Free Newsletter & Information Packet|Chinese|Spanish|Other Languages
DONATE ONLINE|SHOP|Press Room|About Us|Site Search

ThyCa News

ThyCa News Notes - September 2014

11/2014

In This Issue:

ThyCa Adds YouTube Channel! 

Watch and listen to the Webinars with Experts on ThyCa’s YouTube Channel. We’ve also added more thyroid cancer videos to our YouTube Channel.  

top of page

New Thyroid Cancer Awareness Graphics! 

Three new Thyroid Cancer Awareness Graphics are now on our Raise Awareness page. 

Use them on your Facebook page, your blog, and your e-mails. 

Help others find thyroid cancer early, when it’s usually treatable. 

Connect people with the free handbooks, support groups, the Conference, and more events to help their quality of life and give the latest medical information to aid their care. 



top of page

Lenvatinib Approval Sought from FDA 

Eisai, the manufacturer of lenvatinib (E7080), has submitted a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of lenvatinib to treat patients who have progressive, radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, and variants). 

The FDA review timeline will be set in mid-October, with the fastest possible decision to take place in 6 months. 

For more information about lenvantinib, visit our lenvatinib information page.

top of page 

FDA Committee Recommends Approval of Natpara®

The Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has voted 8 to 5 to recommend that the FDA approve Natpara® (rhPTH[1-84]) for the long-term treatment of Hypoparathyroidism. The FDA is expected to make its decision by October 24, 2014. 

ThyCa Executive Director Gary Bloom was one of 14 members of the public who spoke in support of approval at the FDA meeting on September 12. Our web site will soon add a page with more information about Natpara® and the FDA, and the discussion of Hypoparathyroidism at the Conference in October will also give an update.

Hypoparathyroidism is an endocrine disorder, involving low calcium levels in the blood, experienced by some people with thyroid cancer due to damage or removal of the parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery. After thyroid surgery, symptoms of low calcium levels include muscle spasms as well as tingling and numbness, especially in the hands or feet. ThyCa’s web site and handbooks have more information. 

Natpara® was developed by NPS Pharmaceuticals. 

top of page

Thyroid Cancer In the News

Physicians’ Weekly, Wall Street Journal, Patient Access Network, American Thyroid Association, and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists are among numerous organizations focusing on thyroid cancer awareness this month. 

Thank you!

Here are links to a few of the recent features: 

  • The Wall Street Journal interviewed ThyCa Executive Director Gary Bloom for its article titled “Should You Get Cancer Screenings?”
  • The Pennsylvania, Trib Live interviewed surgeons David Goldenberg, M.D. and Linwah Yip, M.D., and thyroid cancer survivor Chris Sypien, focusing on Pennsylvania’s rising rate of thyroid cancer.  
  • In Missouri, the Daily Journal highlighted the importance of early detection and interviewed, 39-year thyroid cancer survivor Theresa Wickerham, ThyCa Program Coordinator and St. Louis Support Group Co-Facilitator. 
  • KRQE TV 13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, interviewed an endocrine surgeon.

top of page 

Colorful Awareness Display!

 Jennifer K. writes, “I have felt honored this month by raising thyroid cancer awareness in the beauty salon where I work. People seem to really appreciate all the literature donated by ThyCa.” Thank you, Jennifer!

top of page

Raising Awareness with Scarfies4ThyCa

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc., is pleased to collaborate with Scarfies4Thyca in this social media campaign for Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month.

We invite you to take part if you’re on Facebook, Twitter, or both, and to send us your photos with your permission to share them. Find out more. 

Amanda DeForge is one of many who sent photos. She writes, “Here's my scarfie! My scarfie photo was taken 2 weeks after my surgery, which was 4 weeks after my youngest was born (she is the one in the bottom photo). The other photos are of my girls this week in support of me!”



top of page

Scarfies4Thyca in the Family 


Chuck, Alvina, and Patrick are wearing their scarfies4thyca, for Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month! They live in Arizona. 

Patrick has been actively raising awareness about thyroid cancer since his diagnosis. His story is on our web site in last month’s newsletter.

Thank you for this great family effort!

 

Read more about Scarfies4thyca.

 

Proceeds from Award-Winning Novel Contribute to ThyCa

In honor of Thyroid Cancer Awareness month, medullary thyroid cancer survivor and author David Kalish will donate half of profits from his new novel in September, as welll as proceeds during the conference in October, to ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association. 

