ThyCa NEWS NOTES – June 2013

In This Issue:

 


New Web Site Enhancements are Here!

We’re pleased to announce that our web site www.thyca.org has a new look and many enhancements. We’re keeping all our current content, and adding more. Visit our web site often for thyroid cancer news, events, and connections with others who are coping with this disease.

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Clinical Trial Shows Positive Results for Nexavar®

At a plenary session at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, in June, positive results were presented from a Phase 3 Clinical Trial on the use of Nexavar® (sorafenib) tablets in thyroid cancer patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, variants) that had spread and did not respond to radioactive iodine.

The drug’s manufacturer, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported that these results mean that a supplementary New Drug Application for sorafenib for the treatment of RAI-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer will be submitted in mid-2013 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with additional submissions to follow globally.

Sorafenib is currently approved in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. It is also approved in 100 countries. 

More details about the clinical trial and its results are on our web site.

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Questionnaire Study Open for Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC) Survivors 

If you have Medullary Thyroid Cancer, you are being invited to take part online in a study of possible causes of MTC.

Researchers at Yale University School of Medicine and Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, CT, are enrolling participants.

The invitation letter for the studycan be reviewed here.

If you have MTC, please take part. If someone you know has MTC, please tell them about this study.

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Australia Adds ThyCa Support Group

Welcome to the new ThyCa Canberra, Australia, support group! Thank you to Leanne O’Connor for starting this group! Details and web pages for all the ThyCa Support Groups, in Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, and United States, are in the Support section of our website. 

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Physician Speaker in Rochester, New York on July 9

ThyCa Rochester, New York, presents Stephen R. Hammes, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of Endocrinology at University of Rochester Medical Center. The topics are Thyroid Replacement Therapy and Management; Recurrent Disease, on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Gilda’s Club Rochester. Free. Everyone interested is welcome!

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Dentist and Speech Specialist to Speak in Fresno, California, on July 13

ThyCa Fresno, California, presents two guest speakers July 13 from 10 a.m. to noon. Dr. Catherine Lambetecchio, a Fresno dentist, will speak about salivary, dry mouth, and dental issues. Debbie Moore, M.A., CCC-SLP, Speech Pathology Coordinator at San Joaquin Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, will speak about swallowing and voice changes related to thyroid cancer, thyroidectomy, and other thyroid issues. Free. Details on the group’s web page on our website in the Support section.

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789 Miles So Far, for Thyroid Cancer Awareness and Fundraising!

Congratulations and thank you, Jennifer Smart, for your terrific hike for Thyroid Cancer Awareness, as well as your fundraising for ThyCa’s thyroid cancer research grants, services, and support! Read Jennifer’s story of her 2,650-mile hike, & more, on our Rally for Research page. Find out how you can support Jennifer’s fundraising by donating to ThyCa.  

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Who’s coming to the Conference in September?

Already people from 18 states, Canada, & India have registered! We’ll soon start introducing speakers. For past years’ programs plus this year’s advance registration, hotel details, and more, visit our Conferences page. Hope you can join us in Philadelphia Sept. 27-29.

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26 Speakers Already Confirmed!

Come to 16th Annual International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference and learn from experts on every type and situation with thyroid cancer, as well as on coping with the emotional and practical impacts of living with thyroid cancer.

We’re excited to have already confirmed 26 speakers, from

  • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Ohio State University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
  • and numerous other leading thyroid cancer centers

Registration and hotel room reservations ($99 special rate) are now open. Come for 1, 2, or all 3 days of learning, discovery, sharing experiences, camaraderie, and new friendships!

And remember, scholarships are available on request to cover the registration fee (simply check the scholarship box on the form). Save the dates! We look forward to seeing you there. 

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Free Newsletters and Guestbook

We invite you to join our worldwide community. We want to help you stay connected and informed about thyroid cancer news. And, with your help, we’ll 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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Latest News From the Rally for Research

We’ll soon announce our newest Thyroid Cancer Research Grants. We are proud to have awarded more than $1 million in thyroid cancer research grants to researchers in 5 countries, thanks to your wonderful support!

ThyCa’s Research Grants are open to institutions and researchers worldwide, with grant recipients selected by an independent expert panel of the American Thyroid Association.

Read more here, and find out how you can help, on the official Rally for Research page.

Thank you!

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Low-Iodine Recipe of the Month
Contributed by Patricia W.

Vegetable Stock

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped into 1-inch cubes
2 ribs celery including leaves, cut into1-inch pieces
2 large carrots, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 bunch green onions, chopped
8 cloves of garlic, minced
8 sprigs fresh parsley
6 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon plain salt (non-iodized)
2 quarts water

Chop scrubbed vegetables. The greater the surface area the more quickly they will yield their flavor. Heat oil in a soup pot. Add the next 8 ingredients. Cook over high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add plain salt and water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes. Strain. Discard vegetables. Makes 1 1/4 quarts of stock. For variations, mushrooms, asparagus ends, corn cobs, fennel, bell pepper, pea pods, chard, celery root parings, basil, marjoram, and even potato peels may be used.

Patricia writes: “Several recipes in the Low-Iodine Cookbook call for vegetable stock, so having it prepared ahead is a real help. So much of the ready-to-use ones are high in sodium, and it might not be clear if they are seasoned with plain salt.”

Thank you, Patricia for this and your other great recipes! We will include them in the next edition of ThyCa’s FREE Downloadable Low-Iodine Cookbook.

Free and Downloadable

Click here to 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.

To contribute your favorite recipe or tip, send it to recipes@thyca.org.

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World Thyroid Cancer Congress: ThyCa Will Be There!

The World Thyroid Cancer Congress opens on July 10 and continues through July 14. This important event educates physicians from around the world to Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Bryan McIver, M.B., Ph.D., Gregory W. Randolph, M.D., Steven I. Sherman, M.D., and R. Michael Tuttle, M.D., ThyCa Medical Advisors, are organizers of this event. ThyCa will be there!

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New Videos with Marcia S. Brose, M.D., Ph.D. 

Three new videos will soon be available on ThyCa’s Video Page.

  • The Stigma of Being Diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer
  • Thyroid Cancer Introduction
  • Advances in Thyroid Cancer Care & Research

Dr. Brose is a ThyCa Medical Advisor.

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Know Someone (you?) Newly Diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer?

We have a free patient information packet and mail it to people around the world. It has the handbook Thyroid Cancer Basics, and much more, including some materials to share with your physician. To request your copy, or a copy for someone you know, go to our Free Packet page.

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Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month Coming Soon! 

Partner with ThyCa for Worldwide Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month in September. Get tools, tips, and free materials anytime. Help promote early detection, treatment, lifelong monitoring, and connections to free services, events, and more resources.

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Follow Us on Social Media

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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, in the time you give and in financial contributions, is what makes it possible to sustain, strengthen, and expand our services and outreach.

It only takes a minute to volunteer your time by e-mailing to volunteer@thyca.org or 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.

Thank you!

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About ThyCa NEWS NOTES and ThyCa
Copyright (c) 2013 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.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization (tax ID #52-2169434) of thyroid cancer survivors, family members, and health care professionals serving people worldwide and dedicated to education, support, communication, and fundraising for thyroid cancer research.

ThyCa sponsors the annual International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference, as well as Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, a worldwide observance each September, plus year-round awareness campaigns, research funding, and thyroid cancer research grants.

Contact us for free materials and information. 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.