2021 Year in Review
The past couple of years have been notable for many reasons. As we look back on 2021, we reflect on challenges we faced from the very start of the pandemic until now. How did we meet those challenges? A one-word answer comes to mind: community. In a time of isolation and division, we felt it was our responsibility to celebrate our community and build bridges with our nonprofit neighbors.
Community Partnerships
We coordinated and collaborated with other nonprofit organizations. Together with ThyCa, SPOHNC, HNCA and NFOSD, we amplified our reach by merging our audiences, sharing valuable programs and information with them.
Everyday, we strive to meet our threefold mission to advance research, educate physicians, and provide patient and family support. The number of lives we touch and the amount of high-quality information we create continues to grow. We’re very proud of our progress and the commitment we made to our community. Here are a few of our accomplishments from 2021.
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By making a donation today, you can help us do more with our research and reach further with our online resources.
Give in Tribute to Others
Recognize the courage of a friend or relative bravely fighting cancer or make a gift in memory of a loved one.
The THANC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Federal Tax ID 80-0062118).
Your contribution will be tax-deductible under the fullest extent of the law.
Update on Programs & Events
Xerostomia Meeting Focused on Drug Development
Xerostomia—or chronic dry mouth—is a common symptom people experience after radiation treatment. It can also result from other disorders, like Sjogren’s disease. There are currently some products on the market to help people suffering from xerostomia. However, the options available are limited and insufficient, and symptoms do seldom go away.
Fueled by this unmet need, the THANC Foundation along with 3 patient advocacy organizations—the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA), the National Foundation for Swallowing Disorders (NFOSD), and Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer (SPOHNC)—hosted a virtual Externally-Led Patient-Focused Drug Development (EL-PFDD) meeting on August 19, 2021.
10
Patient speakers
10
Patient Testimonials
280+
Attendees
12
Nonprofit partners
Together we gathered valuable feedback from people living with xerostomia and aimed to develop goals for future treatments based on the patient experience. Nearly 300 people attended the meeting where they listened to testimonials and discussions with 20 individuals living with xerostomia.
Research Associates
The THANC Foundation’s Research Associates interact with a team of doctors and scientists to write and publish scientific papers and posters. This year, they gave 8 virtual presentations at head & neck and thyroid-related conferences, they submitted 3 abstracts and they published 15 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. Research Associates stay in touch with patients throughout their cancer journey, collecting data for clinical studies, and reviewing patient charts.
Research Accomplishments
15
Papers published
3
Research abstracts submitted
8
Presentations submitted to virtual seminars
Congratulations to our Senior Research Associates!
John Beute
Gabriella Seo
Alexandra Silberzweig
Welcome to our New Recruits!
Lily Greenberg
Michael Saturno
Lauren Wein
Virtual Seminars in 2021
- 10th International Conference on Head & Neck Cancer of the American Head & Neck Society held on 7/22/2021
- 55th Annual American Society of Head and Neck Radiology Conference held on 9/8/2021
- 90th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association held on 9/30/2021
We Launched TIRO!
In July we launched our newest project: TIRO, the Thyroid Int’l Recommendations Online.
TIRO is a one-stop educational hub for thyroid clinicians. It compares and contrasts international thyroid cancer and thyroid nodule guidelines, white papers and recommendations in a way that identifies where they align and where discrepancies exist.
With the creation of TIRO we aim to provide physicians with up-to-date information on contemporary medical topics. We accomplish this through weekly journal clubs, lectures, tumor boards and round table discussions. A passionate group of experienced, international thyroid specialists lead TIRO’s growth. They created TIRO to improve the medical care and outcomes for those living with these diseases.
We Continued to Improve the THANC Guide
We are guided by our mission to offer high-quality information to patients and families affected by thyroid, head and neck cancer. So far, we fulfilled our promise to create content on the THANC Guide that parents can share with their children.
44
Posts added, year-to-date
38,000+
Monthly visitors
This information can be found in the form of blog posts and permanent additions to the Guide’s content, but we have more to share. In the coming months, we will release a revised series of children’s books and activities that can help shed light on the realities of cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
The cancer journey impacts the whole family. It’s our goal to provide useful and engaging materials for your loved ones—of any age.
Looking for Low Iodine Recipes?
Our cookbook has tons of post-treatment friendly dishes and low-iodine diet recipes. A collection of over 300 treatment-friendly recipes for people undergoing care for cancers of the thyroid and head and neck.
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