Thyroid Cancer: The Risks and Taking Precautions

By Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch HERWriter

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Thyroid cancer is not a common cancer in the United States, though the number of people diagnosed with the condition is rising, according to the MayoClinic.com. Women have thyroid cancer more often than men: in 2011, an estimated 36,550 women were diagnosed with thyroid cancer, compared to 11,470 men, noted the National Cancer Institute.

Risk Factors of Thyroid Cancer

Columbia University Medical Center noted that 20 to 25 percent of patients with medullary thyroid cancer and 5 percent of patients with papillary thyroid cancer have a family member who had thyroid cancer.

One type of medullary thyroid cancer, MEN 2A associated medullary thyroid cancer, usually results from a mutation of the gene RET proto-oncogene. Another type of medullary thyroid cancer, familial medullary thyroid cancer, is passed down through families.

Another genetic condition that increases the risk of thyroid cancer is familial adenomatous polyposis, a condition in which the patient develops multiple benign polyps in her colon that will become malignant if not removed. Cetta et al. noted that papillary thyroid cancer is a rare manifestation of familial adenomatous polyposis.

Exposure to radiation is another risk factor of thyroid cancer, such as radiation therapy that is targeted to the neck. Before the link between radiation and thyroid cancer was known, radiation was used to treat many benign diseases.

MedlinePlus noted that people who had radiation therapy during childhood have an increased risk of thyroid cancer. People exposed to radiation through nuclear plant accidents or nuclear weapons also have a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer.

People who have either had a goiter or who have a family history of goiters also have an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer. A goiter is a noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland. Goiters may occur for unknown reasons.

People who do not get enough iodine in their diet may develop colloid goiters, or endemic goiters. MedlinePlus stated that on some occasions, medications such as aminoglutethimide and lithium can cause nontoxic goiters, or sporadic goiters.

Precautions for Thyroid Cancer

While there is no way to prevent thyroid cancer, people at risk can take certain precautions. For example, the MayoClinic.com noted that people with the genetic mutation that puts them at increased risk for medullary thyroid cancer may choose to have a prophylactic thyroidectomy. Prophylactic thyroidectomy is surgery on the thyroid gland done to prevent medullary thyroid cancer.

In cases of a radiation emergency, people at risk, such as people living near a nuclear power plant, may take potassium iodine to prevent the thyroid gland from taking in radioactive iodine released in the air. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that potassium iodine is only taken when advised by a physician, emergency management official or public health official.

References

National Cancer Institute. Cancer of the Thyroid – Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. Web. 10 January 2012
http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/thyro.html

Cetta F, Curia MC, Montalto G, Gori M, Cama A, Battista P and Barbarisi A. “Thyroid Carcinoma Usually Occurs in Patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis in the Absence of Biallelic Inactivation of the Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Gene.” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, January 2000. Web. 10 January 2012
http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/86/1/427.full

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Goiter – Simple. Web. 10 January 2012
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001178.htm

Columbia University Medical Center. Thyroid Cancer – Risk Factors. Web. 10 January 2012
http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/risks.html

MayoClinic.com. Thyroid Cancer. Web. 10 January 2012
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thyroid-cancer/DS00492/METHOD=print

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Thyroid Cancer. Web. 10 January 2012
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001213.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Potassium Iodine. Web. 10 January 2012
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/ki.asp

Reviewed January 10, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.