Senator Murphy partners with Yorktown Police Department & Heartscan Services to sponsor free thyroid cancer screening

Yorktown, NY - Recent clinical findings have shown that thyroid cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the United States, with reported cases tripling in the last three decades. According to the American Cancer Society, the estimated number of new cases of thyroid cancer in 2018 will reach 53,900 with 2,060 expected fatalities.

To promote early detection, Senator Terrence Murphy, Senator Martin Golden, the Yorktown Police Department and Heartscan Services collaborated to sponsor a thyroid cancer (nodule) screening at the Yorktown Police Station on March 1.

"I am proud to have worked with Senator Golden to secure a critical grant to fund free thyroid cancer screenings for police, firefighters, and volunteers," said Senator Murphy. "In the aftermath of 9/11, there has been an alarmingly high influx of thyroid cancer among first responders who were at Ground Zero. Thyroid cancer can be a slow, silent killer. It is treatable, but early detection is the key to making a recovery."

"The success of this thyroid screening program is a true testament on what can be accomplish when government, medical professionals and the business community work together," said Senator Golden. "A special thank you to Marilyn Martinucci, CEO and Founder of Heartscan Services who has a made a difference in the lives of so many. During this legislative session, I will be working with Senator Murphy to secure additional funding so that we can expand this program and make it available to so many more New Yorkers."

Assemblyman Kevin Byrne stated, "I would like thank Senators Murphy and Golden, Heartscan and the Yorktown Police Department for bringing this highly needed service to the community and for caring about the health of our first responders. It is important we take every opportunity to look after the people that risk their lives to keep us safe."

Yorktown Police Chief Robert Noble commented, "I believe I can speak for all first responders when I say we cannot thank Senators Murphy and Golden and the good folks from Heartscan enough for providing this potentially life-saving screening service, My agency is proud to be associated with such a worthy endeavor and is pleased to host the screening."

"Thyroid cancer is the fastest increasing cancer in the United States, as well as the top five cancers affecting women, " Marilyn Martinucci, CEO and Founder of Heartscan Services commented. "We are the only mobile company in New York that focuses on early detection of thyroid cancer. Our screenings, which are non-invasive, have been crucial for identifying early thyroid cancer. We educate and screen community members, New York City first responders, laborers and those at risk for thyroid nodules so individuals can be treated by their own physicians, if necessary. Our responders deserve to be healthy."

The thyroid produces thyroid hormone (TH), which regulates the body's metabolism, heartbeat, temperature, mood, and other important processes-reaching out to nearly every, single cell in the body.

People who have been exposed to a lot of radiation have a greater chance of getting thyroid cancer. Many patients, especially in the early stages of thyroid cancer, do not experience symptoms. However, as the cancer develops, symptoms can include a lump or nodule in the front of the neck, hoarseness or difficulty speaking, swollen lymph nodes, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and pain in the throat or neck.