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Casas announces she has cancer

KVIA-TV Channel 7 anchor Estela Casas announced yesterday that she has thyroid cancer and that she is having the gland removed during surgery today. She had said earlier this month that doctor's had found nodules on her thyroid and had them removed.

Casas posted a statement on kvia.com.

"I have cancer of the thyroid," Casas said. "I'll admit, it's a tough phrase to say out loud, but I will join a group of men and women in El Paso who are fighting and living with this disease. I have been told thyroid cancer is highly treatable."

Estela has surgery, documents her journey

KVIA-TV Channel 7 anchor Estela Casas announced today during the 5 p.m. newscast that she will have surgery on Wednesday to remove a nodule on the right side of her thyroid. It's still unclear how long she will be out from her anchoring duties or who will substitute for her.

Casas said she found a lump on her throat on her throat six months ago and that the vast majority of nodules in that area are noncancerous.

"I've been an advocate for breast cancer education," she said in a story posted on the KVIA web page. "Now, I will also become an advocate for those who suffer from thyroid disease. It's a very common disease that affects both men and women. I invite you to join me in my upcoming journey."

To document her experience with thyroid disease, Casas has started a blog called Opening Up. You can read the blog here.

Times reporter Hernandez now in Austin

Last Friday was the last day of work at the El Paso Times for education reporter Michael D. Hernandez. He had been an employee of the Times for nine years and wrote for the living and neighborhoods sections before being named the education reporter last year.

Michael is relocating to Austin, Texas, for personal reasons and will start freelancing from the state's capital.