ThyCa NEWS NOTES - August 2009
08/2009IN THIS ISSUE
- September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month
- The 12th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference
- More than 25 Medical Professionals Confirmed To Speak at ThyCa Conference
- Early-Bird Conference Registrations Come from 23 States, Puerto Rico, and Canada
- Dinner/Auction To Support Thyroid Cancer Research
- ThyCa Participates at World Thyroid Congress
- Sherryl Pascal and ThyCa Puppies Raise Funds for Research
- Our Free Guestbook
- Now in French — Low-Iodine Recipes Free From ThyCa, Also Free in English and Spanish
- Support Group Meetings – Welcome and Invitation
- Free Patient Information Packets
- What’s New on the Web Site?
- Surgery Survey Coming Soon to our website
- From the E-Mail Box
- Are You a ThyCa Member? You’re Invited To Become a One-Year, Two-Year, or Lifetime Member
- Low-Iodine Recipe of the Month
- Help Support the 2009 Rally for Research
- Want To Volunteer?
- Thank You From ThyCa
- You’re Invited to these Upcoming Thyroid Cancer Events
- Every Day…
- Ask ThyCa
- Tell ThyCa
- About ThyCa NEWS NOTES
TWO THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!!!
September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month
Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month is sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc., along with year-round awareness activities and campaigns.
Help spread the word about thyroid cancer, neck checks for early detection, and the free support and education available through ThyCa.
Ways you can help:
- Share your story—in person, by e-mail, on your Facebook page, in your blog ...
- Maybe you would like to hand out awareness brochures or other materials - do so!
Flyers are free and downloadable from our Awareness page. Or e-mail thyca@thyca.org or call 1-877-588-7904 to request free materials. - Perhaps you have a ThyCa wristband, bracelet or shirt - wear it!
- ThyCa could use more volunteers - try it, you’ll like it - there are so many ways to help.
Let's stand together and tell the world about thyroid cancer. You may not hear about Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month or thyroid cancer in the news. More people ought to know about thyroid cancer because its numbers are increasing. More people would get early treatment, when thyroid cancer is easiest to treat, if everyone knew what to look for and request a "neck check" when they see their doctors.
Let's help more people by "spreading the word."
The 12th International Thyroid Cancer Conference
This event is something you really don't want to miss! You'll have a great time and gain so much information about thyroid cancer from the specialists that you will be amazed.
The speakers are very approachable and understanding. The ThyCa volunteers will assist you and make you feel very comfortable. You may even make some new friends.
When you actually meet those involved with ThyCa you will never feel "alone" with thyroid cancer again. You will feel you have an extended family that will take care of you and help you through "it."
Visit www.thyca.org often for conference details and updates.
Hope to see you there!
More than 25 Medical Professionals Confirmed To Speak at ThyCa Conference
On October 16-18, 2009, you are cordially invited to attend the 12th Annual International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference at the Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel near Boston, Massachusetts, at 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, Massachusetts.
We are honored to announce that more than 25 distinguished medical professionals will be participating, sharing their expertise and the latest advances in treatment and research on all types of thyroid cancer and situations ranging from newly diagnosed to those with complex circumstances and seeking or in clinical trials.
We are excited to announce that as of late August, we have already confirmed more than 25 medical specialists from leading medical centers.
- Erik Alexander, M.D., Endocrinologist, from Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Dorothy Beazley, D.O., Gynecology, Obstetrics, from Tufts Medical Center
- Marcia S. Brose, M.D., Ph.D., Oncologist, from University of Pennsylvania
- Glenn Bunting, M.S., CCC-SLP, Speech Pathologist, from Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
- Naifa Busaidy, M.D., Endocrinolgist, from University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Gilbert H. Daniels, M.D., Endocrinologist, from Massachusetts General Hospita
- Alan P. Farwell, M.D., Endocrinologist, from Boston Medical Center
- Aime T. Franco, Research Scholar, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- Robert F. Gagel, M.D., Endocrinologist, from University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Yariv Houvras, M.D., Oncologist, from Massachusetts General Hospital
- Stephen Huang, M.D., Endocrinologist, from Children's Hospital Boston
- Paul R. Krakovitz, M.D., Otolaryngologist, from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- P. Reed Larsen, M.D., Endocrinologist, from Harvard Medical School
- Stephanie Lee, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.E., Endocrinologist, from Boston Medical Center
- Carl D. Malchoff, M.D., Ph.D., Otolaryngologist, from University of Connecticut Health Center
- Donald Margouleff, M.D., Nuclear Medicine, from North Shore University Hospital
- Ernest L. Mazzaferri, M.D., M.A.C.P., Endocrinologist, from University of Florida
- Bryan McIver, M.B., Ph.D., F.R.C.P., Endocrinologist, from Mayo Clinic
- David Myssiorek, M.D., F.A.C.S., Otolaryngologist, from New York University Clinical Cancer Center
- Sareh Parangi, M.D., F.A.C.S., General and Endocrine Surgery, from Massachusetts General Hospital
- Gregory W. Randolph, M.D., Otolaryngologist, from Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Julie A. Rosenberg, M.D., Director, Oncology Global Clinical Research, from Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Charles Saxe, Ph.D., Scientific Director, from American Cancer Society
- Joseph Scharpf, M.D., Surgeon, from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- Manisha H. Shah, M.D., Hematology & Oncology, from The Ohio State University College of Medicine
- Robert C. Smallridge, M.D., Endocrinologist, from Mayo Clinic
- Julie Ann Sosa, M.D., M.A., Surgeon, from Yale University School of Medicine
- R. Michael Tuttle, M.D., Endocrinologist, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- Douglas Van Nostrand, M.D., Nuclear Medicine, from Washington Hospital Center
- Lori J. Wirth, M.D., Medical Oncologist, from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
The conference will offer more than 100 session choices, with 6 different sessions in different rooms at each time slot during the day.
