ThyCa News

ThyCa NEWS NOTES - June 2012

06/2012

In This Issue:


New Survey Seeks Input on Your RAI Treatment

The new thyroid cancer patient survey asks about your radioactive iodine treatment. It takes just 5 to 10 minutes to complete. The researchers are David Myssiorek, M.D., Professor of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, at New York University School of Medicine, and Steven Scharf, M.D., Chief of Nuclear Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY.

Go to ThyCa’s home page to find the survey, on the right side. Thank you for helping advance knowledge about thyroid cancer management!

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Over 30 Medical Professionals Already Confirmed for the Conference in October

On October 19 – 21, 2012, you’ll have the unique opportunity to meet and learn from more than 30 specialists from numerous leading centers. It’s the 15th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference, and will be held in Chicago, Illinois.

We’re honored that already more than 30 distinguished medical professionals from 19 institutions are confirmed to speak at the Conference:

  • Beth Israel Medical Center, New York
  • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Ohio
  • Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Maryland
  • Mayo Clinic, Minnesota
  • Medical College of Wisconsin, Wisconsin
  • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York
  • National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Maryland
  • Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Illinois
  • Northwestern University Medical School, Illinois
  • Ohio State University College of Medicine, Ohio
  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Maryland
  • University of Chicago, Illinois
  • University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Colorado
  • University of Connecticut Health Center, Connecticut
  • University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
  • University of Southern California, California
  • University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Texas
  • Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut
  • and more medical professionals are being confirmed!

Also confirmed—speakers from

  • The Cancer Legal Resource Center/ Disability Rights Legal Center, California & Illinois
  • The Hypoparathyroidism Association, Idaho

Conference Registration is now open! Register early and get the early-bird discount! You can register either online, or by mail. Go to our website's Conferences web page to register.

Conference Hotel Rooms at $99. Once again, we’re pleased to confirm the special $99 room rate for our conference attendees, at the Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, Illinois. Online room reservations are now open on our website's Conferences page.

The web page also has airline discount and car rental discount information and links.

Praise for the Conference, from last year’s attendees:

  • Lots of terrific information and sharing.
  • Excellent content, organization, and mood/friendliness.
  • One to one with doctors was the best feature
  • Good relaxed approach for getting to know people and their concern
  • This is my first ThyCa Conference — Fantastic

Looking forward to seeing you at the Conference!

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New Drug Application Submitted for a Targeted Therapy for Medullary Thyroid Cancer

On May 31, 2012, Exelixis completed its new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cabozantinib, a targeted therapy for the treatment of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) that is progressive, unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic. Exelixis submitted the application under the NDA was submitted under the FDA’s Fast Track designation, aimed to accelerate its review. If the FDA decides on the faster review, the goal for its completion would be six months after receiving the final submission.

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Dentists Aid Early Detection through Neck Checks

Once again, ThyCa is giving out Neck Check and Thyroid Cancer Awareness materials at meetings of the Academy of General Dentistry. ThyCa thanks dentists for their important role in early detection of thyroid cancer by doing neck checks for thyroid nodules and other head and neck conditions, during routine dental appointments.

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9/11 Fund Coverage Proposed for Thyroid Cancer

On June 8, 2012, federal health officials in the United States recommended that 50 types of cancer, including thyroid cancer, be added to the list of illnesses covered by a fund for people who were exposed to toxins at the site of the World Trade Center in New York City following the attacks of September 11, 2011. The coverage was recommended by the Science/Technical Advisory Committee of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Prior to implementing the proposal, a 30-day public review and comment period began on June 11.

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Become an Awareness Partner!

September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month

This worldwide observance is sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. Get free materials! Find out how to partner with ThyCa in Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. Visit our Awareness page.

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Make Your Voice Heard—Become a Member of ThyCa

Together We’re Better

Help us sustain, strengthen, and extend our services, plus support and advocacy for more thyroid cancer research. 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, and increase early detection as well as research for cures for all thyroid cancer. 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 Membership page.

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Every Week: Meet and Learn

You’re invited to free Thyroid Cancer Support Group Meetings in dozens of locations. The web pages with details for all the groups are here: 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.

Every Day: Free Webinars: Listen, watch, and learn from thyroid cancer experts. Six important topics:

  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

All 6 webinars are available, free, anytime at www.thyca.org/news/webinars/

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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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Six Stanford Experts Speak on June 23rd at the California Workshop; July Brings Texas Workshop

  • Saturday, June 23, 2012, is the date of the 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. The speaker list and program schedule are on our Conferences page.

  • On Saturday, July 21, 2012, you’re invited to the 4th Texas/Southwest Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Workshop. It’s free. This event 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 are on our Conferences page.

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Low-Iodine Recipe of the MonthContributed by Margy

Fresh, Tangy Chicken Fajita Bowls

Marinade:

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup lemon or lime juice
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 clove crushed garlic
1/4 cup minced onion
1/2 teaspoon non-iodized salt

Other ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Onion
2 Red Peppers
Avocado
Tomatoes
Rice
Cilantro

Directions:

Cut chicken into strips. Refrigerate 4 to 8 hours in the marinade .
Cook the rice according to instructions on package.
Cook marinaded chicken strips over medium-high until cooked through and slightly browned.
Slice the peppers and chop the onion. Sautee these in oil, separately from the chicken, until tender, about 3-5 minutes.
Chop the avocado, tomatoes, and cilantro.
Mix the chicken, rice, peppers and onions, tomatoes and avocado.
Serve and top with the chopped cilantro.

Thank you, Margy, 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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A Letter to ThyCa
Thank You!

Good Morning:

I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to all the people involved in this website. I truly don’t know what I would have done without it. I have utilized it from everything to what questions to ask my doctor; medical explanations of my cancer, printed and used recipes off the low iodine diet, to what to expect from the I-131 treatments.

May you all be blessed!

Linda

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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, 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.

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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.

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, Margy, Pat Paillard, Linda R.S., 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.