Paula Clayton lost her battle with Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma (ATC) on 17th October 2021. Paula was not only an incredible physiotherapist treating a number of elite athletes but also an incredible mother, wife, friend and mentor. This page aims to keep Paula's legacy going, raising money and awareness for people with ATC and also Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (PDTC) ,currently both conditions remain without a cure . 

Paula made it extremely clear that she wanted to help people who are going through what she had been through. She wouldn't want anyone to have to suffer like she had, and this is just what Paula was like! Always wanting to help and always putting others before herself. She was the most beautiful person inside and out. We need more people like Paula not less...

ATC is both the rarest and most aggressive form of Thyroid Cancer, patients survive only weeks or months following diagnosis.  

Below is Paula's story:

Paula is and always will be an inspiration to so many. From early on in her professional career as a physiotherapist/soft tissue therapist working at many Olympic Games and sports including Wrestling, Boxing, Hockey, Rugby, Women's football, Equestrian, Squash, Badminton, Swimming. She was a mentor for so many, an author, conference speaker and just an outright incredible human being.

Paula's journey since diagnosis had been anything but smooth. After finding a lump in her neck July 2020 after seeing herself during an online video consultation she soon got this checked out but was told it was benign. Towards Christmas 2020 the lump gradually started getting bigger, so she got this checked out.

Ultrasounds, biopsies showed benign tissue...

Paula knew something was not right, with a few strange symptoms and a growth that was now affecting her much more, Paula pushed and pushed until she got this checked out more thoroughly. It was only then that she was diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), one of the 4 thyroid cancers the type that effects few patients but unfortunately the most aggressive.

She had radical surgery removing her thyroid gland, strap muscles, lymph nodes and left internal jugular vein. They unfortunately couldn't remove all of the cancer which is typical of ATC. 

From then she had multiple infections including sepsis four times, radiotherapy, drug trials and chemotherapy all with just the most unbelievable amount of positivity. She fought until the end, upholding the belief she would beat this. With the support of Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust we raised £43,000 in the hope she would get the chance to try a drug that was her only chance of survival. With their help Paula had her care transferred to the Royal Marsden Hospital. Unfortunately she never got the chance to try the drug. Her condition progressed so aggressively at the end she was transferred to St Richards Hospice in Worcester where her friends and family sat by her side until the end. 

Even during her darkest times she worked hard to educate people on the condition, her medical procedures and just inspire and encourage people to be their own advocate. 

Paula was a huge advocate for her own health, constant research on her condition, research on different treatment options and anything she could do to improve her health during this time. She knew absolutely everything that was going on and even corrected the nurses a few times for missing the odd tablet. She inspired so many people during her hospital stays to speak up and know more about what's going on. With chatter going around the wards like "Do you know Paula, she's incredible, so positive."

If you ever got to meet, know or love Paula you are so incredibly lucky, she had such a huge impact on everyone that she met. She will be forever loved and forever remembered for the beautiful, loving, knowledgeable woman that she was. 

Paula, we all love you so much.

Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust will be managing Paula Fund to directly help and support patients ATC and PDTC, conditions which are in great need of research.