ThyCa News

ThyCa NEWS NOTES - April 2012

04/2012

In This Issue:


Cancer Pain Survey Seeks Your Input

Can You Give15 Minutes of Your Time for a Survey?
Share Your Experiences with Cancer Pain With Us.

If you have ever experienced intense flares of cancer pain, we want to hear from you. Help us understand cancer pain so that we can learn how to help you and thousands of other cancer patients/survivors suffering from pain. ThyCa and other leading cancer patient advocacy groups are conducting this survey.

Click on either of the links below to take our brief Breaking Through survey on breakthrough pain in cancer — short, sudden flares of intense pain that occur on top of background cancer pain.

http://www.thyca.org/surveys/painsurvey2012/

https://www.visioncriticalsurveys.com/skin/breakingthrough/thyca.html

It will only take a few minutes of your time. But your help now can go a long way to raise awareness about cancer pain. So please, take the survey!

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Free Workshops Coming Soon

You’re invited! You may register either in advance, using the online registration form, or onsite on the day of the workshop. We welcome walk-in attendees to all ThyCa meetings.

  • Vineland, New Jersey – Saturday, April 21, 2012
    New Jersey and Philadelphia Area Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Workshop, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00p.m. Physician speakers and more. Organized and hosted by the ThyCa support groups in the area, including ThyCa NW Philadelphia, ThyCa Philadelphia, ThyCa Southern New Jersey, and ThyCa Jersey Shore University Medical Center Support Groups. Workshop details are on our Conferencespage.

  • Osage Beach, Missouri – Saturday, April 21, 2012
    8th Midwest Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Workshop, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The confirmed speakers include two endocrinologists, a surgeon, a nurse practitioner, thyroid cancer survivors, and more. Details are on our Conferences page.

  • Silver Spring, Maryland — Saturday, May 12, 2012
    11th Annual Mid-Atlantic Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 8 confirmed medical professional speakers include 2 endocrinologists, 2 surgeons, a nuclear medicine physician, a medical oncologist, a dentist, and a pharmacist. This meeting is organized and hosted by the ThyCa support groups in the area, including: Baltimore, Northern Virginia, Rockville, and Silver Spring.

  • Stanford, California — Saturday, June 23, 2012.
    Northern California/Bay Area Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The confirmed speakers include 6 physicians from Stanford University Cancer Center. Details are on ourConferences page.

  • Texas — July date to be announced.
    Texas Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop. Details to be posted on our Conferences page.

  • Also, Every Week:
    You’re invited to Thyroid Cancer Support Group meetings in numerous locations. The complete schedule is here: page: www.thyca.org/sg/. If you don’t see a group listed near you, find out how ThyCa can help you start a new ThyCa support group. Just e-mail to us atsupport_coord@thyca.org.

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Baseball Fan to Tour the Major Leagues, Raise Awareness of Thyroid Cancer

Congratulations to Reggie Deal of Wyoming, who, starting in late April, will visit and attend games in all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums during the course of his 30-day tour. Reggie is a thyroid cancer survivor, originally from Texas, who is an educator with a background in youth issues and counseling. He also is blind.

Reggie is taking this opportunity to raise awareness of thyroid cancer and the importance of early detection through neck checks, because thyroid cancer is usually treatable when found early. We are pleased to provide materials to support Reggie in this important effort. We will share more of Reggie’s story in a future ewsletter and on our web site. Thank you, Reggie!

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More Support Groups Started

New local support groups are beginning in California this month. Thank you very much to the wonderful volunteers who have started these groups.

For details about all the 90-plus local ThyCa Support Groups, and their meeting schedules, go to our Support Groups page.

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Free Cancer Legal Rights Conference Planned for May 29, 2012

On May 29, 2012, in Boston, Massachusetts, learn about legal issues for cancer patients and your rights related to insurance, employment, disability, and more. Attorneys will give information for patients and caregivers, about legal issues and resources. Sponsor is the Cancer Legal Resource Center.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc., is pleased to partner with CLRC in this event. Details are at cancerrightsconference.org. ThyCa is also pleased to announce that speakers from the Cancer Legal Rights Center will participate in the program at the 15th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference in Chicago, Illinois, on October 19 – 21, 2012.

