Free Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop To Be Held In Dallas, Texas

On Saturday, April 21, 2007, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association will offer a FREE workshop for thyroid cancer survivors, their families, caregivers, and friends. This educational and supportive event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Allen, 201 East McDermott, Allen, Texas.

The ThyCa Dallas Thyroid Cancer Support Group has organized the free educational and supportive workshop. Attendees may register on site at the workshop.

This free day is open to people at all phases of testing, treatment, and follow-up for thyroid cancer, the fastest increasing cancer, as well as their caregivers and everyone interested in learning about thyroid cancer. Featured speakers include:

  • Shelby A. Holt, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
  • Dana Mathews, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Medical Director of The Positron Imaging, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
  • and more being confirmed.

Presentations and question-and-answer sessions will cover thyroid cancer diagnosis, treatment, lifelong monitoring, and research advances. The day also includes survivor/caregiver support group roundtables.

For further workshop information, e-mail to e-mail Dallas_TX@thyca.org or thyca@thyca.org or call 1-877-588-7904.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. is a national nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization providing person-to-person support, support groups, the free downloadable Low-Iodine Cookbook, free online newsletter, awareness materials, free one-day workshops, and other resources to thyroid cancer survivors, their families, and the public at no charge. ThyCa also funds thyroid cancer research grants, sponsors Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month in September, and will hold the 10th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference in San Francisco, California, on October 19-21, 2007.

For more information, visit www.thyca.org, write PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545, call toll-free to 877-588-7904, fax to 630-604-6078, or e-mail to thyca@thyca.org.

On Saturday, April 21, 2007, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association will offer a FREE one-day workshop for thyroid cancer survivors, their families, caregivers, and friends. This educational and supportive event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Cooper, The Town Square Building, 931 Centennial Boulevard, Voorhees, New Jersey.

The ThyCa Southern New Jersey Thyroid Cancer Support Group has organized the free educational and supportive workshop. Attendees may register on site at the workshop.

This free day is open to people at all phases of testing, treatment, and follow-up for thyroid cancer, as well as their caregivers and everyone interested in learning about thyroid cancer. Featured speakers include:

  • Simim Dadparvar, M.D., Clinical Associate of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Penn Radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
  • Vesna Mihailovic, M.D., Endocrinologist, Cooper Endocrinology Associates, New Jersey
  • Beth Gilbert, R.N., B.S., M.P.A.S., PA-C, Certified Physician’s Assistant, Oncologist’s Assistant, speaking on clinical trials

Presentations and question-and-answer sessions will cover thyroid cancer diagnosis, treatment, lifelong monitoring, research advances, and clinical trials. The day also includes survivor/caregiver support group roundtables.

For further workshop information, e-mail to SouthernJersey@thyca.org or thyca@thyca.org, call 1-877-588-7904, or visit www.thyca.org.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. is a national nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization providing person-to-person support, support groups, the free downloadable Low-Iodine Cookbook, free online newsletter, awareness materials, free one-day workshops, and other resources to thyroid cancer survivors, their families, and the public at no charge. ThyCa also funds thyroid cancer research grants, sponsors Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month in September, and will hold the 10th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference in San Francisco, California, on October 19-21, 2007.

For more information, visit www.thyca.org, write PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545, call toll-free to 877-588-7904, fax to 630-604-6078, or e-mail to thyca@thyca.org.

IN THIS ISSUE


MORE SPRING WORKSHOPS IN APRIL AND MAY
FREE
Learn from Experts
Meet Other Survivors and Caregivers

The Arizona Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop, held in early March, was a big success. Four more spring workshops will be held in April and May, in Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, and Texas.

These educational and supportive events are free. They offer great opportunities for learning the latest about thyroid cancer care and research, and sharing experiences with others coping with this disease.

  • Saturday, April 21, 2007
    New Jersey Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop
    Voorhees, New Jersey
  • Saturday, April 21, 2007
    Texas Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop
    Dallas, Texas
  • Saturday, April 28, 2007
    Midwest Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ 3rd Annual Workshop
    St. Louis, Missouri
  • Saturday, May 12, 2007
    Mid-Atlantic Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ 6th Annual Workshop
    Baltimore, Maryland

At each workshop, distinguished physicians and other specialists will speak and answer your questions. In addition, there will be other specialists, survivor/caregiver roundtables, and free materials on the resource tables.

We welcome everyone interested in learning more about thyroid cancer. You may come for all or part of the day. You may register either in advance, on our online form, or on site at the workshop.

Hope to see you at a workshop!

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FREE FORUM IN SEATTLE
Thyroid Disease and You
Friday, April 13, 2007
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Room 620, Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Seattle.

