ThyCa NEWS NOTES - January 2007
01/2006IN THIS ISSUE
Thyroid Cancer Increases Again in 2007
Endocrinologist To Speak at Baltimore Support Group Meeting
Costa Rica’s First Thyroid Cancer Support Group Begins Meeting
New Support for Pediatric Thyroid Cancer Families
-The Backpack Project
- LID for Kids
ThyCa Spring Workshops Expand To More New Locations
More Coming Events
Thyroid Cancer Increases Again in 2007
New Record Total Expected; 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 33,550 people newly diagnosed in the United States in 2007.
This is 11 percent higher than last year’s record numbers, and about double the number from 10 years ago, according to information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Cancer Society. The number of deaths is expected to increase by 2% over last year, to 1,530 in 2007.
Thyroid cancer is usually treatable when found early.
ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. (www.thyca.org) urges everyone to learn about thyroid cancer and to request a neck check at each doctor's appointment. ThyCa is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of thyroid cancer survivors, family members, and health care professionals, dedicated to education, communication, support, awareness for early detection, and thyroid cancer research fundraising and research grants.
For free awareness materials and more information about thyroid cancer, 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 www.thyca.org.
Endocrinologist to Speak at February Meeting of ThyCa Baltimore Support Group
On Saturday, February 10, 2007, Corina C. Fratila, M.D., Endocrinologist, Bay West Endocrine Associates, Baltimore, Maryland, will speak and answer questions about thyroid cancer treatment and research.
The free program will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon at The Cancer Institute at Sinai Hospital 2402 West Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland. The event is hosted by the ThyCa Baltimore Thyroid Cancer Support Group, which is part of the support network of the national nonprofit ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.
Marion Hammond, ThyCa Baltimore support group facilitator, invites people at all phases of testing, treatment, and follow-up for thyroid cancer, as well as their families and friends and anyone else interested to attend. Sinai Hospital is located in northwest Baltimore, off Northern Parkway, just 3 miles south of the Baltimore County Line. Directions to the hospital are at the end of this newsletter.
For more information, e-mail to Baltimore-MD@thyca.org, or visit the ThyCa Baltimore web page. ax to 630-604-6078, or e-mail to thyca@thyca.org.
Costa Rica's First Thyroid Cancer Support Group Begins Meeting
We are excited to welcome Costa Rica’s first thyroid cancer support group. This new group meets monthly in San José, Costa Rica, and is sponsored by ASOCCATI ThyCa Costa Rica in affiliation with ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association. The volunteer facilitator is Teresa Saprissa. For more information, e-mail costarica@thyca.org or visit the new group’s web page.
“We are pleased that Costa Rica now has this important new resource,” said ThyCa's Support Groups Coordinator Sara Gorrell Brenner. "Our support groups help people meet and share experiences, to cope with the challenges of thyroid cancer."
If you live near a ThyCa support group, we encourage you to attend and meet other thyroid cancer survivors and caregivers in your area. Groups now meet throughout the United States, as well as in Costa Rica and Philippines.
New Supports Added for Pediatric Thyroid Cancer Famiilies
Dear Friends,
A wonderful caring young teen from Maine, who has thyroid cancer, has developed a wonderful way to help us care for the children going through this disease. Tim is working on his Eagle Scout Merit Badge and came up with this terrific community service project. We at ThyCa are so pleased with his efforts in reaching out to others.
Tim came up with the idea of the " Backpack Project" with thyroid cancer information and some small gifts to put in the hands of newly diagnosed children and teens. You know the song with the phrase "With a little help from my friends..." Well, cancer makes you friends with a lot of different people! A young lady from Michigan, Paula Langley, Miss Oakland County's Outstanding Teen, assisted Tim with his effort.
The free backpacks are now available from ThyCa. To request one for a child or teen dealing with thyroid cancer, call 1-877-588-7904 or e-mail to thyca@thyca.org.
I can't thank Tim enough for his brilliant idea and hard work!
In closing, I want you to keep advocating for your child and to continue spreading the word about ThyCa!
Warmly,
Lauri Huber
Moderator, Pediatric Thyroid Cancer E-Mail Support Group
- Low-Iodine Diet for Kids -- Tips and Recipes
Melissa and Joe from Pennsylvania have told their friends in ThyCa’s Pediatric Thyroid Cancer E-mail Support Group about their little daughter Katie's battle with thyroid cancer. Katie was 8 years old when diagnosed, and her case was quite advanced. Melissa and Joe did a lot of research and, because they were their daughter's best advocates, are pleased to report that Katie has made remarkable strides in beating her cancer.
Melissa came up with a kid-friendly Low Iodine Diet for Katie and has graciously allowed ThyCa to share it with everyone. She did a great job, and we’re pleased to announce it’s now available on the Pediatric Thyroid Cancer Web site.
You can also request a copy by sending a SASE to:
ThyCa LID for Kids, P.O. Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545
ThyCa Spring Workshops Expand to More Locations
Learn from Experts
Meet Other Survivors and Caregivers
FREE
We’re excited to announce the expansion of our annual one-day educational workshops for 2007.
These events are FREE. We welcome everyone interested in learning more about thyroid cancer. Each workshop will have physician speakers, plus survivor/caregiver roundtables. You can also pick up free materials from the resource tables. Register on site at the workshop.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Arizona Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Workshop
Scottsdale, Arizona
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
New Jersey Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Workshop
Voorhees, New Jersey
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Midwest Thyroid Cancer Survivors' 3rd Annual Workshop:
St. Louis, Missouri
8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Mid-Atlantic Thyroid Cancer Survivors' 6th Annual Workshop
Baltimore, Maryland
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New England Thyroid Cancer Survivors' 6th Annual Workshop
Boston, Massachusetts
Date to be announced.
Texas Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop
Dallas, Texas
Date to be announced.
Coming Events -- Mark the Dates!
Every Month: Free meetings of local support groups. More than 70 groups throughout the United States, and in Costa Rica and Philippines.
Spring 2007: Free one-day regional Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshops.
Details now on the web site. Contact thyca@thyca.org or call 1-877-588-7904
September 2007: Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. Plus year-round awareness campaigns and free materials
October 19-21, 2007: The 10th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Conference, San Francisco, California
October 20, 2007: The 6th Annual Dinner/Auction to Support Thyroid Cancer Research, San Francisco, California.
You Can Help Raise Awareness!
Contact us for free thyroid cancer awareness materials! Plastic wallet cards, awareness brochures, flyers for early detection, and more. Support our efforts to raise awareness for early detection, treatment, and lifelong monitoring. E-mail thyca@thyca.org, or call 1-877-588-7904, or fax to 1-630-604-6078.
Copyright (c) 2007 ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. We encourage you to send these News Notes to your family and friends. For permission to reprint in another electronic or print publication, please contact us.
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. We are dedicated to support, education, and communication for thyroid cancer survivors, their families and friends, as well as public awareness for early detection, lifetime health monitoring, and thyroid cancer research fundraising and research grants. E-mail thyca@thyca.org, call 1-877-588-7904, or visit www.thyca.org.