| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2005 |
For more information, please contact the ATA at thyroid@thyroid.org. |
The Future of Thyroid Cancer and a Free Health Event for the Public
Highlight Thyroid Specialist Meeting in Baltimore
Experts Explore Frontiers in Thyroid Cancer: Clinical Care and Research for the Future
For the first time, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) will bring together experts and specialists — from the United States and around the world — to share the newest information in thyroid cancer clinical care and research findings. The meeting, held in cooperation with the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), will take place April 14–17, 2005, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore.
Patient Information From Experts and Survivors
The public is invited to a free educational forum on thyroid disorders and their treatment that will be held on April 13th from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the Waterview Room at the Baltimore Marriott. Thyroid experts and patients will be on hand to answer questions from patients, their families, and other attendees. This forum is presented by the ATA Alliance for Thyroid Patient Education, which includes the Thyroid Foundation of America, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, National Graves’ Disease Foundation, and the Light of Life Foundation.
In conjunction with the meeting, the ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association’s 4th Annual Mid-Atlantic Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Spring Workshop will take place on April 16 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., also at the Baltimore Marriott. This free educational and supportive event is open for people living with thyroid cancer, their families, and others. Physician specialists will present information and answer questions about the disease, while thyroid cancer survivors and families will share their own personal stories in roundtable discussions.
Thyroid cancer survivors, health care professionals, and supporters are also invited to a “Casino Night” research fundraiser on April 16 from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. at the Baltimore Marriott. The event is sponsored by ThyCa, in cooperation with the Light of Life Foundation.
Insight Into Current and Future Care Issues
Top researchers in the field will focus on the following topics:
- The incidence of thyroid cancer. Why the incidence of thyroid cancer, as well as death rates among men, are rising more rapidly than any other form of cancer.
- Development of novel therapies. The current development and testing of new “targeted therapies” for thyroid cancer, especially a new class of drugs, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, that may have great potential in the treatment of thyroid cancer.
- Development of new thyroid cancer guidelines. The ATA will present a near final set of evidence-based thyroid cancer guidelines outlining recommended standards of quality care for thyroid patients.
- The genetic mechanisms of thyroid cancer. The molecular events that lead to thyroid cancer and how they provide a better understanding of how cancers develop and how this may guide future therapies.
New Web Site Initiatives
In the exhibit area, the ATA will be unveiling pilots of three soon-to-be launched web initiatives:
- Thyroid Clinical Trials Web Site – This first-of-its-kind web site is dedicated to providing listings and information on all current thyroid clinical trials.
- Pharmacovigilance Web Site – The web site will contain information about any reported adverse effects of thyroid medications experienced by patients.
- Thyroid Cancer Roadmap – The web site will provide information about new developments in basic, translational, and clinical research regarding the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer for professionals and patients.
Fellows Track
The ATA is offering a 2005 Endocrine Fellows Conference during the meeting, called “New Concepts and Directions in Thyroidology.” This targeted track will provide fellows with opportunities for skill enhancement and give them insight into a broad range of thyroid care issues as well as offer hands-on experience with ultrasound machines and access to technicians and respected leaders in the field.
For complimentary media registration, go to —
http://www.thyroid.org/ann_mtg/2005_Frontiers_in_Thyroid_Cancer/documents/Registrationbrochure.pdf. Fill out the registration form, noting complimentary media status, and fax it to 678-341-3081.
The American Thyroid Association is a nonprofit professional medical society composed of physicians and scientists dedicated to enhancing the understanding of thyroid physiology and pathophysiology, improving diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases, and promoting the education of physicians, patients, and the public about thyroid disorders.
# # #
