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SUPPORT SERVICES ABOUT HOW TO HELP ABOUT ThyCa To view
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ThyCa NEWS
NOTES IN THIS ISSUE Oklahoma’s
First Thyroid Cancer Support Group Formed OKLAHOMA’S FIRST THYROID CANCER SUPPORT GROUP FORMED We are delighted to announce that Oklahoma now has a thyroid cancer support group. Lara Gaston, volunteer in Oklahoma City, has started ThyCa’s newest thyroid cancer support group. This new group will meet on the first Monday evening each month (from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.), starting on July 2nd. For the meeting schedule, location, and contact information, visit the group’s web page: http://www.thyca.org/sg/ok_okcity.htm We invite you to attend a ThyCa support group near you. If there isn’t a support group nearby, consider starting one. Contact support_coord@thyca.org for more information. These groups are a wonderful way to meet and share experiences with other thyroid cancer survivors and caregivers in your area. Support groups are open to people at all phases of testing, treatment, and follow-up, along with caregivers and friends. Groups meet throughout the United States, as well as in Costa Rica and Philippines. For the complete
list of locations, meeting schedules, and facilitator contact information,
as well as information about starting a new support group, visit
ThyCa’s Five Spring Workshops, drew more than 400 attendees from 25 states and Washington, DC. The workshops took place in Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, and Texas. Our thanks to the wonderful physicians, other specialists, survivors and caregivers who made these free events so informative and supportive.
A topic of great interest at our spring workshops, as well as at our conferences, is TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and what is recommended for different patients at different risk levels. Physicians’ presentations and survivors’ and caregivers’ questions focused on TSH levels, and what specialists currently recommend. They discussed TSH levels for initial management as well as differences for long-term management, for patients with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer with different initial extent of disease and different follow-up test results. To aid patient education, the TSH page added to ThyCa’s web site last year and expanded this year gives an overview, developed with extensive input and review from numerous thyroid cancer specialists. http://www.thyca.org/tsh-suppression.htm As with all medical topics, it’s important to consult your own physician for guidance and recommendations tailored to your individual circumstances and medical needs. New Volunteers Step Foward to Help Raise Awareness From North Carolina… From Texas….
“Your web site is very helpful and informative...keep up the great work!”
“It would be great to have some information (brochures, pamphlets, etc.) to give out to my congregation on early detection. Thank you for any information that you can send.” Editor’s Note:
Our web site received more than 270,000 visits in April 2007. Our web site now has more than 600 pages. More than 50 distinguished physicians and the other specialists give ongoing input and review. You’ll find information about treatment and follow-up for all types of thyroid cancer, web pages for each local support group, an article about the new pill cases, the volunteer opportunities page, the latest about our conference hotel and room reservations, and more. Our web site coordinators Betty Solbjor of Massachusetts and Joel Amromin of California, our Publications Committee volunteers, and all our medical reviewers deserve special thanks for your wonderful contributions. We invite everyone to visit www.thyca.org often for the latest updates.
The 5th Annual Schmidt Open Golf Tournament will take place on October 11, 2007. Our thanks to the Schmidt Family for once again organizing this terrific benefit event to support ThyCa’s Thyroid Cancer Research Fund while raising awareness of thyroid cancer at the same time. Our thyroid cancer Research Grants are open to all institutions and all researchers worldwide. Our research fundraising campaign unites survivors, family, friends, neighbors, and loved ones in an international effort to raise funds to combat thyroid cancer. ThyCa’s free support services and awareness programs, and our thyroid cancer research grants, are all made possible through the generosity of our wonderful supporters. We thank you for your support. To find out more about the Golf Tournament, the Rally for Research 2007, and how to support them, visit these pages: 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 support services and resources.
Three-Packs Include Two 7-Day Cases Plus a Pocket Case Thyroid cancer patients, who range from young children through seniors, take a dose of levothyroxine, thyroid hormone replacement, every day for their lifetimes. To help patients keep track of their daily pills, while raising awareness of thyroid cancer and the availability of free support services and education, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. (www.thyca.org) is pleased to offer a handy three-pack of pill cases. Each package includes two seven-day pill cases with large lettering for each day of the week, plus a compact pocket pill case for daily use. The packages of three pill cases are available for $5, and the proceeds benefit ThyCa's outreach, support services, and thyroid cancer research grants. People who join ThyCa as lifetime members receive the three-pack of pill cases at no charge. "We heard many people ask for something to help remember their pills, and we’re here to help," said Leah Guljord, ThyCa Spirit Items Coordinator and thyroid cancer survivor of West Melbourne, Florida. "ThyCa raises awareness year-round to increase early detection, because thyroid cancer is usually treatable when found early. We encourage everyone to ask their doctor for a neck check," said Gary Bloom, ThyCa Board Chair and thyroid cancer survivor of Olney, Maryland. With each order or membership, ThyCa also includes free thyroid cancer awareness brochures and plastic wallet cards listing ThyCa's free services and contact information. ThyCa’s web site has photos of the pill cases, wristbands, pins, and other thyroid cancer awareness items, plus the order form (www.thyca.org/Spirit_Items.htm). Every Month: September 2007: October 19-21,
2007: October 20,
2007: Every day, thousands
of people with thyroid cancer, and their families, are offered support,
education, and hope by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association,
and your generous support is what makes this possible. 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.
We encourage you to send these News Notes to your family and friends. For permission to reprint in another electronic or print publication, please contact us. 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 public awareness for early detection, lifetime health monitoring, and thyroid cancer research fundraising and research grants. E-mail thyca@thyca.org, call 1-877-588-7904, or visit www.thyca.org.
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