When I was first diagnosed with cancer, all I wanted to do was talk to another patient who had been through this ordeal. I called several cancer centers and was told that since thyroid cancer was so rare, they didn't have any patient volunteers I could talk to. I didn't have access to the Internet then, so I felt very alone.

A year later, my wonderful grandmother bought me a computer and I got connected to the Internet. That computer changed my life.

A friend emailed me a link to an on-line newsletter called Sticking Out Our Necks, which discusses all kinds of thyroid problems including cancer. Through that newsletter, I found ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc., and suddenly I wasn't alone anymore. I joined one of ThyCa's on-line listservs (similar to a chat room), and began communicating with thyca survivors from all over the world.

What a difference it made, knowing that there are other people out there who understood exactly what I was going through. Being able to talk about this disease and its unusual treatments and lifetime management has been invaluable to me. I encourage you to look for information and support too.

The following links are just a few of the many resources that are available on-line. Through these web sites, you will be able to access hundreds of other sites pertaining to all aspects of thyroid cancer and support. I hope you find them helpful.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc.

http://www.thyca.org

A great place to start for information about thyroid cancer!

This all-volunteer nonprofit organization is doing remarkable things to help survivors and their families. ThyCa's award-winning web site was created and is maintained by thyroid cancer survivors. Their site offers:

• lots of very helpful information
• links to other helpful sites
• on-line support groups (also known as "listservs")
• local support groups
• an excellent Low-Iodine Cookbook - DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE!
• and information about conferences for thyroid cancer patients and their families

ThyCa is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that welcomes members and volunteers.ThyCa is the only organization in the world dedicated exclusively to thyroid cancer.

(Click on the logo to go to ThyCa's site)

http://www.sarahealth.com (Her site also has hundreds of links to other resources.)

Sara Rosenthal is a health author and bioethicist who specializes in writing health books that are understandable. She is also a thyroid cancer patient.

I was fortunate to meet this dynamic, brilliant woman when she was a featured speaker at the 3rd Annual Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Conference.

	Sara is the author of The Thyroid Sourcebook and The Thyroid Sourcebook for Women.
(Click on either book to go to her site.)

Johns Hopkins Thyroid Tumor Center

http://www.thyroid-cancer.net

This very helpful site is developed by the doctors at Johns Hopkins Thyroid Tumor Center. Using easy-to-understand terms, the site explains everything having to do with thyroid cancer, from basic thyroid function to diagnosis and treatment. The site also includes news and innovations in thyroid cancer treatment, a list of specialists in your area, and even allows you to create your own thyroid page to keep track of your medication and pharmacy information, track your lab results, keep track of questions for your doctor and can remind you via email when its time to refill your thyroid prescription!

(Click on the logo to go to their site)