Learn about all thyroid diseases: hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease, thyroid cancer. Free and open to patients and the public. Moderator: Lawrence C. Wood, M.D., with additional physician speakers. Co-Sponsored by Thyroid Foundation of America, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and University of Washington Medical Center.

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THANK YOU, TIM! PEDIATRIC BACKPACKS REACH YOUNG PEOPLE IN US AND ENGLAND

Our thanks to Tim, a wonderful caring young teen from Maine, whose Pediatric Backpacks have already reached children with thyroid cancer around the United States, and in England.

Tim, who has thyroid cancer, created the ” Backpack Project” to put thyroid cancer information and small gifts in the hands of newly diagnosed children and teens. Paula Langley, Miss Oakland County, Michigan, Outstanding Teen, helped Tim with the project.

These free backpacks are available from ThyCa. To request a backpack for a child or teen dealing with thyroid cancer, please call 1-877-588-7904 or e-mail to thyca@thyca.org.

Thank you, Tim!

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NEWEST SUPPORT GROUP BEGINS MEETING IN NASHVILLE

We are pleased to announce that Lynn Sanders and Julie Tucker, volunteers in Nashville, Tennessee, have started ThyCa’s newest thyroid cancer support group. This new group meets monthly.

If you live near a ThyCa support group, we invite you to attend. These groups are a wonderful way to meet and share experiences with other thyroid cancer survivors and caregivers in your area. People at all phases of testing, treatment, and follow-up are welcome to attend, along with caregivers and friends. Groups meet throughout the United States, as well as in Costa Rica and Philippines.

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FROM THE MAILBOX

“I have recently been diagnosed with papillary cancer. I was able to obtain info from your web site for follow-up treatment I will be receiving. It is scary to hear the “c” word. To know you have others to share and gain knowledge with gives a peace of mind very much appreciated. Thank you for your web site.”

“I want to tell you that your web site help me get through this and answered all my questions. Thank you for all the info you have, because this has been a scary experience.”

“So glad to have found your web site.”

“What a refreshing feeling to know that I’m not here alone, that are others—in the same situation—that care about each other.”

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WHAT’S NEW ON THE WEB SITE?

Our web site received more than 280,000 visits in March 2007. Our web site has more than 600 pages. The newest sections include added information about pediatric thyroid cancer, Herman’s Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Journey Story, and more. In development is the Medullary Thyroid Cancer site, to expand on the sections already on the site.

Many thanks to our web site coordinators Betty Solbjor of Massachusetts and Joel Amromin of California, as well as our Publications Committee volunteers and the more than 50 distinguished physicians and the other specialists who give ongoing input and review. We invite you to visit the web site often for the latest updates.

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THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO RAISE AWARENESS!

Our thanks to everyone who has requested our free thyroid cancer materials for display at cancer events and community health fairs, and for giving to their families and friends.

Thank you also to theThyCa volunteers handling ThyCa’s exhibits at these medical meeting exhibits in March and April: National Comprehensive Cancer Network in Florida, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, and American Association for Cancer Research in Los Angeles, California.

You can help, too! Please contact us for free thyroid cancer awareness materials—plastic wallet cards, awareness brochures, flyers for early detection, and more. Plus lots of free downloadable publications, including our free Low-Iodine Cookbook.
Help support early detection, treatment, and lifelong monitoring of thyroid cancer, and help others find our free support services and special events. For materials and information, e-mail thyca@thyca.org, call 1-877-588-7904, or fax to 1-630-604-6078.

RALLY FOR RESEARCH 2007

ThyCa’s free support services and awareness programs, and our thyroid cancer research grants, are all made possible through the generosity of our wonderful supporters. We thank you for your support.

Our thyroid cancer Research Grants are open to all institutions and all researchers worldwide. Our research fundraising campaign unites survivors, family, friends, neighbors, and loved ones in an international effort to raise funds to combat thyroid cancer.

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COMING EVENTS

– Every Month: Free meetings of local support groups. More than 70 groups throughout the United States, and in Costa Rica and Philippines.

  • Spring 2007: Free one-day Regional Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshops.
  • September 2007: Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. Plus year-round awareness campaigns and free materials
  • October 19-21, 2007: The 10th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference, San Francisco, California
  • October 20, 2007: The 6th Annual Dinner/Auction to Support Thyroid Cancer Research, San Francisco, California.

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ThyCa NEWS NOTES
Copyright (c) 2007 ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. We encourage you to send these News Notes to your family and friends. For permission to reprint in another electronic or print publication, please contact us.

