Thyroid Cancer Diagnoses Predicted To Set New Record in 2010

ThyCa Urges Early Detection Through Neck Checks

Thyroid cancer, one of the few cancers that is increasing in incidence, is expected to reach a new record of 44,670 people newly diagnosed (with 1,690 estimated deaths) in the United States in 2010, reports ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association (www.thyca.org), based on information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Cancer Society. The 2009 totals were for 37,200 people newly diagnosed and 1,630 deaths.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association urges everyone to learn about thyroid cancer and ask for a neck check at doctor's appointments. Thyroid cancer affects people in all age groups from children through seniors.

“Thyroid cancer is usually treatable when found early, so early detection is a key, and lifelong follow-up is just as important,” said ThyCa Executive Gary Bloom, a thyroid cancer survivor. “Many thyroid cancer survivors first become aware that they may have cancer when they notice a nodule on their lower neck. Others notice changes in their voice or breathing or swallowing. While most thyroid nodules are benign, we want everyone with thyroid cancer to benefit from early detection and treatment.”

“Medical professionals are also essential to the detection of thyroid cancer,” continued Bloom. “A neck check can be as simple as touching the neck or watching the patient swallow. This can be done very quickly, but those few seconds could make all the difference when it comes to thyroid cancer. Most thyroid cancer is treatable, but some thyroid cancers are aggressive and difficult to treat.”

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of thyroid cancer survivors, family members, and health care professionals dedicated to education, communication, support services, awareness for early detection, and thyroid cancer research fundraising and research grants.

ThyCa sponsors free seminars, workshops, and the annual International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference. ThyCa also sponsors Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month each September, plus year-round awareness campaigns, and provides free educational materials throughout the year.

For more information about ThyCa’s free year-round support services, education, and publications, e-mail tothyca@thyca.org, call toll-free 1-877-588-7904, write to PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545, or visit the web site.

Contact: Cherry Wunderlich, outreach@thyca.org, 301-493-8810, Director of Outreach and Publications, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc.