ThyCa NEWS NOTES – January 2012
In This Issue:
- New Diagnoses in 2012: Fastest Increasing Cancer, New Record Total
- ThyCa Partners with AACE’s Thyroid Awareness Month
- Latest News about the Thyrogen Supply
- Update on Medicare and the Afirma Test for Thyroid Nodules
- Now Available Online and By Mail: Free Booklet, Thyroid Cancer Basics
- Six Free Seminars and Workshops with Physicians
- Proposals Due by January 31, 2012, for ThyCa’s Three New Thyroid Cancer Research Grants
- ThyCa Online Groups and In-Person Support Groups Expand
- Congratulations, Tina and Team Neck & Neck!
- Follow ThyCa on Facebook and Twitter
- Save the Dates for Chicago and the 2012 Conference
- Low-Iodine Recipe of the Month
- Thank You!
- ThyCa’s Free Guestbook and Newsletter Subscription
- Join Us, Become a Member
- Support the Rally for Research
- Every Day
- About ThyCa News Notes
New Diagnoses in 2012:
Fastest Increasing Cancer, New Record Total
A record total of 56,460 people will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the US in 2012. It’s the fastest increasing cancer in both men and women, reports the American Cancer Society.
For more details, visit www.thyca.org/news/newdx2012/.
Help raise awareness. Help others get diagnosed early, when thyroid cancer is usually treatable, and needs the least treatment.
Get free awareness materials, including Neck Check cards, from ThyCa. The materials are available in two ways— by downloading from our web site, or we’ll mail them to any country in the world. Go to ourAwareness page.
ThyCa Partners with AACE’s Thyroid Awareness Month
As many as 30 million people in the US have some kind of thyroid disease. January is Thyroid Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
ThyCa is pleased to partner with AACE in this observance. Learn more on AACE’s thyroid site www.thyroidawareness.com/. Give others the AACE Neck Check cards and other awareness materials, available free from ThyCa; go to www.thyca.org/how-to-help/awareness/
Latest News about the Thyrogen Supply
In late December, Genzyme reported on the increased global supply of Thyrogen for 2012. The complete message is on ThyCa’s web site at www.thyca.org/wp-content/uploads/legacy/thyrogensupply122211.pdf.
Update on Medicare and the Afirma Test for Thyroid Nodules
Medicare now covers the Afirma test. This genomic test can help resolve inconclusive results from fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples being tested for possible thyroid cancer. The test is Afirma Gene Expression Classifier, from Veracyte.
For more about this test, go to the Tests and Levels section of ThyCa’s Links page: . To learn more about thyroid nodules and their evaluation, go to www.thyca.org/newly-diagnosed/fna/ and to pages 11-12 of Thyroid Cancer Basics.
Now Available Online and By Mail: Free Booklet, Thyroid Cancer Basics
This free handbook is packed with more than 50 pages of important information from physicians, patients, and caregiver. It’s available free of charge in different formats.
- You may download it in 8 ½ x 11 inch format from www.thyca.org/wp-content/uploads/legacy/TCBasics.pdff and bind it yourself.
- In its compact booklet form (5 ½ x 8 ½ inches), it’s available from ThyCa. We mail individual and bulk copies to anyone interested in thyroid cancer. The booklet is available worldwide.
Six Free Seminars and Workshops with Physicians
Everyone interested in thyroid cancer is invited to attend.
