Dad Recently Diagnosed with Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Hello
This is certainly a shocking diagnosis for your Dad and all your family to come to terms with. Whilst most people tend to think of thyroid cancers as ones with very good prognoses, anaplastic TC is the exception to that and is one of the worst types of cancer to get - and not just the worst of the thyroid ones. I think you're already painfully aware that this isn't one that people recover from and I'm sure that your Dad's team will now be doing everything that they can to make him comfortable, but without any expectation that he can be cured, or the cancer can be delayed for very long.

We don't have a lot of experience here - mostly because on the rare occasions somebody comes to join us (usually a relative like yourself), the cancer plays out very quickly and they don't get to stay and get to know us very well.
I would normally say 'Have a quick search' around the old posts and you may come up with something, but sadly, since the platform has been 'updated', I haven't been around enough to work out if the old search functions are effective.

My advice would be to put everything else on hold for a few weeks and spend as much time with your Dad as you can. Say what needs to be said, tell him what you need to, do what you can together and make the most of the time that you have. 

My brother has been just diagnosed with this and surgeon looking at chemo and into immunotherapy

I am VERY sad to read that. I hadn't heard of immunotherapy being used for ATC. Which country does your brother live in?

I did a quick google and found this article from one of the US hospitals that mentions it being a possible route for ATC. I think it's worth a read: 

www.mdanderson.org/.../immunotherapy-plus-targeted-therapy-for-anaplastic-thyroid-cance.h18-1591413.html

Thank you for your response and advice. I am heart broken as my Dad passed away this morning with this; he was diagnosed only 5 weeks ago. 

So sorry to hear about your dad - my thoughts are with you as I know what a struggle you have been going through.  My brother diagnosed 6 weeks ago and really struggling - he has not had great care And it breaks my heart to see him. 2nd chemo this Friday and hopefully then looking at chemo - this is a disease - my poor brother has fear in his eyes

LeeHam, that's so sad. Please accept my condolences. 

Hi MAHelen, you and your family must really be going through the mill. It's a terrible disease.

Thank you Barbara for your thoughts 

I'm so sorry to hear this LeeHam. What a dreadful, traumatic time for you all. May your dad rest in peace.

Hi Leeham

My mum was diagnosed with this on 2nd November. She walked into hospital 4 weeks ago and now has lost all control of her legs. Its been a hard few weeks. Shes pain free so far but is very frustrated at not being able to do the basic things that she could a few weeks ago. We're just taking each day as it comes but we have no idea what to expect. They told us she had weeks too but no idea how many weeks that'll be. Its a horrible horrible disease and heartbreaking to watch her go through it.