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Hypoparathyoidism Association Conference To Be Held in June

On June 7 – 9, 2012, the nonprofit Hypoparathyroidism Association will hold the 6th International Hypoparathyroidism Patient Conference in Rockville, Maryland. ThyCa is pleased to collaborate with the Hypoparathyroidism toward our mutual goal of reducing post-surgical hypoparathyroidism.

We are also pleased that once again, speakers from the Hypoparathyroidism Association will lead sessions on hypoparathyroidism, and coping with it, at the 15th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

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A Letter to ThyCa

“Good morning! Last week, a patient brought us the booklet Thyroid Cancer Basics she’d gotten from ThyCa. Our docs think this is a terrific source of information! We explored your website and saw the Low Iodine Cookbook as well.”

“We are a group of Endocrinologists and treat many patients with thyroid cancer. We’d love to receive copies of these booklets in bulk so we can share them with our patients. We’d like both the Basics and Cookbook, if possible. I’m not sure how many you can send, but we’d go through 50 of each within a couple of months. However we’ll be thankful for any you can send.”

(Editor’s Note: ThyCa is pleased to mail free copies of our materials, including Thyroid Cancer Basics and the Low-Iodine Cookbook, to medical professionals as well as individuals anywhere in the world. For medical professionals, just e-mail to thyca@thyca.org. For patients and caregivers, the fastest way to receive materials is to sign up through our free Guestbook.

These helpful books are also available for downloading fromour website, free of charge.

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Web Pages Discuss Thyroid Hormones

Thyroid hormone replacement in thyroid cancer care — this new page on ThyCa's web site has helpful information on thyroid hormones: www.thyca.org/pap-fol/more/hormones/

On the Know Your Pills page, you'll find more about thyroid hormone replacement for people with thyroid cancer.

You’ll find further details in the free handbook Thyroid Cancer Basics . Or ask us to mail you this handbook, plus our free information packet. Just send us your mailing address along with your request, through ourGuestbook.

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Dance Event Fills Room!

Congratulations to Christine Ciletti and the other ThyCa South Florida Support Group volunteers, and thank you to the Busy Body Fitness Center, for your dance aerobics afternoon in Boca Raton, Florida, to raise awareness and funds for thyroid cancer research. Your event was a big success and raised over $1,700 for ThyCa’s Thyroid Cancer Research Fund!

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You’re Invited To Partner in Awareness

You’re invited to partner with ThyCa in year-round awareness campaigns and in the worldwide observance Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. We are happy to send free materials and outreach tips to help you. Visit our Raise Awareness page to find out more.

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ThyCa’s Free Guestbook and Newsletter Subscription

By signing up in ThyCa’s free Guestbook, you’ll receive the latest news about thyroid cancer, new free publications, events, and more.

The standard of care for thyroid cancer has changed dramatically in the past few years. Research continues to make advances.

We want to help you stay connected and informed. Our mission is to be there for every person affected by thyroid cancer.

If you haven’t already signed up, we invite you to sign up today.

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Low-Iodine Recipe of the MonthContributed by Jamie G.

Better For You Tortillas

Use the same ingredients from the cracker recipe on p. 91 of the ThyCa Low-Iodine Cookbook:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil/olive oil
1/4 cup warm water

  1. Combine flour, salt, and vegetable oil until well mixed.
  2. Then slowly add warm water as you knead the dough. Dough should hold together but should not be sticky
  3. Make dough into about 4 balls (2 to 3 inches in diameter)
  4. Place each dough ball on a lightly floured cutting board and roll out with a lightly floured rolling pin.
  5. Roll dough out about ¼ inch thick. Tortillas may not be perfect circles.
  6. Using a skillet or griddle on medium to high heat, cook each tortilla (approximately 20 seconds each side). You will start seeing bubbles rise in the middle. When this happens, flip to the other side. You will see slight browned/burned spots. This is good!

