ThyCa NEWS NOTES - May 2012
05/2012In This Issue:
- New Article Puts Spotlight on Thyroid Cancer
- Thank You to our Medical Advisors
- Blind Baseball Fan Tours 30 Ballparks, Raises Thyroid Cancer Awareness
- Letters from around the World
- Coming Events: Thyroid Cancer Workshops, Webinars, Support Groups, and More
- Thyrogen Supply Situation Improves
- Feature Story from Missouri...
- Low Iodine Diet Recipe
- ThyCa’s Free Guestbook and Newsletter Subscription
- Follow Us on Facebook and Twitter
- Join Us, Become a Member
- Every Day
- About ThyCa News Notes
New Article Puts Spotlight on Thyroid Cancer
A new article highlights thyroid cancer, neck checks for early detection, and ThyCa support groups. The article notes that thyroid cancer is the fastest increasing cancer in both men and women in the United States. The author is Stacey Thureen, Boston Thyroid Health Examiner. Read it here: http://www.examiner.com/article/thyca-groups-provide-support-for-fastest-growing-cancer-u-s
Thank You to our Medical Advisors
Thank you for your wonderful commitment to patient well-being. Our Medical Advisory Council of 34 world recognized experts in thyroid cancer provide valuable counsel and support our goals in education, treatment and research. Over 50 additional distinguished specialists provide ongoing review and input for our web site and materials. Visit our Medical Advisors page for more information. Thank you again!
Blind Baseball Fan Tours 30 Ballparks, Raises Thyroid Cancer Awareness
Reggie Deal, a thyroid cancer survivor, continues his tour of all 30 Major League Ballparks in 30 days. At the San Francisco Giants Stadium, the scoreboard lit up with the message “A Giant Welcome to Reggie Deal and www.thyca.org.” In a video interview, you can see the Neck Check shirt that Reggie wears for thyroid cancer awareness. Read more at www.thyca.org/news/reggie0512/. Thank you, Reggie!
Letters Come from around the World
People in 96 countries around the world are using ThyCa services, and more people find ThyCa every day. Our web site www.thyca.org provides information in English, Chinese, Spanish, and French. A few recent e-mails:
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From Utah…
My boyfriend was diagnosed this week and his thyroidectomy has been scheduled. Clearly, there is no time to waste when it comes to garnering as much information as possible. I've been very thankful for your website in these last few days and have found it to be a great resource. -
From a physician in Seattle, Washington…
Thank you for your wonderful work! A number of my patients have requested the AACE neck check cards -- could you mail me a bulk supply? Would love any brochures you have on thyroid cancer as well! -
From Louisiana…
I belong to a non-profit organization… We are in the process of organizing & hosting our 2nd annual "Cancer Awareness" program within our small community… The purpose of voicing this awareness is to embrace & support the battle our people may be going through during a stressed time. Not only with themselves but ones that are caretakers & love ones as well…We greatly appreciate the opportunity for you to help us put this information out to the public eye. -
From a thyroid cancer survivor…
I found your cookbook to be very helpful. Thank you.
From a Texas physicians’ group…
I’m on the management team at our Medical Center Department of Otolaryngology. We currently have the brochure featuring Catherine Bell, however, we are running low. We would love to have more of them. -
From Pennsylvania…
The company that I work for has an annual wellness program. This year as part of that program we would like to include an activity surrounding Thyroid Cancer Awareness in the month of September. One of our managers had her thyroid out last year. -
From Cairo, Egypt…
Thank you very much for this great work. You are doing a very good thing. I am a physician and a last year resident in endocrinology. I am very interesting in thyroid cancer and I really want to help my patients and to be a good endocrinologist, mainly in the field of thyroid cancer. I will be very grateful if you send to me free materials, mainly those about fine needle aspiration. -
From a Caregiver…
My wife is preparing for an RAI body scan 8 days from today, and I have found the
cookbook very helpful. -
From Ohio…
May we please have 50 patient packets for our radiation/oncology physicians to offer patients and families? -
From Washington…
Could you please send free awareness materials to pass out. My information is as follows. I was newly and by accident diagnosed with papillary carcinoma. …I would like to pass info out so people know that this is a very real thing that can happen and what to check for and expect.] -
From a Massachusetts physicians’ office…
Could you please mail me the following and any other info you would like. We are gathering information to put together a packet to hand out to our patients. -
From Arizona…
Some friends and I are organizing a thyroid cancer fundraiser and are hoping to obtain some Neck Check cards to give out as part of the event. -
From a California physicians’ group…
We would love to receive materials for our patients. -
From Delaware…
My daughter is two years clear of thyroid cancer. When she has to go on the low iodine diet each year before the I-131 scan, we plan it out from the cookbook. -
From Texas…
I was wondering how I can get the free materials that are available in bulk for a community awareness event. -
From New Jersey…
We are a state hospital that provides care to a diverse, but very poor community with a great deal of need in understanding their diagnoses. Our patient population’s primary insurance is charity care. We are in the process of putting together a resource/library with all types of cancer related education information that would be made available to them. At this time, I am writing to ask your assistance in providing us with as much free information as you can possibly provide. -
From West Virginia…
I would like some of the free brochures to hand out at my daughter’s high school, she was diagnosed two years ago and still fighting this battle, please send as many as possible for a high school.
