ThyCa NEWS NOTES – November 2009

In This Issue

Five Specialists Named to ThyCa’s Medical Advisory Council

We are honored to announce the addition of five distinguished thyroid cancer specialists to our Medical Advisory Council.

We thank the following physicians for becoming ThyCa medical advisors.

  • Douglas W. Ball, M.D.
    Endocrinologist, Specialist in Medullary Thyroid Cancer Management
    The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
    Baltimore, MD
       
  • Gary L. Francis, M.D., Ph.D.
    Endocrinologist, Specialist in Pediatric Thyroid Cancer Management
    VCU Children’s Medical Center
    Richmond, VA
       
  • Gregory Randolph, M.D.
    Otolaryngologist
    Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
    Boston, Massachusetts
       
  • Steven G. Waguespack, M.D.
    Endocrinologist, Specialist in Pediatric Thyroid Cancer Management
    University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
    Houston, Texas
       
  • Leonard Wartofsky, M.D.
    Endocrinologist
    Washington Hospital Center
    Washington, DC

Thank you very much to all the members of our Medical Advisory Council. We greatly appreciate your commitment to the well-being of everyone with thyroid cancer, and the time and expertise you provide to ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.

  • Kenneth D. Burman, M.D., Endocrinologist, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC
  • Mark S. Chambers, D.M.D., M.S., Dentist/Oral Oncologist, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
  • Jeffrey A. Cooper, M.D., Nuclear Medicine Physician, Huron Consulting Group, Washington, DC
  • Robert F. Gagel, M.D., Endocrinologist, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
  • Janis I. Halzel, Pharm.D., Pharmacist, Halzel and Associates, Denver, CO
  • Bryan R. Haugen M.D., Endocrinologist, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO
  • Paul W. Ladenson, M.D., Endocrinologist, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD
  • Stephanie L. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Endocrinologist, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
  • Donald Margouleff, M.D., Nuclear Medicine Physician, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY
  • Ernest L. Mazzaferri, M.D., Endocrinologist, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
  • Bryan McIver, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D., Endocrinologist, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • Mira Milas, M.D., Endocrine Surgeon, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
  • Jeffrey F. Moley, M.D., Surgeon, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • David Myssiorek, M.D., Otolaryngologist, New York University Clinical Cancer Center, New York, NY
  • Yolanda C. Oertel, M.D., Cytopathologist, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC
  • Scot C. Remick, M.D., Medical Oncologist, Babb Randolph Cancer Center, Morgantown, WV
  • Matthew D. Ringel, M.D., Endocrinologist, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
  • Arturo R. Rolla, M.D., Endocrinologist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
  • Pamela Schultz, Ph.D., R.N., M.S., Nursing Professor/Researcher, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
  • Martin Schlumberger, M.D., Endocrinologist, Institute Gustave Roussy, Paris, France
  • Manisha H. Shah, M.D., Oncologist and Hematologist, Ohio State College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
  • Steven I. Sherman, M.D., Endocrinologist University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
  • Peter A. Singer, M.D., Endocrinologist, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
  • Monica C. Skarulis, M.D., Endocrinologist, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
  • Carole A. Spencer, Ph.D., F.A.C.B., Thyroglobulin Researcher, University of Southern California Endocrine Services Laboratory, Los Angeles, CA
  • R. Michael Tuttle, M.D., Endocrinologist, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
  • Douglas Van Nostrand, M.D., Nuclear Medicine Physician, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC
  • Samuel A. Wells, M.D., Surgeon, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD

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ThyCa To Award Two New Research Grants in 2010

In 2010, for the eighth year in a row, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. will award new grants for thyroid cancer research, ThyCa Executive Director Gary Bloom has announced.

ThyCa will award two new grants in 2010. 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 will be available on the ATA web site. The deadline for submission of a proposal summary to the ATA is January 31, 2010. 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.

“We are grateful all our generous donors and volunteers for making these grants possible,” said ThyCa Executive Director Gary Bloom. “More thyroid cancer research is urgently needed, to better understand thyroid cancer and find cures for all thyroid cancer. We greatly appreciate the ATA’s support in our research grant process.”

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
  • 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 Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 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 research fund supports research of medullary thyroid cancer.

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Quarters for a Cure

How many quarters will it take to offer hope for a cure of thyroid cancer?

Please join us in keeping that hope alive by collecting quarters that will further research of our disease. Together, we can really make a difference!

A quarter a week would mean that each of us could donate $12 a year to our Research Funds…we have a Research Fund that includes Papillary, Follicular, Aniplastic and variants, and a separate Research Fund for Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma.

If we all participate, inviting family and friends to join in, we would have a very sizable amount to offer additional Research Grants.