“The Opposite of Everything” is a comic and inspirational twist on David's journey through cancer and divorce, to treatment and renewal. A medullary thyroid cancer survivor is the main character in the award-winning humorous novel. The book is available through Amazon. Thank you, David!

top of page

Free Thyroid Screenings in Augusta, Georgia 

On Tuesday, September 30, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, the Georgia Regents University Thyroid and Parathyroid Center in Augusta, Georgia, will offer free public thyroid screenings by endocrinologists and endocrine surgeons, 

The screenings will include free physical exams, risk assessments, and ultrasounds. The event will take place in the Otolaryngology office in the GWU Health Medical Office Building. We’ll add details to the Calendar on our web site. 

Thank you to William S. Duke, M.S., and the physicians for holding this event again this year. ThyCa is pleased to provide awareness materials for the participants.

top of page

Send Us Your Stories and Photos! 

Please send your stories and photographs of your awareness efforts to publications@thyca.org.  We’ll try to include them in an upcoming Bulletin.  

top of page  

Take the ThyCa 30 Day Awareness Challenge!

Give hope, help, and support to all of us dealing with a thyroid cancer diagnosis by donating $30 (that’s just $1 per day) or whatever you can spare––for Thyroid Cancer Research.  

Donations can be made online . 

Or donate by mail.

The ThyCa 30 Day Awareness Challenge is sponsored by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc., sponsor of Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. 

Thank you! 

top of page

The Conference Speaker Roster Grows!

We’re honored to introduce more distinguished experts who will speak at the 17th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Conference coming up on October 17, 18, and 19 in Denver, Colorado! 

Join us for 1, 2, or all 3 days. Get all the details and early-bird registration (the early-bird deadline is September 17) as well as hotel rooms at the special rate, at www.thyca.org. 

  • Monica Fawzy Bryant, Esq., J.D., is a Cancer Rights Attorney specializing in health insurance, employment, and disability issues at Triage Cancer in Chicago, Illinois. She has led multiple sessions at past ThyCa conferences. 
  • Thomas J. Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., is a Pathologist at the University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he directs the Director, Tissue and Molecular Pathology Core as well as the Molecular Pathology Research Laboratory. 
  • Raymon Grogan, M.D., is an Endocrine Surgeon at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois. 
  • Elizabeth G. Grubbs, M.D., M.S., is a Surgeon at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. 
  • Kimi Kondo, D.O., is an Interventional Radiologist at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, Colorado. 
  • Michael A. Levine, M.D., is a Pediatric Endocrinologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 
  • Beverly McClaughlin is the Patient Affairs Coordinator for the Endocrine Neoplasm Programs at the University of Colorado in Denver. 
  • Nayana Patel, M.D., is a Radiologist and Associate Professor of Radiology-Body Imaging at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, Colorado. 
  • Christopher D. Raeburn, M.D., is a Surgeon at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver, Colorado. 
  • Rebecca E. Schweppe, Ph.D., is a Researcher at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, focusing on novel molecular targets relevant to papillary and anaplastic thyroid cancer.
  • Joyce J. Shin, M.D., is an Endocrine Surgeon at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. 
  • R. Michael Tuttle, M.D., is an Endocrinologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York City, New York. Dr. Tuttle is a ThyCa Medical Advisor and has spoken at many ThyCa conferences.
  •  Kimberly Vanderveen, M.D., M.A.S., is an Endocrine Surgeon at the Denver Center for Endocrine Surgery in Denver, Colorado. 

We will continue to add information to our Conferences page.

We look forward to seeing you in October!

top of page  

Invitation to the Dinner/Auction Research Fundraiser, and for Auction Item Donations 

The 13th Annual Dinner/Auction for Thyroid Cancer Research will be a memorable evening of camaraderie and fundraising for vitally needed thyroid cancer research. 

This wonderful event takes place on Saturday, October 18, in Denver, Colorado. 

You’re invited to join us. Whether you join us, or even if you can’t come, please send a financial donation or an item for the auction. Gift cards, handcrafted items, and other goods or services are welcome. Find out more by emailing to fundraising@thyca.org. 

top of page 

Creative Awareness at a Fitness Center

Tamara Chapman writes from Louisville, Kentucky: 

“I thought I'd let you know what I'm doing to raise awareness this September!  I teamed up with the local barre fitness studio (B You Fitness) where I work out. 

“They featured me in their e-mail newsletter, and I put pamphlets, neck check cards, and information about ThyCa all around the studios. They are also doing ‘ThyCa Thursdays,’ where they put ThyCa facts on their Facebook page each week. I am SO excited and grateful that they helped me do all this, and I just hope the information helps someone.  

“Thanks for sending the pamphlets and neck check cards!”  


 

Thank you, Tamara! 

top of page 

The Awareness Display in the Park 

Each week, Yolanda Roberts is hosting a Thyroid Cancer Awareness Display Table in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

She writes, “I recently requested awareness materials to set up a table at our community Oldies In The Park event every Thursday.” 