In addition to the physician speakers, we plan also to have more than 30 additional speakers and roundtable leaders who will include other health care professionals, specialists in coping skills and complementary approaches to well-being such as Reiki and recreation therapy, survivors of each type of thyroid cancer, as well as caregivers.
The conference is open to the public, and registration begins at 8 a.m. each day with walk-ins welcome. Cost for the complete conference is $50, with discounts available to ThyCa members and scholarships available upon request.
You may register either in advance or onsite at the conference. Advance registration saves your time and the time of our volunteers. Walk-in attendees are always welcome.
Please check www.thyca.org in the conferences section for details and updates. Tell your nurse friends to come to learn more about thyroid cancer, and also get continuing education credits!
We’re excited about the tremendous program being planned, and hope to see you at the conference.
Early-Bird Conference Registrations Come from 22 States, Puerto Rico, and Canada
Conference Registration and Hotel Room Reservations Now Open
We’re excited to report that as of mid-August, people have registered from 23 states, Puerto Rico, and 3 provinces in Canada.
Registration for the 12th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Conference is open on our web site.
You may register either by mail or on-line. Cost of registration is $50 full fee ($45 if early-bird registered in advance by September 16); $35 Annual ThyCa Member; $30 Lifetime ThyCa Member; $25 Guest (family member or caregiver); $25 for One-Day Attendance. Early-bird Discount will be given to those who register on line by September 16th or by mail that is postmarked by September 16, 2009. After September 16th the cost goes up by $5 for each registration category. Scholarships are available for anyone who can’t afford the registration fee.
Visit our website for the registration form options.
This year's conference will be held at the Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel in Danvers, Massachusetts which is located about 20 miles north of Boston. We’re proud to have arranged special room rates of $99 plus tax for single, double, triple, or quad rooms at this wonderful hotel, which is in a great location with free parking, and features numerous amenities. You’ll find the hotel details and room reservation information on www.thyca.org or by calling 877-588-7904.
Hope to see you at the conference in October!
Dinner/Auction To Support Thyroid Cancer Research
On Saturday, October 17, 2009, at the Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel in Danvers, Massachusetts, we will hold the 8th Annual Saturday Evening Dinner/Auction to raise much needed funds for thyroid cancer research.
You can purchase tickets on line or by mail. The cost is $50 per ticket.
This event raises funds for Thyroid Cancer Research and is also a lot of fun. Help ThyCa raise funds so we all can continue funding thyroid cancer research—now 7 straight years, and totaling more than $550,000. The web site has the reservation form.
ThyCa Participates at World Thyroid Congress
We are pleased to report that ThyCa representative Gary Bloom participated at the World Thyroid Congress in August in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
This meeting brought thyroid cancer experts together from around the globe to share the latest information about thyroid cancer treatment and research.
Gary Bloom of ThyCa was a speaker on a panel focusing on the benefits of patient support organizations, as well as a discussion session with thyroid organization representatives from around the world. We greatly appreciated the opportunities to spread the word among the professional medical community, about ThyCa’s numerous free services and resources, available worldwide.
Sherryl Pascal and ThyCa Puppies Raise Funds for Research
Our special thanks to Sherryl Pascal, Mrs. New Jersey Globe 2009. Sherryl has been very active outreach as well as in fundraising for thyroid cancer research. We’d like to share her latest creative fundraising effort with you.
This spring Sherryl’s dog gave birth to 3 puppies. She calls the young pups her ThyCa puppies since she has already sold them as a fundraiser. All the collected proceeds will go to Thyroid Cancer Research.
