ThyCa NEWS NOTES – December 2011

In This Issue:

Now Online: The complete Thyroid Cancer Basics booklet

This booklet is free. Its 50 pages are packed with information about thyroid cancer diagnosis, staging, treatments, long-term followup, and more.

Read and download Thyroid Cancer Basics

The printed edition will also be available soon. It is free as well, and a wonderful resource for anyone with thyroid cancer. We mail it anywhere in the world.

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Call for Research Proposals: Due by January 31, 2012

ThyCa’s Thyroid Cancer Research Grants Are Open to Researchers Worldwide

In 2012, for the tenth year in a row, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. will award new grants for thyroid cancer research.

ThyCa is proud to expand our grants program for 2012. ThyCa will award three new grants in 2012. Each grant will be for 2 years.

One grant will support research on follicular-cell-derived thyroid cancer, including papillary, follicular, anaplastic, and variants. A second grant will support research in medullary thyroid cancer. The third grant will be for the best research project available. In addition, ThyCa will award three 2011 continuation grants.

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 specializing in thyroid diseases.

The Call for Proposals and the eligibility requirements are now available on the ATA web site (www.thyroid.org). The deadline for submission of a proposal summary to the ATA is January 31, 2012. 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. They will select the winning proposals from these complete grant applications.

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 grants to researchers at the following institutions in four countries:

  • Cochin Institut, Paris, France
  • Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio and Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
  • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
  • Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
  • University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
  • University Hospital Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
  • University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)/Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, California
  • University of Illinois at Chicago.
  • University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
  • Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC

ThyCa has two Research Funds. One fund supports research of follicular-cell-derived thyroid cancer, including papillary, follicular, anaplastic, and variants. The other research fund supports research of medullary thyroid cancer.
To find out more about the ThyCa Research Funds and annual Rally for Research, visit our Reearch Fund page

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

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Have You Watched/Listened to all the Free Webinars?

The speakers are all thyroid cancer experts who are ThyCa Medical Advisors.

You can watch these informative webinars at your leisure, at any time, from anywhere in the world.

To find the free Webinars, and learn more about the speakers go to our Webinars page.

If you’ve already seen some or all of the webinars, help others find them also. Tell your friends about these great opportunities to learn about all types of thyroid cancer.

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Thyrogen Supply Update Received

In December 2011 ThyCa received an update from Genzyme about Thyrogen. Due to progress in manufacturing operations, Genzyme expects the global supply to improve in 2012, compared to 2011, though it still expects supply constraints. Genzyme estimates that the 2012 supply will be 60-80% of levels globally in 2010, the year before the shortage. ThyCa has posted the announcement on the web site.

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Team Neck and Neck to Participate in 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

In January 2012, Team Neck and Neck, organized and led by thyroid cancer survivor and activist, Tina Descovich, will join the 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend to raise awareness of thyroid cancer as well as funds for ThyCa.

Tina has also designed a special new running shirt, the Thyroid Cancer Neck Check Awareness Shirt, for runners to wear as they run for thyroid cancer awareness. ThyCa displayed and sold similarly designed colorful shirts at the Conference in October, and will soon have them available for you to buy through our web site.

“There’s something magical about being in a race, knowing each mile is making a difference for Thyroid Cancer Awareness and Research, Tina writes.

“Running in races is an extremely rewarding experience for me. I like setting goals and meeting them. I like to accomplish things.”

To find out more about Tina’s wonderful effort, and how you can support it and ThyCa at the same time, go to Team Neck and Neck’s website.

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SNM Launches New Molecular Imaging Site; ThyCa Is Partnering

The Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) has launched a new web site to explain molecular imaging and nuclear medicine to patients.

The site’s goal is to provide patients with information about nuclear medicine and molecular imaging and its role in the detection, treatment, and management of diseases. The site focuses on cancer, heart disease, and brain disease. It explains imaging techniques including PET scans, PET/CT scans, and others.

www.DiscoverMI.org is supported by SNM’s Patient Advocacy Advisory Board (PAAB). ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. is pleased to be part of this board. Gary Bloom, ThyCa Executive Director, represents ThyCa on the PAAB.

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Jana Raises Thyroid Cancer Awareness and Funds for ThyCa

Jana Smith of Chicago has developed creative ways to raise awareness of thyroid cancer, while raising funds for ThyCa through donating a portion of the proceeds from her handcrafted jewelry business.

Jana writes, “Almost 9 years ago, I found out that I had thyroid cancer… unfortunately the cancer spread to my entire neck. I needed to have radioactive iodine, which caused me to be put in isolation for a few days.”

“I was soo bored of reading books and watching movies, and I also wanted to hide the scar on my neck, so I started making necklaces … I gave necklaces to friends and family … and everyone kept telling me how many compliments they were receiving. After being approached by a store owner about a necklace I was wearing one day, I decided to start selling my designs.”

“Though the years, I’ve had jewelry parties and sold to some stores, but I was mostly focusing on having and raising my three beautiful children. If I never got sick then I probably would have never started designing jewelry.”

“My company is named Anaj, which is my name backwards. I donate a percentage of my proceeds to ThyCa. I want people to know what thyroid cancer is all about. I hear about more and more people diagnosed lately and they need to be educated about what they’re going through.”

