ThyCa NEWS NOTES – April 2009
IN THIS ISSUE
- Five More FREE Workshops – One More Added— You’re Invited
- Support Group Meetings – Welcome and Invitation
- Our Free Guestbook
- ThyCa Participates at ATA Spring Meeting
- What’s New on the Web Site?
- Can Anything Good Come From Cancer? Well, Maybe
- Become a ThyCa 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
- About ThyCa NEWS NOTES
Five More FREE Workshops — One More Added —You’re Invited
After our 2 highly successful April Workshops in Missouri and New Jersey, we are proud to announce five more free regional workshops, for a total of 7 free workshops this year.
These free events offer terrific opportunities to learn from experts and meet and share experiences, and support with other thyroid cancer survivors and caregivers.
- You may come for part or all of a workshop.
- Free. Register either online at www.thyca.org or onsite at the workshop.
- For more information, e-mail to thyca@thyca.org or call 1-877-588-7904.
- Visit ThyCa’s web site <www.thyca.org> for further details about the speakers, programs, and directions.
Vermont/New England Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Stowe, Vermont
In Conjunction with the Stowe Weekend of Hope
Featured Speakers on Thyroid Cancer, Saturday afternoon starting at 12:30 p.m.
- Beatriz Tendler, M.D., Endocrinologist, University of Connecticut Medical Center, CT
- Indukala Doddamane, M.D., Nuclear Medicine Physician, Yale University Medical Center, CT
Free dinner for thyroid cancer survivors and caregivers Saturday evening, hosted by Jaime Toth, ThyCa Southern Connecticut Support Group Facilitator. Visit www.stowehope.com for the full weekend program, including the Thyroid Cancer Sympoisum, and www.thyca.org for the dinner details and contact information.
Mid-Atlantic 8th Annual Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop:
Saturday, May 16, 2009
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Takoma Park, Maryland (near Washington, DC, and I-495)
Featured Speakers:
- Kenneth D. Burman, M.D., Endocrinologist, Washington Hospital Center, DC
- Nancy Carroll, M.D., Endocrine Surgeon, Washington Hospital Center, DC
- Matthew I. Kim, M.D., Endocrinologist, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, MD
- Gigi Meinecke, D.M.D., F.A.G.D., Dentist, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, MD
- Douglas Van Nostrand, M.D., Nuclear Medicine Physician, Washington Hospital Center, DC
- More to be confirmed
Topics: Thyroid Cancer Questions & Answers • Thyroid Cancer Surgery • Radioactive Iodine • Follow-Up Testing in the First Year and Over the Long Term • Living with Thyroid Cancer • Being in a Clinical Trial: Patient’s Perspective • Thyrogen • The Doctor-Patient Relationship & Patient Advocacy • Survivor/Caregiver Support Group Roundtables
San Diego/Southern California Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop:
Saturday, May 16, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
San Diego, California
Co-Sponsored by University of California, San Diego, Medical Center and ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.
Featured Speakers from University of California, San Diego, Medical Center, CA:
- Ernest Belezzuoli, M.D., Nuclear Medicine Physician
- Michael Bouvet, M.D., Surgeon
- Kevin Brumund, M.D., Surgeon
- Charles Choe, M.D., Endocrinologist
- James McCallum, M.D., Endocrinologist
- Deborah Oh, M.D., Endocrinologist
- Robert Weisman, M.D., Surgeon.
Topics: Introduction/Overview of thyroid cancer • Thyroid ultrasound for diagnosis and follow-up • Thyroid hormone replacement issues for patients • Neck dissection for thyroid cancer: When do lymph nodes need to be removed? • Radioactive iodine ablation: why, when, who, and how much? • Complications of thyroid surgery • Medullary Thyroid Cancer and MEN2 • New treatment options for thyroid cancer.
Texas/Southwest 3rd Annual Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop:
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Dallas, Texas
Featured Speakers:
- Evangelina Castaneda, M.D., Endocrinologist, Plano, TX
- Jennifer Sipos, M.D., Endocrinologist, Assistant Professor, Division of Endocrinology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Linda Truong, Pharm. D., Pharmacist, Pharmacy Manager, Walmart, Plano, TX
- More being confirmed.
Just Added! Another California Workshop!
San Francisco/Northern California Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop
Saturday, July 25, 2009
12:30 p.m.— 4:30 p.m.
