by Mary J. Shomon
From September 8-10, 2000 thyroid cancer survivors from across the United States and Canada will meet in Chevy Chase, Maryland, outside Washington, D.C., for the world’s third annual meeting for the survivors of this rare cancer. The conference is organized by ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to survivors’ issues.
This is an informal, nuts 'n bolts conference where survivors will have a chance to talk face-to-face with other survivors and with leading thyroid cancer specialists in small, intimate group settings. For many, this will be the first time since their diagnosis they have met someone else with this cancer.
Thyroid cancer is not a disease that affects large numbers as does breast and prostate cancer. In the United States, approximately 14,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and fewer than 1500 people will die each year from thyroid cancer.
Professional facilitators include leading physicians and other health careprofessionals from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, National Institutes of Health, North Shore University Hospital, University of Kentucky, Washington Hospital Center and Washington University at St. Louis.
Workshop topics include: Future Trends In Thyroid Cancer Care, Self-care for Comfort and Well Being, Support During the First Year After Diagnosis, Tests and What They Mean, Treatment and Follow-up, Managing the Low Iodine Diet, and Living Well With Hypothyroidismt. Special sessions will include: Ask A Doctor and Ask A Pharmacist. Some complementary and alternative information will be offered, including: Yoga, Reiki and Art Therapy.
The full agenda for the conference is online at the ThyCa website.
Throughout the three day international conference, volunteers will be available in a special research room with Internet access to help participants learn to use the Internet to research medical issues.
Conference organizers are committed to help other survivors because thyroid cancer is a disease that impacts everyone from the time of diagnosis for the rest of their lives. They must learn to cope with a strict regimen of daily medications plus the impact of periodic tests and treatments that can significantly affect the quality of their lives. ThyCa’s annual international conference is only one of the resources the newly incorporated non-profit volunteer organization has created to help survivors around the world.
"Talking with other survivors and learning from their experience," says Gary Bloom of Olney, MD, Chair of the ThyCa Board of Directors and Facilitator of the Washington, DC ThyCa Support Group, "is an important part of living with this disease. Until 1997, when a group of survivors began to build a worldwide network of free services for survivors, we lived in complete isolation. Now we have four mailing lists, a weekly chat room on the Internet dedicated to survivors’ issues and a newly formed Survivors’ Information Help Line. Our award winning web site has guidelines for radiation and other treatments and receives more than 40,000 visitors each month. Now, within a few minutes, someone newly diagnosed can access information about their disease, learn about treatment options and find links to the best medical information in the world."
The cost of the conference is $35 for members of ThyCa, $40 for nonmembers. More conference information and online registration information are available at ThyCa’s web page at www.thyca.org, by e-mail at conference@thyca.org, by writing to ThyCa 2000 Conference Registration, PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545 until August 1, 2000, or by phone, at the ThyCa Survivors’ Toll-Free Telephone Service (877-588-7904).
| Event: | 3rd Annual THYroid CAncer Survivors' Conference The ONLY conference in the world for survivors of this rare cancer. |
| Name | ThyCa 2000 |
| Dates | 8-10 September 2000 |
| Place | National 4-H Conference Center, Chevy Chase, MD 7100 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Case, MD 20815 |
| Cost | $40 per person for nonmembers $35 per person for members; $30 for lifetime members |
| Organized by | ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. |
| Web site | www.thyca.org |
| Address | ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. PO Box 1545, New York, NY 10159-1545 |
| Phone: | Toll Free Survivors’ Information Number: 877-588- 7904 |
About ThyCa -- Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc.
ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. is a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides services and resources to thyroid cancer survivors and their families. Its resources are available through its web site at www.thyca.org, local support group contacts and its annual conferences.
Services and resources include: A web site, Internet Mailing Lists (the mailing listsavailable include a general survivors group, a pediatric group, plus groups for those diagnosed with medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer), local support groups , plus annual national and regional survivors' conferences.
Weekly Chat: ThyCa's weekly chat is held at America Online, Monday evenings, 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. EST. Keyword is Glenna.
Local Support Groups -- There are a number of groups local groups, in California, Canada, Florida, Kentucky, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. Visit the ThyCa site for more information and schedules of support group meetings.
Internet Support Groups / Mailing Lists
- ThyCa E-mail Listserv: To subscribe, address e-mail to majordomo@world.std.com. Write subscribe thyca in the message portion of the e-mail. No archive is available.
- Medullary E-mail Listserv:. An archive is also available.
- Anaplastic E-mail Listserv. An archive is also available.
- Pediatric Thyca E-mail Listserv. An archive is also available.
- An Introduction to Thyroid Cancer -- Excellent overview and introduction to thyroid cancer information.
- ThyCa '99 -- An overview of last year's ThyCa conference.
- Thyroid Cancer Outreach Network -- a support service for newly diagnosed patients.
- Thyroid Cancer -- Articles, resources, and information with further information on thyroid cancer
- Thyroid Cancer Types -- Information on papillary, medullary, follicular and anaplastic thyroid cancers.
- Nodules/Goiter -- Articles, resources, and information with further information on thyroid nodules and goiter
- Thyroid Surgery -- Articles, resources, and information with further information on thyroid surgery
- Thyroid Cancer & Hypothyroidism -- A chapter offers key guidelines on coping with hypothyroidism after thyroid cancer
- Thyroid Library -- There are a number of important books that you should consider reading as part of your knowledge and understanding of thyroid disease and what you can do to ensure your best possible treatment. Find out more at the Thyroid Library!
- About.com Thyroid Newsletter -- weekly newsletter with updates on new features and new information here at the website. You can also sign up here:
- Monthly Thyroid Disease News Report -- monthly in-depth reporting on the latest conventional and alternative news from around the world related to thyroid disease. You can also sign up here:
We have 5 forums where you can share and exchange information, support and camaraderie with other people interested in thyroid disease, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- General Thyroid Forum -- For discussions on diagnosis, treatment, and news related to hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, goiter, and cancer.
- Thyroid Diet and Weight Loss Forum -- Special focus on weight loss, diet, exercise, and nutritional support for thyroid disease.
- Thyroid Top Doctors Forum -- Suggest a great doctor who treats thyroid disease, or look for a great one, by region of the country and around the world. A great place to find the innovative, patient-oriented doctors who understand thyroid disease.
- Alternative Medicine Options for Thyroid Disease Forum -- Talk about alternative ways to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
- Enfermedades de Tiroide / Espanol (Thyroid Forum in Spanish)
Visit our chatroom anytime, for discussion, support and a sense that you're not alone with your thyroid disease.
Find Great Thyroid Doctors
- THYROID HOW-TO! -- How to Find a Top Thyroid Doctor
- Thyroid Top Doc Directory-- The Directory features the best patient-recommended doctors in the US and around the world, searchable by state or country.
- Thyroid Top Doctors Forum -- Suggest a great doctor who treats thyroid disease, or look for a great one, by region of the country and around the world. A great place to find the innovative, patient-oriented doctors who understand thyroid disease.