-
Boston, Massachusetts— Saturday, January 21, 2012
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. For details, go to: www.thyca.org/sg/ma_boston/ -
Raleigh, North Carolina — Saturday, January 21, 2012
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. For details, go to: www.thyca.org/sg/nc_raleigh/ -
New York City, New York—Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Jennifer Marti, M.D., Endocrine and Breast Surgeon, will speak and answer questions during ThyCa Manhattan, New York’s regularly scheduled support group meeting on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For details, go to: www.thyca.org/sg/ny_manhattan/ -
Baltimore, Maryland—Saturday, February 11, 2012
Watch for details on the ThyCa Baltimore Support Group page, atwww.thyca.org/sg/md_baltimore/ -
Reno, Nevada—Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Evan Klass, M.D., Endocrinologist, will speak and answer questions about thyroid cancer care at the ThyCa Reno, Nevada, regular support group meeting. Details are at www.thyca.org/sg/nv_reno/ - Osage Beach, Missouri – Saturday, April 21, 2012
| 8th Midwest Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The seven confirmed speakers include medical professionals, health resource specialists, thyroid cancer survivors, and more. Details are on our Conferences page
More Seminars and Workshops are being planned. Go to our Calendar, Conferences, and Support Groupspages for details.
Proposals Due by January 31, 2012, for ThyCa’s Three New Thyroid Cancer Research 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. More details are here.
This is the 10th year in which ThyCa has awarded grants for thyroid cancer research. Thank you to everyone whose generous donations make these grants possible.
ThyCa Online and In-Person Support Groups Expand
More than 90 communities have free Local ThyCa Support Groups, led by volunteer facilitators, and our 12 online support groups are available to people everywhere, with every type and situation with thyroid cancer. Support groups are wonderful places to share experiences, information, understanding, and encouragement.
To join a group or attend a meeting, visit www.thyca.org/sg/ for details. Find out whether there is a local ThyCa Support Group near your home, at this page: www.thyca.org/sg/.
Don’t see a local support group near you? Find out how ThyCa can help you start a new group. Just e-mail support_coord@thyca.org.
Congratulations, Tina and Team Neck & Neck!
Team Neck & Neck, captained by Tina Descovich, took part in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend on January 7 & 8, 2012. The 11 wonderful team members raised awareness and raised more than $3,400 for ThyCa. They wore the colorful Neck Check Awareness Running Shirts from ThyCa, specially designed by Tina. Thank you, Tina and your Team!
Follow ThyCa on Facebook and Twitter
Save the Dates for Chicago and the 2012 Conference
On October 19 – 21, 2012, people with every type of thyroid cancer, plus caregivers, friends, and dozens of thyroid cancer expert physicians will come together in Chicago, Illinois, for the 15th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference.
The conference will take place at the beautiful Eaglewood Resort and Spa in Itasca, Illinois. Once again, we’ve arranged a special room rate of $99 for Conference attendees. The flyer and volunteer opportunity form are on our website. Save the dates, help spread the word, and plan to attend! We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!
Low- Iodine Recipe of the MonthContributed by Stephen M.
Hawaiian Sweet Bread
A bread-machine bread, tasty for French toast, sandwiches, or by itself
Adapted from another recipe, to fit the low-iodine diet
Ingredients
- 1 cup vanilla coconut milk
- 4 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 egg whites
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 lemon peel, grated
- 3 Tablespoons o white sugar
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons of dry potato flakes
- 3 cups organic bread flour
- 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast (packaged)
Directions
- Put the ingredients into the bread machine in order from 1 to 10
- Set machine for sweet dough and light crust.
- Run the machine
Yield: One 2-pound loaf
Editor’s Note: Thank you, Stephen, 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:
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.
Thank you to the more than 400 wonderful ThyCa volunteers who helped during 2011. You’re making a difference in so many ways—leading local support groups, giving 1-to-1 support, organizing workshops & the Conference, producing publications, raising awareness for early detection, and publicizing the Rally for Research for our dream of cures for all thyroid cancer. Thank you to all!
ThyCa’s Free Guestbook and Newsletter Subscription
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.
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.
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.
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.
About ThyCa NEWS NOTES
Copyright (c) 2012 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. Each ThyCa News Notes complete issue is also published on this web page: www.thyca.org/news/newsletters/.
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: Leah Guljord, Stephen M., Pat Paillard, Barbara Status, Cherry Wunderlich, and Gary Bloom.
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.
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.