Stanford, California
Featured Speakers:
- Haruko Akatsu, M.D., M.S., Endocrinologist, Stanford University Hospital, CA
- Wen T. Shen, M.D., Endocrine Surgeon, University of California at San Francisco, CA
- Mike Yao, M.D. ENT, Stanford University Hospital, CA
- In addition, a Genzyme Representative will be available for questions about Thyrogen access/insurance issues.
Location: Stanford Cancer Center, 875 Blake Wilbur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305.
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.
We’re adding new groups regularly, and welcome the newest groups:
- Jacksonville, Florida
New Groups Being Formed:
- Jasper, Alabama
- Brockton, Massachusetts
- Troy, New York
Click here for a complete list of groups, contact information, and meeting schedules. Or, if no internet access, call: 877-588-7904
If you’re interested in starting a group in your area, contact support_coor@thyca.org.
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.
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.
ThyCa Participates at ATA Spring Meeting
Our thanks to the American Thyroid Association for ThyCa’s attendance at the ATA Spring Meeting and Research Summit. We greatly appreciate this support of our outreach to the medical community.
Throughout the year, ThyCa is happy to mail free materials in bulk to health care professionals, hospitals, clinics, and community groups. Our mutual goal is the well-being of all patients and families, with free support and education available to everyone. Physicians, clinics, hospitals, and community group are major ways that people learn about our free support services, educational resources, and special events.
For free materials, contact us at thyca@thyca.org or call 1-877-588-7904.
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 our website 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!
Can Anything “Good” Come From Cancer? Well, MaybeBy Pat Paillard of Pennsylvania
When I was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer I felt everything was “Bad.” I have found out since that some “Good” has come out of my cancer.
First of all, I found ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association. I couldn’t have gotten through “It” without the support and wealth of information I have received from this organization. The support and information continue and will do so for the rest of my life.
Secondly, I have met the nicest people, both on line through ThyCa’s web site and at the two conferences I have attended. I can’t wait until October! All of the people I have met, whether survivors, caregivers, family members, or doctors, have been friendly, sincere, and very caring people. I feel I will have some of them as my friends forever. When you receive the diagnosis of cancer, the people you meet and their interaction with you becomes very important to you, and if their reaction is positive it helps you get through “It” much more easily.
Thirdly, I have gotten to travel a little more, which I haven’t done for a while. The areas chosen for the conferences are nice places to visit. I have even done some sightseeing. The hotels are beautiful, and clean. Getting to and from them is easy. I came back from each refreshed, enlightened, and had the feeling that I was really not “alone” in dealing with thyroid cancer.
Yes, cancer is a bad thing, but some “good” can come out of it!
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).
Click here for secure online Membership form and our mailed Membership form.
Low-Iodine Recipe of the Month
Easy Orange Chicken
Contributed by a Friend of ThyCa
An easy meal for the family or for unexpected guests. Easy to double for more people. Keeps well in warming oven, or when reheated. You can vary the measurements, depending on your preferences and what you have on hand.
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, halved, or 4 breast filets, or 4-6 thighs
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- optional – 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- salt and pepper to taste
Oil a baking pan. Add chicken and onion. Mix cornstarch and orange juice. Add thyme. Pour onto the chicken. Bake at 325 degrees till tender, about 40 minutes. Serve with pasta or rice plus a vegetable such as green beans or peas, for an easy meal.
Thank you! We’ll let people know about this recipe in the next edition of the FREE Downloadable Low-Iodine Cookbook.
Download the 6th edition of the Low-Iodine Cookbook, with more than 250 favorite recipes from more than 100 generous volunteers The Cookbook is also available in Spanish.
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: English Spanish
Help Support the 2009 Rally for Research
Thanks to generous contributions and special fundraising events, ThyCa will award 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.
We welcome new volunteers at any time. 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
- Free One-Day Regional Workshops
- Dallas, Texas
- San Diego, California
- Stanford, California
- Stowe, Vermont
- Takoma Park, Maryland, near Washington, DC
- in addition to workshops already held this spring
- September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. Get free awareness materials year-round from ThyCa.
- The 12th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference
October 16-18, 2009
Boston, Massachusetts
Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel in Danvers
Sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.
Visit our 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.
It only takes a minute to make a secure donation online in support of ThyCa’s work (or you are welcome to donate by mail), so click here to give.
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.
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, Pat Paillard, 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-mail thyca@thyca.org, call 1-877-588-7904, fax 1-630-604-6078, write PO Box 1102, Olney, MD 20830-1102, or visit our website.