New Diagnoses of Thyroid Cancer, Fastest Increasing Cancer, To Set Record in 2012

ThyCa Urges Early Detection Through Neck Checks

Thyroid cancer will set a new record total of 56,460 people newly diagnosed in the United States in 2012 and is the fastest increasing cancer in both men and women, reports the nonprofit ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, based on information from the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association urges everyone to learn about thyroid cancer and ask for a neck check at doctor's appointments. People in all age groups from children through seniors can be diagnosed with thyroid cancer. ThyCa provides free awareness and educational materials to patients, professionals, and the public anywhere in the world.

Three out of four people diagnosed with thyroid cancer are women, and the 2012 total of 56,460 people newly diagnosed will include 43,210 women and 13,250 men. A total of 1,780 deaths from thyroid cancer are expected in 2012, compared with 48,020 people newly diagnosed and 1,740 deaths in 2011.

“When found early, thyroid cancer is usually treatable, so early detection is a key,” notes 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. Most thyroid nodules are benign, but some are cancer.”

“Medical professionals are essential to the detection of thyroid cancer,” adds 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.”

Free downloadable flyers, tools and tips, and the handbook Thyroid Cancer Basics are available at www.thyca.org. These and more free materials are also available from ThyCa by mail. ThyCa’s free online newsletter subscriptions are available through www.thyca.org/support/guestbook/.

ThyCa invites everyone to partner with ThyCa in Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, a worldwide observance that ThyCa sponsors each September, and to become involved in year-round awareness campaigns. Details are at www.thyca.org/awareness.htm.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc., is a 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 support groups, seminars, workshops, and the annual International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference.

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

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