Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference Draws Record Attendance, Presents Latest Research Plus New Topics

More than 600 people from the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom attended the 17th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference, making it the biggest yet. The annual conference is sponsored by the nonprofit ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.

People from teenagers to seniors, with all types of thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, medullary, anaplastic, and variants), as well as caregivers, came to Denver, Colorado, on October 17-19, 2014, for more than 100 sessions led by over 70 physician experts, other specialists, survivors, and caregivers.

Top thyroid cancer experts from Duke University Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and many more centers spoke and answered questions. They presented the latest information on treatment, research results regarding diagnosis and treatment, short-term as well as lifetime follow-up, and clinical trials for advanced metastatic thyroid cancer. Two speakers were previous recipients of ThyCa’s Thyroid Cancer Research Grants.

New topics at this year’s conference included Molecular Markers in Thyroid Cancer, and What They Mean for Future Treatment Advances; New Ideas regarding the use of Radioactive Iodine in Thyroid Cancer, New Approaches, New Evidence; and Coping with Treatments and Side Effects of New Targeted Therapies and Chemotherapy, Including Managing Drug Holidays.

The 13th Annual Dinner/Auction Fundraiser held Saturday evening during the Conference was a success, raising more than $35,000 for thyroid cancer research. The evening included a tribute to ThyCa Medical Advisor and American Thyroid Association Past President Bryan Haugen, M.D. This fundraiser helps ThyCa continue to fund thyroid cancer research—now totaling more than $1.3 million. ThyCa will fund additional research grants in 2015.

The 18^th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference will take place on October 2 – 4, 2015, in St. Louis, Missouri, just after September’s annual Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, the worldwide observance sponsored by ThyCa with support from partnering organizations and individuals.

For more information about ThyCa events, support groups, one-to-one support, free webinars with experts, free handbooks and more materials for patients and professionals, research fundraising, Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, and year-round awareness activities, visit our website.