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 public awareness for early detection, lifetime health monitoring, and thyroid cancer research fundraising and research grants. E-mail thyca@thyca.org, call 1-877-588-7904, or visit www.thyca.org.

We here at Thyca are pleased to announce that volunteers in Nashville, Tennessee, have formed a thyroid cancer support group.

If you or others you know are dealing with thyroid cancer of any form, now you have somewhere to go for support. The Nashville meetings take place on the first Tuesday of every month. You can find more information about this group on our web site under the topic of “Find Support.”

Free thyroid cancer support groups are now available coast to coast in the United States, as well as in Costa Rica and Philippines.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization of thyroid cancer survivors, families, and health care professionals, advised by internationally recognized thyroid cancer specialists.

For more information about ThyCa’s free year-round support services, education, and publications, e-mail tothyca@thyca.org, call toll-free 1-877-588-7904, write to PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545 USA, or visit the ThyCa web site.

Costa Rica’s first thyroid cancer support group will meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at “La Máscara” Theatre 13th Street, between 2nd and 4th Avenues, San José, Costa Rica. (Teatro La Mascara Calle 13, Avenida 2 y 4, diagonal al Hotel Flor de Lyz)

Meetings are free and open to people at all phases of testing, treatment, and follow-up for thyroid cancer, as well as their family members and friends. The ASOCATI ThyCa Costa Rica Support Group is affiliated with the nonprofit organization ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. ASOCATI ThyCa Costa Rica supports comprehension and awareness of thyroid cancer.

The Costa Rica group is the second such group outside the United States; the first such group was formed in the Philippines in March 2006. The group, along with more than 60 other ThyCa support groups, has its own page in the ThyCa web site’s local support groups section.

Teresa Saprissa, facilitator of the ASOCATI ThyCa Costa Rica Support Group, invites thyroid cancer patients, families, and friends to attend meetings. To find out more about the new group, contact Teresa Saprissa by phone at 385-0755 (from US 011-506-385-0755) or e-mail to costarica@thyca.org.

“We are pleased that Costa Rica now has this important new resource,” said ThyCa’s Support Groups Coordinator Sara Gorrell Brenner. “Our support groups help people meet and share experiences, to cope with the challenges of thyroid cancer.”

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of thyroid cancer survivors, families, and health care professionals, advised by internationally recognized thyroid cancer specialists.

For more information about ThyCa’s free year-round support services, education, and publications, e-mail tothyca@thyca.org, call toll-free 1-877-588-7904, write to PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545 USA, or visit the ThyCa web site.

ThyCa Urges Early Detection Through Neck Checks

• Thyroid cancer, one of the few cancers that is increasing in incidence, is expected to reach a new record of 33,550 people newly diagnosed in the United States in 2007, reports ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association (www.thyca.org).

• This is 11 percent higher than last year’s record numbers, and about double the number from 10 years ago, according to information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Cancer Society. The number of deaths is expected to increase by 2% over last year, to 1,530 in 2007.

• Thyroid cancer is usually treatable when found early, and ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. (www.thyca.org) urges everyone to learn about thyroid cancer and to request a neck check at each doctor’s appointment.

• ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of thyroid cancer survivors, family members, and health care professionals, dedicated to education, communication, support, awareness for early detection, and thyroid cancer research fundraising and research grants.

• For free awareness materials and more information about thyroid cancer and ThyCa’s free year-round support services, education, and publications, e-mail to thyca@thyca.org, call toll-free 1-877-588-7904, write to PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545, or visit www.thyca.org.

On Saturday, February 10, 2007, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, Corina C. Fratila, M.D., Endocrinologist, Bay West Endocrine Associates, Baltimore, Maryland, will speak and answer questions about thyroid cancer treatment and research. The free program will take place at The Cancer Institute at Sinai Hospital 2402 West Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215.

The free event is hosted by the ThyCa Baltimore Thyroid Cancer Support Group, which is affiliated with the national nonprofit ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.

Marion Hammond, the support group facilitator, invites people at all phases of testing, treatment, and follow-up for thyroid cancer, as well as their families and friends and anyone else interested to attend. Sinai Hospital is located in northwest Baltimore, off Northern Parkway, just 3 miles south of the Baltimore County Line.

For more information or directions to The Cancer Institute at Sinai Hospital, e-mail to Baltimore-MD@thyca.org, or visit the ThyCa Baltimore web page. Driving directions are also available at the end of this article.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing person-to-person support, support groups, the free downloadable Low-Iodine Cookbook, free online newsletter, awareness materials, free one-day workshops, and other resources to thyroid cancer survivors, their families, and the public at no charge. ThyCa also funds thyroid cancer research grants, sponsors Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month in September, and will hold the 10th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference in San Francisco, California, on October 19-21, 2007.