Last year Sherryl announced that she’d raised $10,000.00 for Thyroid Cancer Research. She did this through a series of different fundraisers, a number of which had to do with her celebrity status, while others were simply about her creativity and initiative.
She was a very memorable presence at last fall’s Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference in St. Louis, and we’re pleased that she will be joining us again at this year’s conference. .
It’s quick and easy to sign up to receive our free online newsletter, plus announcements of ThyCa events and activities. It’s a great way to stay connected to the thyroid cancer community, and to stay up to date on changes in treatments and testing methods, especially if you’re a long-term survivor.
Just fill out our Guestbook form.
To protect each person’s privacy, the mailing list is for the sole use of ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc., and its affiliates. ThyCa does not ever sell, share, or give away any contact information.
Now in French — Low-Iodine Recipes Free From ThyCa, Also Free in English and Spanish
We’re proud to announce that 90 Low-Iodine recipes are now available in French, together with tips and suggestions for the low-iodine diet. You can download them free of charge.
Also free for downloading are our Low-Iodine Cookbook, with more than 250 delicious recipes, in English, and our collection of Low-Iodine Recipes in Spanish.
Plus: One-Page Summary- Low-Iodine Diet Guidelines in English and Spanish.:
Support Group Meetings – Welcome and Invitation
Every month, more than 60 thyroid cancer support groups hold meetings. Support group meetings are open to everyone whose lives have been touched by thyroid cancer.
The meetings offer wonderful opportunities to meet others in person and share experiences, strength, and hope while learning from others with varied situations with their thyroid cancer. Advance registration not required.
We have welcomed many new Support Groups this year, and thank all the wonderful volunteers who have stepped forward to form them. We also congratulate our many ongoing support groups for their ability to positively impact the lives of so many people affected by a thyroid cancer diagnosis.
Welcome to the newest support groups, located in Wichita, Kansas, and Cleveland, Ohio.
Go to our Support Groups page for a complete list of groups, contact information, and meeting schedules. Or, if you don’t have internet access, call (toll-free): 877-588-7904
If you’re interested in starting a group in your area, contact support_coor@thyca.org or 877-588-7904.
Free Patient Information Packets
Would you, or someone you know, like our free Patient Information Packet? Just send an e-mail with your name and complete mailing address to us at thyca@thyca.org, with “patient packet” in the subject, or call us at 1-877-588-7904 and we’ll be happy to mail the packet.
Our web site has more than 650 pages of content. More than 50 distinguished physicians plus numerous other specialists provide ongoing input and review. We greatly appreciate the wonderful support of these medical specialists.
We update and expand the web site every week. Thank you to our Web team, Betty Solbjor and Joel Amromin; our Publications Committee members; and our Medical Reviewers.
Visit www.thyca.org often for the latest information updates, the schedules of local support group meetings, and news about special events, or to get involved.
And let us know if you have ideas for additional web site content, as well as additional questions to be answered by physicians. E-mail your ideas to thyca@thyca.org. This is our web site, and it benefits from everyone's contribution. It's also a great way to start being involved!
Surgery Survey Coming Soon to our website
The online survey instrument will give you the opportunity to share some details about your thyroid surgery. We’ll soon post details and the survey instrument on www.thyca.org.
A few of our recent e-mails…
From Illinois:
I work for a home health and hospice organization. I am also a thyroid cancer survivor. I would like to give out your awareness brochures during September. Can you please send me brochures? Thank you.
From California:
I manage a Thyroid Clinic in Nuclear Medicine. I was wondering if you could be so kind as to send me one of your information packets for reference for my patients. Thank you for your support.
From Florida:
My daughter was recently diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid cancer and will start the low-iodine diet next week. Thank you for the cookbook on your website!
From New Hampshire:
I am interested in setting up a thyroid cancer awareness info table at my work one day in September and was wondering if I could get some print materials sent to me. We have about 80 employees at my work.
From Texas:
Can you send me 100 packages English and 100 Spanish (for a nuclear medicine department).
From Virginia:
I will be serving as a hostess of a meeting of the Northern District of Virginia of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. I would be interested in giving one of your brochures to each of the 150 women in attendance to educate them on Thyroid Cancer.
From North Carolina:
I am a nurse and have many newly diagnosed thyroid cancer pts. Several months ago I requested, and you sent me, packets of info for my pts. I have found this info to be very useful. I always explain to pts where the info comes from and always recommend they read it and visit your website. Would it be possible for you to send me 20 or 30 of these packets?
From California:
Thank you for a great website.
Are You a Member? You’re Invited To Become a One-Year, Two-Year, or Lifetime Member
Help us sustain, strengthen, and extend our services. We invite you to join 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.
You may join as a one-year member ($25), two-year member ($45), or lifetime member ($225).
