Thyroid Cancer Sets New Record in 2014
01/2014ThyCa Urges Neck Checks, Provides Free Support Services, Events, Awareness Materials
A new record total of 62,980 people will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2014 in the United States, reports the nonprofit ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. (“ThyCa”) based on information from the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Thyroid cancer continues to increase rapidly in both women and men. Three of every four people diagnosed with thyroid cancer are women, and the 2014 total of 62,980 people newly diagnosed (up 4.6% from 2013) will include 47,790 women and 15,190 men. A total of 1,890 deaths from thyroid cancer are expected in 2014 in the United States, compared with 1,850 in 2013.
“Early detection is a key. A neck check by a medical professional can be done quickly, but those few seconds could make all the difference when it comes to thyroid cancer, because thyroid cancer is usually treatable when found early,” says ThyCa Executive Gary Bloom, a thyroid cancer survivor. “However, some thyroid cancers are aggressive and difficult to treat.”
“Many thyroid cancer survivors first become aware that they may have cancer when they notice a nodule on their lower neck,” adds Bloom. “Others notice changes in their voice or breathing or swallowing. Most thyroid nodules are benign, but some are cancer.”
ThyCa 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 education, support services, handbooks, events, and awareness materials to patients, professionals, and the public around the world, by mail and by download. The web site has materials in English, Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish. Currently, people in more than 100 countries use ThyCa’s free services and resources. Free subscriptions to the online newsletter are available through out Guestbook.
The 17h International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference will take place on October 17-19, 2014, in Denver, Colorado, with dozens of thyroid cancer experts and other specialists speaking. ThyCa also raises funds for thyroid cancer research and will award new research grants in 2014, its 12th year of awarding grants toward its goal of cures for all thyroid cancers. ThyCa sponsors Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, the worldwide observance, each September, and year-round awareness campaigns. Details, tools, and tips are on our Awareness page.
ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of thyroid cancer survivors, family members, and health care professionals advised by thyroid cancer experts and dedicated to education, communication, support services, awareness for early detection, and thyroid cancer research fundraising and research grants. For more information, 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 our web site.
Contact: Cherry Wunderlich, outreach@thyca.org, 301-493-8810, Director of Publications and Outreach, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.