For more information, visit www.thyca.org, write PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545, call toll-free to 877-588-7904, fax to 630-604-6078, or e-mail to thyca@thyca.org.

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Driving Directions to The Cancer Institute at Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland:

From Northwest. From Carroll County, Owings Mills or Reisterstown, take I-795 to I-695 East (Baltimore Beltway, Towson direction). Take Exit 23 onto I-83 South (Jones Falls Expressway). Go about 3 miles; take Exit 10, Northern Parkway. Go West on Northern Parkway. At 2nd traffic signal, go left onto W. Belvedere Avenue. Sinai Hospital is on left.

From North. From northern Baltimore suburbs, take I-83 South. At I-695 (Baltimore Beltway), go West (Pikesville direction). Re-enter I-83 South at Exit 23. Go about 3 miles; take Exit 10, Northern Parkway. Go West on Northern Parkway. At 2nd traffic signal, go left onto W. Belvedere Avenue. Sinai Hospital is on left.

From West. From Howard County and points west; go east on I-70 or I-95 to I-695 East (Baltimore Beltway, Towson direction). Take exit 23 onto I-83 South (Jones Falls Expressway). Go about 3 miles; take Exit 10, Northern Parkway. Head West on Northern Parkway. Go West on Northern Parkway. At 2nd traffic signal, go left onto W. Belvedere Avenue. Sinai Hospital is on the left.

From East and Northeast. From Towson and Harford County, take I-95 South to Exit 64, I-695 West (Baltimore Beltway, Towson direction). Take exit 23 onto I-83 South (Jones Falls Expressway). Go about 3 miles; take Exit 10, Northern Parkway. Go West on Northern Parkway. At 2nd traffic signal, go left onto W. Belvedere Avenue. Sinai Hospital is on left.

From South. From Downtown Baltimore, take I-83 North (Jones Falls Expressway) to Exit 10, Northern Parkway West. At 3rd traffic signal, go left onto W. Belvedere Avenue. Sinai Hospital is on left.

On Saturday, March 3, 2007, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association will offer a FREE one-day workshop for thyroid cancer survivors, their families, caregivers, and friends. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Conference Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, Shea Campus, 9003 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, Arizona.

The ThyCa Phoenix Thyroid Cancer Support Group has organized the workshop in cooperation with the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare. Attendees may register on site at the workshop.

This free educational and supportive day is open to people at all phases of testing, treatment, and follow-up for thyroid cancer, as well as their caregivers and everyone interested in learning about thyroid cancer. Featured speakers include:

  • Daniel S. Duick, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E., Endocrinologist, Endocrinology Associates, Phoenix; Vice President, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
  • Calvin L. Lutrin, M.D., Medical Director, Nuclear Medicine Service, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix
  • Peter H. Nutley, M.D., F.A.C.S., Head and Neck Surgeon, Phoenix
  • Kristina B. Rudgear, M.D., Endocrinologist, Medical Director, Scottsdale Thyroid Institute, Scottsdale
  • Suzanne Hyde, L.M.S.W., Medical Social Worker, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, Scottsdale
  • Tresha Baldwin, P.T., Physical Therapist, Owner, 360° Physical Therapy and Aquatic Centers, Tempe/Scottsdale and valley-wide

Presentations and question-and-answer sessions will cover thyroid cancer diagnosis, treatment, lifelong monitoring, and research advances, as well as physical therapy following neck surgery and community and financial resources for cancer patients.

For attendees needing overnight lodging, group rates are available at the La Quinta Inn, which is within walking distance of the workshop site. To reserve a room, call the Inn at 1-800-531-5900 by February 15, 2007, and ask for the rate for the ThyCa Workshop.

For further workshop information, e-mail to Thyca_Phoenix@thyca.org, call Gail Gundling at 480-585-5811, or visit www.thyca.org.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. is a national nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization providing person-to-person support, support groups, the free downloadable Low-Iodine Cookbook, free online newsletter, awareness materials, free one-day workshops, and other resources to thyroid cancer survivors, their families, and the public at no charge. ThyCa also funds thyroid cancer research grants, sponsors Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month in September, and will hold the 10th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference in San Francisco, California, on October 19-21, 2007.

For more information, visit www.thyca.org, write PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545, call toll-free to 877-588-7904, fax to 630-604-6078, or e-mail to thyca@thyca.org.

In 2007, for the fifth year in a row, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. will award new grants for thyroid cancer research,ThyCa Board Chair Gary Bloom has announced.