“I wanted to bring awareness to the community, so every Thursday for the month of September I will be setting a table up with the awareness material as well as ribbons I made for people to wear to bring awareness.” 

“I even had my nails polished and designed to go with the Thyroid Cancer Awareness colors.”  :)  

Terrific efforts, Yolanda! 

 

top of page

Outreach at the Palmyra Canal Town Days 

Volunteers of the ThyCa Rochester, New York, Support Group will take part in this year's Palmyra Canal Town Days in Palmyra, New York, all day on September 13 and 14th.  The volunteers will raise awareness of thyroid cancer and share information about the local support group in Rochester. 

The ThyCa Rochester Support Group meets on the second Tuesday evening of each month as well. 

top of page

Authors Supporting Thyroid Cancer Awareness and Research: Online Event

New author and thyroid cancer survivor, Laurie Wetzel, who wrote “Unclaimed”, has joined with fellow authors to raise awareness and funds for thyroid cancer research an online book auction on September 19. All money raised will be donated to ThyCa!  

Thank you for your great support, Laurie and friends!

top of page 

Visit the Easy “One-Click” Calendar To Find Thyroid Cancer Events

Thyroid cancer events take place in lots of locations every week. Dates and details are easy to find with just one click from the Home Page of our web site. 

Go to our home page for the Events Calendar link. Or click here. 

top of page

Thyroid Cancer Awareness Efforts Going Strong! 

Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month has had terrific participation! 

More than 1,100 people shared ThyCa’s Facebook graphic/cover photo for Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month on their own Facebook pages. Lots of people shared the official press release and contact information, plus announcements of educational and supportive events. Thank you!

More ways to reach your friends and relatives— forward and share the weekly online newsletter, download free flyers and graphics from the Raise Awareness Page, and ask us to mail you free brochures, neck check cards, patient information handbooks, and added handouts. 

We’re grateful to the 19 terrific ThyCa volunteers who established this international thyroid cancer awareness observance in 2000, and then expanded it to the full month of September. 

Each year, more people actively get involved in Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month and spread the word through face-to-face events, and using social media to reach more people around the world. 

Thank you very much to all the dedicated volunteers worldwide. You are helping your friends, families, and coworkers by connecting them with the free thyroid cancer information reviewed by thyroid cancer specialists, as well as free support services, and a wide array of events. 

Three easy links: 

Together, we’re helping early detection, connections to support and educational events with experts, and research for cures for all thyroid cancer. 

Our combined great efforts are making a difference! 



top of page

 Display for Thyroid Cancer Awareness

The ThyCa Fresno, California Support Group set up a Thyroid Cancer Awareness Window Display at the Woodward Park Library in Fresno. 

Thank you to Anjali Kapoor-Davis and Miriam Delfin, the support group’s facilitators, and Denise Grayson, Vashie Miller, and Lisa Gomez Moralez, for your great efforts! 

Please send your stories and photographs of your awareness efforts to publications@thyca.org.  We’ll try to include them in an upcoming Bulletin.  

top of page

Window Display for Thyroid Cancer Awareness 

The ThyCa Fresno, California Support Group set up a Thyroid Cancer Awareness Window Display at the Woodward Park Library in Fresno. 

Thank you to Anjali Kapoor-Davis and Miriam Delfin, the support group’s facilitators, and Denise Grayson, Vashie Miller, and Lisa Gomez Moralez, for your great efforts! 

Please send your stories and photographs of your awareness efforts to publications@thyca.org.  We’ll try to include them in an upcoming Bulletin.  

Free Seminars in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois 

Visit our Calendar Page for these events, support group meetings in many locations every week, and more.

  • Waterbury, Connecticut, on the evening of September 10. Dr. Jerome O. Sugar, Otolaryngologist will speak on Current Genome Advances in Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis, hosted by the ThyCa Waterbury, Connecticut, Support Group. Light snacks begin at 6 p.m. and the presentation with Q&A starts at 7 p.m.
  • Redondo Beach, California, Saturday, September 13. Dr. Dennis R. Maceri, Otolaryngologist from the University of Southern California Ambulatory Care Health Center, will speak at the September meeting of the ThyCa South Bay L.A. support group. 
  • Chicago, Illinois, on the evening of September 16. Dr. Brian W. Kim, Endocrinologist from Rush University Medical Center, will be the guest speaker at the meeting of the ThyCa Chicago Support Group. He will discuss treatment options, guidelines, and long-term management. 
  • Orlando, Florida, Thyroid Cancer Patient Education Day, Saturday, September 20, with 5 physician speakers, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Hyatt Regency Orlando/ Hosted by the Endocrine Surgery Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, in collaboration with ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.

top of page

New Support Groups Begin Meeting in Hawaii, Texas, and Virginia

Visit the Local Support Group pages for details about these thyroid cancer support groups, plus more than 110 local support groups across the United States and in Australia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Philippines. We also help new groups form. Read more on the Local Support Groups page.

top of page

Your Donations at Work—Supporting Research

Thanks to your generous donations, both small and large, ThyCa has awarded 6 thyroid cancer research grants in 2014, and 47 research grants in all, for a total of more than $1.3 million dollars! 