ThyCa is proud to:

  • Be the unique group of thyroid survivors and caregivers who participate in research funding of our own disease.
  • Have offered research grants for the past 7 years totaling $550,000. ThyCa Research grants are open to researchers and institutions worldwide, with awards made by an independent expert review panel of the American Thyroid Association.
  • Announce that advances continue to be made in the treatment of all Thyroid Cancer, in part because of our Research Grants.
  • Every single quarter, meaning 100% of all money received for Research, goes directly to Research.

What a difference a quarter can make. Please join in and send a check in lieu of heavy quarters, to:

ThyCa
P.O. Box 2327
Allen, TX 75013

Designate which Research Fund you are donating to. Donations are tax deductible.

Quarters = Research Research = Hope for a Cure

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Take Part in Three Different Surveys for Thyroid Cancer Patients

Thyroid cancer patients with all types of thyroid cancer are invited and encouraged to take part in three different surveys on thyroid cancer management and patients’ experiences.

The surveys were developed by ThyCa Medical Advisors. Each survey takes just a few minutes to complete. This is a chance for all of us to impact our care going forward.

  • Voice Following Thyroid Cancer Surgery.
  • Radioactive Iodine Treatment.
  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use.

Please complete the surveys as soon as possible. Thank you for your participation.

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Our Free Guestbook

It’s quick and easy to sign up to receive our free online newsletter, as well as announcements of ThyCa events, news about recent developments in thyroid cancer management, and more. 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.

If you move, or change your e-mail address or phone number, you can also use the Guestbook to let us know. Just check the “update” box on the form, and we’ll be able to maintain our connection. Stay connected. Help strengthen the voice of thyroid cancer survivors … it will help us be heard.

Just fill out our Guestbook form.

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.

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Low-Iodine Recipe of the MonthContributed by Frances Stahl of Pennsylvania

Here is a great recipe for the holiday season.

Rice Pudding

3/4 cup raw rice (add 2 1/2 cups water); cook until tender
3 egg whites
1 1/4 cups nut milk (use the nut milk recipe provided on page 43 of ThyCa’s free Low-Iodine Cookbook)
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup raisins (soak them in water for about 15 minutes to half an hour to soften them)

Mix cooked rice along with other ingredients and put into casserole that has been sprayed with some type of acceptable vegetable oil and put casserole into a pan of water and place in oven for 350 degrees for approximately 40 minutes—it may take a bit longer depending upon how thick your nut milk is. Sprinkle cinnamon on top if you desire.

Frances writes, “I cannot thank you enough for providing the info in the Low Iodine Book; I don’t know how I would survived without the recipes. I am lactose intolerant so have avoided dairy products for decades and had become accustomed to soy milk. When I heard I couldn’t use soy milk for this diet, I got myself used to rice milk. Then I found that sea salt is not allowed, so the rice milk was out. The nut milk has been the answer for what to put on my cereal and what to put into many recipes.”

Thank you, Frances! We’ll include this recipe in the next edition of the FREE Downloadable Low-Iodine Cookbook.

Download the 6th edition of the Low-Iodine Cookbook for free, with more than 250 favorite recipes from more than 100 generous volunteers. The Cookbook is also available in Spanish and in 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 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.

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You’re Invited To Become a Member

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 1-year member ($25), 2-year member ($45), or lifetime member ($225). For our secure online Membership form and our mailed Membership form, go to our Membership page.

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Thank You From ThyCa!

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.

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Upcoming Events

  • Every Month. ThyCa’s Thyroid Cancer Support Group Meetings in Your Community.
  • 2010. Free Spring Workshops sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. Details will be posted on the website.
  • 2010 Spring Date to be announced. Washington, DC, Area. 9th Annual Mid-Atlantic Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop. Free.
  • Saturday, April 17, 2010. Kansas City, Missouri. 6th Midwest Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop. At St. Joseph Medical Center, Community Center for Health and Education, 1000 Carondelet Drive, Kansas City, Missouri. Free.
  • Saturday, May 29, 2010. St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Newfoundland and Labrador Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Workshop. Free.
  • September 2010. Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. Plus year-round awareness campaigns. Visit the Raise Awareness page to download free flyers, or request free awareness materials.
  • The 13th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference
    October 15-17, 2010 in Dallas, Texas
    Sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.
    Details on the website
  • The 9th Annual Dinner/Auction Fundraiser for Thyroid Cancer Research.
    Dallas, Texas.
    October 16, 2009 in Dallas, Texas
    Sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.
    Details on the website

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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.

Every day, numerous people distribute ThyCa outreach materials to their physicians making them aware of a resource that can benefit their patients dealing with a thyroid cancer diagnosis.

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.

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Ask ThyCa

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

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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: Joni Eskenazi, Leah Guljord, Pat Paillard, Frances Stahl, 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.