ThyCa will award two new grants in 2007. Each grant will be for 2 years. One grant will support research on follicular-cell-derived thyroid cancer, including papillary, follicular, anaplastic, and variants. The other grant will support research on medullary thyroid cancer.

The ThyCa Research grants are open to all researchers and institutions worldwide.

An independent expert panel of the American Thyroid Association(ATA) will select the grant recipients. ATA is the professional association of clinicians and researchers concerned with thyroid diseases.

The Call for Proposals and eligibility requirements are available on the ATA web site on this page:
http://thyroid.org/professionals/education/grants.html. The deadline for submission of a proposal summary to the ATA is January 31, 2007. The ATA Research Committee will rank proposals according to their scientific merit. ATA will notify the authors of selected proposals by early March and will invite them to submit complete grant applications.

“More research to find cures for all types of this challenging disease is urgently needed. We greatly appreciate the wonderful support of everyone in ATA for patients and families who are dealing with thyroid cancer,” said ThyCa Board Chair Gary Bloom. “We are excited and honored to support advances in thyroid cancer research. We thank all our generous donors and volunteers for making these grants possible.”

The ThyCa grants, begun in 2003, are the first-ever thyroid cancer research grants to be funded entirely by thyroid cancer patients, caregivers, and friends. ThyCa has awarded its grants to researchers at the following institutions:

  • Cochin Institut, Paris, France
  • Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
  • University Hospital Duesseldorf in Duesseldorf, Germany
  • University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas

ThyCa has two Research Funds. One fund supports research of follicular-cell-derived thyroid cancer, including papillary, follicular, anaplastic, and variants. The other fund supports research of medullary thyroid cancer.

ThyCa invites everyone to join us in our quest to find a cure for all thyroid cancer.

ThyCa is a national nonprofit 501 (c)(3) service organization of thyroid cancer survivors, families, and health care professionals advised by nationally recognized experts on thyroid cancer and dedicated to education, support, communication, awareness for early detection, and thyroid cancer research fundraising and research grants.

ThyCa sponsors Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, as well as year-round awareness campaigns. Free support services and resources include ThyCa’s award-winning educational web site, the ThyCa Person To Person Network, more than 60 local support groups, nine e-mail support groups, a toll-free survivors’ telephone number, a free online newsletter, the free downloadable Low-Iodine Cookbook, materials in Spanish, and regional one-day workshops.

In addition, ThyCa’s annual international conference brings together thyroid cancer survivors, families, and experts in thyroid cancer treatment and research. The 10th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference will take place October 19-21, 2007, in San Francisco, California, at the Sofitel San Francisco Bay Hotel.

Information about thyroid cancer, ThyCa’s free support services and publications, and its events is available by writing to PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545, e-mailing to thyca@thyca.org, or visiting the ThyCa web site.

New Group Focuses on the Most Common Endocrine Cancer

Thyroid cancer continues to increase in incidence, and a new thyroid cancer support group will begin meeting on the third Saturday of every month starting on December 16, 2006, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Capitol Health System at Hamilton, 1445 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Mercerville, New Jersey.

Meetings are free and open to people at all phases of testing, treatment, and follow-up for thyroid cancer, as well as their family members and friends.

The ThyCa Trenton/Central New Jersey Support Group is affiliated with the national nonprofit organization ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. (www.thyca.org). The support group has its own page on the ThyCa web site, with meeting information and transportation directions. The group will meet December 16, 2006, and January 20, 2007, February 17, March 17, and the third Saturday of each month thereafter.

Michael Dubrow, the volunteer facilitator of the ThyCa Trenton/Central New Jersey Support Group, invite thyroid cancer patients, families, and friends to attend meetings. To find out more about the new group, contact Michael Dubrow at centraljersey@thyca.org.

“This new support group is a wonderful resource for everyone being tested, treated, or followed for thyroid cancer, as well as for their families,” said ThyCa’s Support Groups Coordinator Sara Gorrell Brenner. “We thank Michael Dubrow for facilitating this group. Another ThyCa Support Group meets in Southern New Jersey. Our groups meet throughout the United States to help families coping with the many challenges of thyroid cancer.”

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc., is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of thyroid cancer survivors, families, and health care professionals, advised by thyroid cancer specialists. ThyCa sponsors national Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month in September, as well as year-round awareness programs and numerous free support services and publications. Its 10th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference will feature more than 60 speakers and will take place in San Francisco, California, on October 19-21, 2007.

For free brochures and more information about ThyCa’s free year-round support services, publications, and events, e-mail to thyca@thyca.org, call toll-free 1-877-588-7904, write to PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545, or visit the ThyCa web site.