Jamie writes: For one who loves New Mexican food this diet was difficult for me. This is my 2nd time on this diet and my husband and I found a way to still make some of my favorites! This tortilla recipe is a lifesaver and so easy to make. This is great for making breakfast burritos (if you can get your tortillas big enough) or breakfast tacos!

Thanks for such a helpful cookbook!

Editor’s Notes:

Dishes in ThyCa’s free Low-Iodine Cookbook that include tortillas or tortilla chips include Fajitas, (p. 31), Tacos (p. 31), Pork Carnitas & Soft Tacos with Salsa Fresco (P. 51), Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup (p. 61), Meal ideas (p. 78), Meals and Snacks for Children and Teens (p. 79), Guacamole Dip with Tortilla Chips (p. 81), Pico de Gallo (p. 81), Tostadas (p. 82), other dips, and Ole Omelet (p. 87).

Thank you, Jamie, for contributing this recipe. We will include it in the next edition of ThyCa’s FREE Downloadable Low-Iodine Cookbook.

Free and Downloadable

Download the 7th edition of the Low-Iodine Cookbook in English for free, with more than 340 favorite recipes from more than 150 generous volunteers.

The Cookbook is also available in:

Please remember, while you’re welcome to download and print the entire free low-iodine cookbook, you can also print just the pages you need.

This free cookbook is a wonderful help when you’re preparing to receive radioactive iodine for treatment or testing. All the recipes are favorites of some of our ThyCa volunteers, who are sharing them with everyone, to make the low-iodine diet easy and tasty. The recipes are also great for family meals and for potlucks, any time.

If you’d like to contribute your favorite recipe or tip, send it to recipes@thyca.org.

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Join Us, Become a Member

Help us sustain, strengthen, and extend our services. We invite you to become a member of ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.

Your membership dues will support ThyCa's efforts to reach and serve other survivors and their families around the world. Members receive our Membership Messenger newsletter.

Membership is open to everyone worldwide. You may become a 1-year ThyCa member ($25), 2-year member ($45), or lifetime member ($225). For our online Membership Form and our mailed Membership Form, go to our Membership page.

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Follow ThyCa on Facebook and Twitter

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Every Day

Every day, thousands of people with thyroid cancer, and their families, receive support, education, and hope from ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. Your generous support is what makes it possible to sustain, strengthen, and expand our services and outreach.

It only takes a minute to make a donation online in support of ThyCa's work (or you are welcome to donate by mail to ThyCa, P.O. Box 964, Chesterfield, MO 63006-0964), so click here to give.

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About ThyCa NEWS NOTES
Copyright (c) 2012 ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc.

Please share ThyCa News Notes with your family and friends. For permission to reprint in another electronic or print publication, please contact us at publications@thyca.org. Each ThyCa News Notes complete issue is also published on this web page: www.thyca.org/news/newsletters/.

Your suggestions for articles are welcome. The deadline for articles and news items is the first day of each month.

Thank you to our writing, editing, and proofreading team for this issue: Leah Guljord, Junet H., Pat Paillard, Barbara Statas, Cherry Wunderlich,and Gary Bloom.

The information in this newsletter is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended, nor should it be interpreted, as medical advice or directions of any kind. Readers are advised to consult their own medical doctor(s) for all matters involving their health and medical care.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization (tax ID #52-2169434) of thyroid cancer survivors, family members, and health care professionals.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. is a national non- profit 501(c)(3) organization (tax ID #52-2169434) of thyroid cancer survivors, family members, and health care professionals.

Contact us for free awareness materials and information about our free services and special events. E-mail to thyca@thyca.org, call toll-free at 1-877-588-7904, fax 1-630-604-6078, write PO Box 1102, Olney, MD 20830-1102, or visit our website.