ThyCa NEWS NOTES - July 2012

07/2012

In This Issue:

Research Grant Recipients Selected

We are proud to announce the awarding of six thyroid cancer research grants—three new thyroid cancer research grants, plus three continuation grants, all funded by the patients and families who contribute to ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association.

This is the ninth consecutive year in which ThyCa has awarded research grants. Our grants are open to researchers and institutions worldwide. The winning grant proposals were selected by an independent expert panel of the American Thyroid Association, the professional association of research and clinical thyroidologists. Our thanks to the ATA for your ongoing support and collaboration. ThyCa will soon announce further details about the grant awardees and their research projects.

Generous financial support from thousands of contributors makes possible ThyCa’s research grants. Thank you very much to everyone. Together, we are helping advance understanding and research for better management of our cancer as well as cures, toward our dream of a future free of thyroid cancer.

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Research Update: New Test May Spare Some Patients from Thyroid Surgery

A new test helps determine which patients do not need thyroid surgery when their nodules are suspicious for thyroid cancer, reports a recent study published in New England Journal of Medicine, and noted by the National Cancer Institute.

The test analyzes gene expression when fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is inconclusive, to determine whether a nodule is cancerous. ThyCa'sweb site links to information on this test, the Afirma® Thyroid FNA Analysis from Veracyte, on the Links page in the Tests and Levels section.

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Just a Few Weeks Until Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, Worldwide
You’re Invited To Become an Honor Roll Partner in Awareness

This worldwide observance is sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc., to promote:

the need for early detection of the fastest increasing cancer in both men and women,
the need for treatment and long-term follow-up using expert guidelines,
connections to free support services, resources, and educational events with specialists, plus
research for better treatments and cures for all thyroid cancer.

We publish our Honor Roll of Awareness Partners on our web site. We invite you to join in raising awareness. Free materials, including Thyroid Cancer Basics, are available both for Awareness Month and for your year-round efforts. Help someone else become more aware of their thyroid cancer, and of the free support, resources, and events of ThyCa.

Find out how to partner with ThyCa in Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. Go to our Awareness page for details.

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31 Physicians, Plus More Specialists Confirmed for the 15th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference
October 19 – 21, 2012
Register Online or by Mail

This October 19 – 21, 2012, you are cordially invited to meet and learn from 31 distinguished physicians, plus numerous other specialists in health, coping skills, practical issues like insurance and employment, as well as hundreds of other thyroid cancer survivors like you.

It's the 15th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference, sponsored by ThyCa. Join thyroid cancer survivors, caregivers, and health care professionals and other specialists at the beautiful Eaglewood Resort and Spa in Itasca, near Chicago, Illinois.

We’re honored that we’ve already confirmed more than 35 outstanding medical professionals from these 19 institutions :

Beth Israel Medical Center, New York
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Ohio
Hospital Angeles de las Lomas, Mexico
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:
-A Cancer Rights Attorney
-Speakers from the Hypoparathyroidism Association, Idaho

More About the Conference

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 page to register.

Conference Hotel Rooms are once again $99. Online room reservations are now open at our Conferencespage.

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 concerns
This is my first ThyCa Conference — Fantastic

Looking forward to seeing you at the Conference!

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Cancer Pain Survey Completes Data Collection

Thank you to eveyone who helped advance knowledge through the Cancer Pain Survey that was posted on www.thyca.org. This survey’s data collection is now complete.

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Two More Surveys Invite Your Input

Two more surveys of thyroid cancer patients are available on our website. If you received radioactive iodine (RAI) as part of your thyroid cancer treatment, you're invited to participate. By completing the surveys, you increase understanding and improvements in thyroid cancer care.

Go to our website and look for the surveys on the right side of the home page.

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In Memory of Two Volunteers

We are saddened to tell you that two longtime ThyCa volunteers passed away recently.

Rebecca Lord of Maryland was devoted to her family, her community, and to helping others who were coping with difficult situations with their thyroid cancer. She served for many years as Co-Facilitator of the ThyCa Washington, DC, Support Group, as well as leader of sessions at many ThyCa workshops and the International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference.

Clayton Twigg of Ohio was diagnosed in 1997 with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), and through a clinical trial, exceptional doctors, and his wife Rose's Chicken Soup, he defied the stated prognosis, and went on to check numerous things off of his bucket list, one item at a time. Clayton’s ATC was cured; a few months ago he had developed other medical issues unrelated to ATC. Clayton and Rose were remarkable pioneers and people who paved the way for many.

We are privileged to have known Clayton and Rebecca. We plan to add further tributes to Clayton and Rebecca in our newsletter.

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People in 96 Countries Receive ThyCa’s Free Services

Patients, caregivers, and health care professionals in 96 countries are now receiving ThyCa’s free education, support services, and mailed materials. Our web site has information and downloadable materials in English, Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish.

Free Newsletter and Guestbook
We invite you to join our worldwide network. By signing up in ThyCa’s free Guestbook, you’ll receive the latest news about thyroid cancer, new free publications, events, and more.

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/guestbook.htm

Every Day: Free Webinars
Listen, and learn from experts, anywhere you are in the world. Six important topics. The speakers are ThyCa medical advisors.

Papillary Follicular Thyroid Cancer—A Primer
Papillary/Follicular Thyroid Cancer—Persistent Disease
Medullary Thyroid Cancer—A Primer
Medullary Thyroid Cancer—Persistent Disease
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Pediatric Thyroid Cancer

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

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/local.htm. 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.or

Texas Workshop Held on July 21
On Saturday, July 21, 2012, the 4th Texas/Southwest Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Workshop took place in Dallas. It’s free. Speakers included a pharmacist, a dentist, a mental health progressional, and a nurse/Thyrogen speaker. The day also included survivor/caregiver roundtables. The day’s program is at www.thyca.org/support/conferences/.

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Theresa Wickerham Named Assistant to Executive Director

We are pleased to announce that Theresa Wickerham of Missouri is now the Assistant to the Executive Director. ThyCa created this position to help support ThyCa’s continuing growth and reach of services and outreach. Theresa will serve in a variety of capacities, all designed to strengthen our programs and services to respond to you and your needs.

A thyroid cancer survivor of more than 30 years, Theresa has been involved in ThyCa since 2000, when she came to the 3rd International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference. She started and continues to co-facilitate the ThyCa St. Louis Support Group and has organized Midwest Workshops. She also co-hosted the 2008 Conference held in St. Louis, Missouri, and has led numerous roundtables at the Conferences.

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Low-Iodine Recipe of the MonthContributed by Lily W. of California

Corn Salad
6 cobs of fresh corn
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 pound grape tomatoes, sliced in half
2 green onions, finely sliced
Arugula or your favorite lettuce

Slice the corn kernels off the cobs. (Cobs can be used to make stock) In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the corn and cook until translucent—about 3 minutes. Add garlic and stir for a minute. Add balsamic vinegar, tomatoes and green onions, and cook for another minute. Remove from stove, cool, and chill.
Serve on top of a bed of Arugula or your favorite lettuce.

Makes 6 servings

Thank you, Lily, for contributing this recipe. We will include it and the other recipes you sent us, 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:

Spanish and
French

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.

To contribute your favorite recipe or tip, send it to recipes@thyca.org.

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Join Us, Become a Member

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.

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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.

Thank you!

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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: www.thyca.org/newsletters.htm.

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, Pat Paillard, Barb Statas, Lily W., 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.