Together we can work toward our dreams of a world free of thyroid cancer. 

Our grants support research on all types of thyroid cancer— papillary, follicular, variants, medullary, and anaplastic. 

We’re proud to be in our 14th year of fundraising for research for cures for all thyroid cancer. Our grants are open to researchers and institutions worldwide. 

You’re invited to join the ThyCa Rally for Research. 

Visit our Rally for Research page to learn more and to donate.

Thank you!

top of page

Low-Iodine Recipe of the Month: Granola Bars
Contributed by Barb K.

Homemade Granola Bars

2 cups oatmeal
1 cup sliced unsalted almonds
3 Tablespoons walnut oil
2/3 cup honey
1/4 cup brown sugar
1  teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon noniodized salt
1 cup dried fruit.  Choose one, or mix:  apricots, cherries, raisins, dates, cranberries.

Preheat the oven to 350.  

Combine oatmeal and almonds and toast on a cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes.  When they're done, reduce oven temperature to 300. 

In a large pot, combine the walnut oil, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and boil one minute. 

When oats and almonds are toasted, add them to the boiled mixture and stir well.  Stir in dried fruit. 

Pour the mixture into a well greased baking dish.  Use a 9x9 pan for thicker bars and 9x13 for thinner bars.  Press down with greased fingers.  

Bake 25-30 minutes or until browned on top.  Cool completely before cutting.  They will be difficult to get out of the pan, but so worth it! 

Thank you, Barb! We will include your recipe in the next edition of ThyCa’s FREE Downloadable Low-Iodine Cookbook. 

Free and Downloadable: Click on the Cookbook link on our home page 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.

top of page

#ThyCaTalk Generates Awareness Buzz on Twitter 

In June, we initiated our first game on social media to build buzz for Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month and to have a little fun while we were doing it. And we have ... had fun, that is! 

#ThyCaTalk #trivia is an opportunity for @ThyCaInc Twitter followers to answer trivia questions about ThyCa and thyroid cancer for a chance to win a variety of prizes, including T-shirts, ThyCa memberships, and a Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Annual Conference registration. 

Each week through September, we draw one winner from all those who submit correct responses. Winners have come from four countries— Canada, Chile, Mexico and United States! U.S. winners hailed from 13 states, in every region -- from California to Maryland, Louisiana to Minnesota, and South Carolina to Massachusetts. 

On September 30th, we'll host our final #ThyCaTalk trivia for 2014. Join us @ThyCaInc on Twitter for your chance to win a one-year ThyCa membership. Also, in the first week of October, we'll hold a drawing from everyone who participated in #ThyCaTalk for a special prize pack. We'll announce the winner on Twitter. 

Thank you to everyone for playing and creating awareness about thyroid cancer. 

top of page

Follow Us

 

Our support of each other —whether giving or receiving —is an incredible gift. Thank you for joining us.

top of page

It Only Takes One Minute 

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 possible our services and Thyroid Cancer Research Grants.  

It only takes a minute to make a donation online in support of ThyCa's services and research funding (or you are welcome to donate by mail to ThyCa, P.O. Box 1102, Olney, MD 20830-1102). 

We thank you in advance for your support!  

top of page

About this Newsletter and ThyCa

Copyright (c) 2014 ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. 

This newsletter and ThyCa’s many other services and thyroid cancer research grants are made possible through the generous contributions from our donors and volunteers. Thank you! 

We invite everyone’s contributions, small or large, financial and volunteer service. Together we make a difference! 

You’re invited to share this newsletter with your family and friends. If you would like to suggest further topics or contribute an article, please contact us at publications@thyca.org. 

Thank you to our writing, editing, and proofreading team for this issue: Kristy F., Leah Guljord, Barb K., Pat Paillard, Barb Statas, Theresa Wickerham, Cherry Wunderlich, and Gary Bloom. 

The information 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, awareness for early detection through Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month and year-round campaigns, and fundraising for thyroid cancer research. 

Visit our website for information about thyroid cancer, events, and how to help. Ask 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.