Coming Events—Workshops, Webinars, Support Groups, and More
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Every Week:
You’re invited to Thyroid Cancer Support Group Meetings in dozens of locations. The complete schedule is here. 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 at support_coord@thyca.org. -
Every Day:
Listen/Watch Anytime: Free Webinars with Thyroid Cancer Experts:
1. Papillary Follicular Thyroid Cancer—A Primer
2. Papillary/Follicular Thyroid Cancer—Persistent Disease
3. Medullary Thyroid Cancer—A Primer
4. Medullary Thyroid Cancer—Persistent Disease
5. Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
6. Pediatric Thyroid Cancer -
May 25, 2012. World Thyroid Day—for all thyroid diseases. Supported by American Thyroid Association, European Thyroid Association, the Asia & Oceania Thyroid Association, and the Latin American Thyroid Society, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, and other organizations.
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Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Free Cancer Legal Rights Conference. Key information from attorneys, for patients and caregivers, about legal issues, rights, and resources for cancer patients related to insurance, employment, disability issues, and more. Location: Boston, Massachusetts. Sponsored by the Cancer Legal Resource Center. ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc., is pleased to partner with CLRC in this event.
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Thursday, Friday, Saturday, June 7 – 9, 2012. 6th International Hypoparathyroidism Patient Conference. Rockville, Maryland. Sponsored by the Hypoparathyroidism Association
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Friday, June 8, 2012, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Penn’s Focus on Thyroid Cancer Conferencesponsored by the Abramson Cancer Center. Free. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Saturday, June 23, 2012. Free Northern California/Bay Area Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Workshop. From 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Stanford University Cancer Center, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 875 Blake Wilbur, Stanford, CA. Details and free registration on our Conferences page.
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Saturday, July 21, 2012. Free 4th Texas/Southwest Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Workshop. Starts at 9 a.m. at Medical Center Plano, Building III - 3rd Floor Auditorium, 4001 West 15th Street, Plano (Dallas), TX. Details and free registration on our Conferences page.
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September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, Worldwide, sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. Get free materials! Find out how to partner with ThyCa in Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. Visit www.thyca.org/how-to-help/awareness/
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October 19 - 21, 2012. The 15th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference. Location: Chicago, Illinois. Sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. Details atwww.thyca.org/support/conferences/
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October 20, 2012. The 11th Annual Dinner/Auction to Support Thyroid Cancer Research. Location: Chicago, Illinois. Sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. Details atwww.thyca.org/support/conferences/
Thyrogen Supply Situation Continues To Improve
On May 23, 2012, Genzyme sent an update to ThyCa and reported that the supply of Thyrogen is increasing. Genzyme reports that the "primary focus continues to be restoring uninterrupted supply," and anticipates that there will be "sufficient supply to meet all patient demand globally in 2013." The complete update is now posted on www.thyca.org, on the right side of the home page and in the Thyrogen section of the Links list.
From Thyroid Cancer Patient to Workshop Panelist—Kristi Thacker's Story
Kristi spoke at the Midwest Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Workshop. Here's Kristi's story
Low-Iodine Recipe of the MonthContributed by Christina B. of Maryland
Aunt Jan's Everyday Mayonnaise
(blender recipe)
Put in a blender, cover and mix:
2 egg whites (or 1 egg if off the low-iodine diet)
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon noniodized salt
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
1/4 cup oil
Keep the blender running. Remove cap.
Add 3 Tablespoons lemon juice, slowly.
Add 1/2 cup oil, s-l-o-w-l-y, a teaspoon at a time.
Mayo should be thick.
A shake of curry, turmeric, or paprika will add flavor.
Christina writes, “This was my Aunt Jan's recipe that she used for years with her kids. She would make a batch and put it in a store-bought mayonnaise jar and her kids never knew the difference.”
“Thank you for this wonderful recipe book! It was immensely helpful.”
Thank you, Christina, 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.
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: www.thyca.org/support/guestbook/
Get News Updates — Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
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.
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, in the time you give and in financial contributions, is what makes it possible to sustain, strengthen, and expand our services and outreach.
It only takes a minute to volunteer your time by e-mailing to volunteer@thyca.org or 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.
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.
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: Christina B., Leah Guljord, Pat Paillard, Barb 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. Contact us for free awareness materials and information about our free services and special events. E-mail to thyca@thyca.orgcall toll-free at 1-877-588-7904, fax 1-630-604-6078, write PO Box 1102, Olney, MD 20830-1102, or visit our website.