, need time to adjust, fatigue, issues

Radiation pill is done at week 6, you recover, go on salt free diet for 2 weeks, allows iodine to kill any remnants of cancer by starving you of salt, you are isolated do to radiation. You are treated by Endocrinologist, not oncologist. Main concern will be stamina.