“I was recently featured in the November issue of Michigan Avenue Magazine. After the article was released, they hosted an Anaj party and I raised almost $2,000 for ThyCa. I am very proud that I made something really good come out of something so awful.”

Thank you, Jana, for helping educate others about thyroid cancer, and for your wonderful support of ThyCa.

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Free January Seminar in North Carolina

Michael Thomas, M.D., Endocrinologist, will speak and answer questions about “Feeling Well on Thyroid Medication” during ThyCa Raleigh, North Carolina’s regularly scheduled support group meeting on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

Everyone interested in thyroid cancer is welcome to attend. Details are here.

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Free Seminar in Massachusetts

Roy Phitayakorn, M.D., MHPE, Massachusetts General Hospital, will speak and answer questions about thyroid cancer and thyroid cancer surgery at the ThyCa Boston Support Group Meeting on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

Details are here: If you’re in the Boston, Massachusetts, area, hope you can attend!

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Support Groups Meet

Lots of local support groups have meetings in December, January, and every month. People at all phases of testing, treatment, and followup for thyroid cancer are welcome. Locations, dates, & the volunteer facilitators’ contact details are here.

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ThyCa Again Accepted into the Combined Federal CampaignThyCa’s CFC # is 11675

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association has again been accepted into the world’s largest workplace giving campaign.

Federal civilian, postal, and military employees are able to choose ThyCa as a recipient of their workplace donations through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). This federal employees’ charitable giving campaign raises millions of dollars each year for thousands of nonprofits providing health and human services throughout the world.

Donations to ThyCa through CFC will support free education, support, and resources, as well as thyroid cancer research.

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Follow ThyCa on Facebook and Twitter

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Tell a Friend

You can help others find the free support, education, and communication that ThyCa provides. We serve people in 64 countries around the world, and reach more people every day. An easy way to spread the word and help others is to e-mail a link to the home page www.thyca.org. Use your web browser’s function “e-mail a link to this page,” so that the link will be placed into an e-mail message that you can send, or else just type in the link address yourself.

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Low-Iodine Recipe of the MonthContributed by Bridget C. of Illinois

King Arthur Flour’s Flourless Fudge Cookies

2 ¼ cups confectioners’ sugar
¼ teaspoon salt (noniodized)
1 teaspoon espresso powder, optional but good
1 cup cocoa powder, Dutch-process (European-style) preferred*
3 large egg whites
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

*For darker, richer-looking cookies, substitute 1/4 cup black cocoa for 1/4 cup of the Dutch-process cocoa

  1. 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two baking sheets. Or line with parchment, and grease the parchment.
  2. Stir together all of the ingredients till smooth. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, and stir again till smooth.
  3. Drop the dough onto the prepared baking sheets in balls about the size of ping pong balls, about 1 1/2″; a tablespoon cookie scoop works well here.
  4. Bake the cookies for 8 minutes; they should spread, become somewhat shiny, and develop faintly crackly tops.
  5. Remove the cookies from the oven, and allow them to cool right on the pan.
  6. Yield: 16 large (3 inch) cookies.

Nutrition information:

Serving Size: 1 cookie, 29g. Servings Per Batch: 16. Amount Per Serving: Calories: 80; Calories from Fat: 10; Total Fat: 3g; Saturated Fat: 0g; Trans Fat: 0g;Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 47mg; Total Carbohydrate: 18g; Dietary Fiber: 1g; Sugars: 17g;Protein: 1g.

Editor’s Note: Thank you, Bridget, for contributing your recipe. We will include it 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.

If you’d like to contribute your favorite recipe or tip, send it to recipes@thyca.org.

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Help Raise Awareness — Get Free Materials

Free thyroid cancer awareness materials are available for downloading, or by mail from ThyCa. We mail free materials anywhere in the world, to thyroid cancer survivors, family members, physicians for their patients, and health and community organizations. For free materials, e-mail us at thyca@thyca.org

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ThyCa’s Free Guestbook

By signing up in ThyCa’s free Guestbook, you’ll receive the latest news about thyroid cancer, new free publications, events, and more.

The standard of care for thyroid cancer has changed dramatically in the past few years. Research continues to make advances.

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.

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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 quarterly 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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Support the Rally for Research

Thanks to generous contributions and special fundraising events, ThyCa has awarded new thyroid cancer research grants every year starting in 2003. These grants support our goal of cures for all thyroid cancer and a future free of thyroid cancer. We plan to award 3 new grants and 3 continuation grants in 2012.

You’re invited to help support the Rally for Research. For details about the Rally for Research, donation opportunities, special events, Quarters for a Cure, and information about ThyCa’s past and future Research Grants, visit the Rally for Research 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 is what makes it possible to sustain, strengthen, and expand our services and outreach.

It only takes a minute 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.

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About ThyCa NEWS NOTES
Copyright (c) 2011 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.

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.

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: Bridget C., Leah Guljord, Pat Paillard, Jana Smith, Barbara Status, Cherry Wunderlich, and Gary Bloom.

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.org, call toll-free at 1-877-588-7904, fax 1-630-604-6078, write PO Box 1102, Olney, MD 20830-1102, or visit our website.