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Published on: 12/1/2005
Last Visited: 12/1/2005
Beisiegel diagnosed with Graves' Disease, pulls out of LPGA Q-school
Updated at 2:13 on December 1, 2005, EST.
(CP) - Canadian golfer Isabelle Beisiegel has been diagnosed with Graves' Disease and has withdrawn from the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament.
Beisiegel, 26, was diagnosed last week with the disease, which affects the thyroid gland and often causes people to lose weight and feel fatigued, according to the National Graves' Disease Foundation.The disease is treatable, but incurable."I have been having problems all year related to this disease, but I thought it was something else," Beisiegel said Wednesday via e-mail."This disease is gradual and now I am extremely depleted."
The Montreal native was to be one of six Canadians participating in the final stage of LPGA Tour Q-school starting Wednesday in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The LPGA said that Beisiegel will be able to skip sectional qualifying and advance straight to the final stage in 2006 because of her withdrawal this year.
Beisiegel has been a member of the LPGA Tour the past two seasons.After a promising rookie year, she struggled in 2005, making just two cuts and $6,653 US in 19 events.
She missed 17 straight cuts - including the Canadian Women's Open - to finish the season.
The 2003 Q-school co-medallist will now miss at least the first few months of the 2006 season receiving treatment.The National Graves' Disease Foundation says the disease is usually treated by using anti-thyroid drugs or having surgery to remove part of the thyroid gland.
It also says that Graves' Disease can be brought on by extreme stress and is most commonly found in middle-aged women.
Beisiegel maintains an extremely strict dietary and workout routine and says she feels positive about what lies ahead.
"I am very optimistic about the future," she wrote.