Resources

Patient Support

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization of thyroid cancer survivors, family members, and healthcare professionals. They are dedicated to support, education, and communication for thyroid cancer survivors, their families and friends. They also sponsor Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, year-round awareness activities, and thyroid cancer research fundraising and research grants.

The 4th Angel Mentoring Program.
We partnered with The Scott Hamilton CARES initiative at the Cleveland Clinic and its 4th Angel Mentoring Program, which offers free, one-on-one, confidential outreach and support from someone who has walked the path of a head and neck or thyroid patient.

CancerCare provides free, professional support for anyone affected by cancer. You can speak to an oncology social worker, connect to support groups (online, over the phone, or in person), learn from leading oncology experts, read about cancer-related topics, and find financial help and resources.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Patient Resources

View National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) resources for people with cancer and caregivers, including guidelines, language translations, webinars and more.


The THANC Guide is a comprehensive resource to help you and your loved ones understand and prepare for every step of the cancer journey. You will find information for both patients and caregivers on diagnosis, treatments, dealing with emotions, how you can help and much more. Developed by doctors who specialize in treating head and neck cancers and designed with the input of patients, caregivers and their loved ones, the THANC Guide is the most complete resource of its kind.


National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders (NFOSD) The National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders provides patients hope and improves quality of life for those suffering from all types of swallowing disorders. They offer virtual support groups for adults and for parents of children with swallowing disorders.

The Cancer Hope Network (CHN) is a national, non-profit support organization, which offers free, 1-on-1 emotional support to adult cancer patients and their families. The support is provided via telephone by 400 trained volunteers who have been through a similar experience, have recovered, and are once again leading productive lives. By giving recently diagnosed patients the gift of hope, the CHN helps them to successfully cope with their cancer and its treatment.

Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA). Through united and collaborative efforts, the HNCA provides support to head and neck cancer patients throughout the year, supports ongoing research in head and neck oncology and educates children and adults in the disease process, treatment and prevention of oral, head and neck cancer.

SPOHNC (Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer). Founded in 1991, Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer, (SPOHNC) is a self-help organization involved in the development of programs of support. SPOHNC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which has become a vital component of the healing process for head and neck cancer patients. It has had an enormous positive impact on meeting the psychosocial needs of patients as well as preserving, restoring, and promoting physical and emotional health. A support organization, such as SPOHNC, can also be the foundation for patient and family education and awareness.

Light of Life Foundation. The mission of the Light of Life Foundation is to improve the quality of life of thyroid cancer patients through continual education of the lay public and the medical community, and by promoting research and development to improve thyroid cancer care.

The Oral Cancer Foundation is a national public service, non-profit entity designed to reduce suffering and save lives through prevention, education, research, advocacy, and patient support activities. Oral cancer is the largest group of those cancers which fall into the head and neck cancer category.

The Oral Cancer Awareness Foundation was founded in 2007 by Dr. Larry Hamburg, a patient of Dr. Urken and a survivor of oral cancer himself. The foundation is dedicated to educating both the public and the professional health community about the alarming need for increased early detection of this horrible disease in order to provide improved outcomes of those diagnosed.

Through the use of speaking engagements in both public and professional areas, coupled with traditional and emerging media vehicles, OrCA aims to educate regarding the use and application of various early detection devices that are expected to decrease the morbidity and mortality rates of those diagnosed.

Patient tells the doctor about her health concerns

Cancer & Disease Information

Mesothelioma.net is one of the web’s leading resources for information on mesothelioma and asbestos related illnesses. For over 20 years they have been providing support to families and their loved ones who struggle with mesothelioma.

Thyroid Awareness: January and Beyond // MedicareGuide. MedicareGuide’s article on Thyroid Awareness covers tons of information about cancers and other conditions that affect the thyroid.

The Dysphagia Research Society is organized exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes. In particular, the Society enhances and encourages research pertinent to normal and disordered swallowing and related functions, attracts and encourages new investigators to the field and foster their development in a collegial and supportive environment, encourages interdisciplinary research, promotes the dissemination of knowledge related to normal and disordered swallowing, provides a multidisciplinary forum for presentation of research into normal and disordered swallowing and fosters new methodologies and instrumentation in dysphagia research and its clinical applications.

MedlinePlus is the National Institutes of Health’s Web site for patients and their families and friends. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, it brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information, anytime, anywhere, for free.

American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the ACS has 12 chartered Divisions, more than 900 local offices nationwide, and a presence in more than 5,100 communities.

Healthcare, medical and radiology concept - two dentist doctors looking at x-ray. selective focus.

Medical Institutions

The American Thyroid Association is the leading organization devoted to thyroid biology and to the prevention and treatment of thyroid disease through excellence in research, clinical care, education, and public health.

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.

American Dental Association (ADA). Founded in 1859, the ADA is the oldest and largest national dental society in the world. Since then, the ADA has grown to become the leading source of oral health related information for dentists and their patients. Learn more about the ADA’s mission and vision, and our commitment to the public’s oral health, ethics, science and professional advancement and access to care for all Americans.

American Medical Association. For over 160 years the American Medical Association has promoted scientific advancement, improved public health, and invested in the doctor and patient relationship. AMA History is a rich narrative of how this institution and its members play an important role in the development of medicine in the United States.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is one of 11 agencies that compose the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The NCI, established under the National Cancer Institute Act of 1937, is the Federal Government’s principal agency for cancer research and training.

The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.