Low-Iodine Recipe Tips of the Month
Contributed by Joanne M.
Chicken with Apricot Sauce
2 chicken breast filets
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 cup apricot preserves
Dash of ginger or to taste
Brown filets in olive oil until thoroughly cooked. Remove from pan, leaving oil and drippings in pan. Add onions and cook till limp. Add preserves and ginger and pour warm sauce over chicken. Serve accompanied with Basmati rice.
Thank you, Joanne! We’ll let people know about these recipe tips in the next edition of the FREE Downloadable Low-Iodine Cookbook.
Download the 6th edition of the Low-Iodine Cookbook for free, with more than 250 favorite recipes from more than 100 generous volunteers. The Cookbook is also available in Spanish and in 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 the 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 to the cookbook’s next edition, send it torecipes@thyca.org.
One-Page Summary- Low-Iodine Diet Guidelines
- in English
- in Spanish
Help Support the 2009 Rally for Research
Thanks to generous contributions and special fundraising events, ThyCa has awarded new thyroid cancer research grants in support of our goal of cures for all thyroid cancer and a future free of thyroid cancer, for the 7th year in a row.
You can help support the Rally for Research. For details about the Rally for Research, donation opportunities, special events, ThyCa’s past and future Research Grants, visit the Rally for Research page.
We welcome new volunteers at any time. Volunteering for ThyCa is one way to help and support others touched by thyroid cancer, and you feel much better yourself because you know you have helped someone else through something you've been through. Try it; you might like it!
To learn about volunteer opportunities, visit our Volunteer page. You can sign-up to volunteer online using our guestbook.
We believe that no one should have to be alone when facing thyroid cancer.
Our free support services are offered with this as our main goal.
We thank everyone for giving your time and talents to making possible our free services, publications, and events.
We’re grateful to you for reaching out to others worldwide, to help connect them with ThyCa’s many free support services and educational resources.
You’re Invited To These Upcoming Thyroid Cancer Events!
- Thyroid Cancer Support Group Meetings in Your Community
- September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. Get free awareness materials year-round from ThyCa.
- September 11 and 12, 2009. Colorado Thyroid Cancer Symposium for Physicians and Patients, with physician speakers, sponsored by the University of Colorado Denver with cooperation and participation of ThyCa. This event is free. For details about the seminar time and location, contact the ThyCa Denver Support Group at denver-co@thyca.org
- September 26, 2009. Thyroid Disease Public Health Forum with physician speakers about all thyroid diseases, being held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Thyroid Association. Sponsored by the ATA Alliance for Patient Education, including ThyCa. This free event is from 1 – 3 p.m. at The Breakers Hotel, One South County Road, Palm Beach, Florida. Walk-in attendees welcome. To let us know you’re attending, e-mail thyca@thyca.org and let us know the thyroid condition in which you’re most interested.
- The 12th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference
October 16-18, 2009 starting at 8 a.m. each day with session choices all day.
Boston, Massachusetts
Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel in Danvers
Sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.
Distinguished physician speakers. Details, registration, and hotel room reservations now available on ThyCa’s web site. - The 8th Annual Dinner-Auction To Support Thyroid Cancer Research.
October 17, 2009 from 6 – 9 p.m.
Boston, Massachusetts
Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel in Danvers
Sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. - November 14, 2009. Pittsburgh Thyroid Cancer Seminar with physician speakers. Free. Further details about the seminar time and location will be posted on the website.
Visit the website for details. Download the conference flyer and help spread the word.
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 is what makes it possible to sustain, strengthen, and expand our services and outreach.
If you have questions about thyroid cancer, please send them to thyca@thyca.org and we’ll answer your question in an upcoming newsletter as well as adding to our web site content.
If you have a story or anecdote about your thyroid cancer journey that you would like to share, please send it to thyca@thyca.org and we’ll do our best to include it in an upcoming newsletter as well as adding to our web site content.
About ThyCa NEWS NOTES
Copyright (c) 2009 ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc.
Thank you to our writing, editing, and proofreading team for this issue of the newsletter: Leah Guljord, Joanne M. Pat Paillard , Barbara Statas, Cherry Wunderlich, and Gary Bloom.
Your suggestions for articles are welcome. The deadline for articles and news items is the first day of each month.
Please share News Notes with your family and friends. For permission to reprint in another electronic or print publication, please contact us at outreach@thyca.org.
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 to public awareness for early detection, treatment, and lifetime health monitoring, and to thyroid cancer research fundraising and research grants.
Contact us for free awareness materials and information about our free services and special events. E-mailthyca@thyca.org, call 1-877-588-7904, fax 1-630-604-6078, write PO Box 1102, Olney, MD 20830-1102, or visit our website..