What Is Thyroid Cancer and How Do I Avoid It?

Thyroid cancer results from a malfunction in the process of splitting a cell in the thyroid.

A disease of mitosis, cancer occurs when the body is unable to control the duplication of the cells, resulting in a cancerous growth known as a tumor.

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The thyroid gland is found at the bottom of the neck, just above the collar bone. It produces hormones for the body that regulate things like metabolism and is a part of the endocrine system.

Radiation exposure, especially when it occurs during a person’s childhood, increases the risk for developing thyroid cancer, says the American Cancer Society. For this reason, doctors only use radiation on serious cases. X-rays and CT scans should be performed only when necessary.

Blood tests can help determine genetic risk of familial medullary thyroid cancer. If the results for the genetic mutation are positive, the thyroid gland can be removed to avoid the formation of malignant tumors. In children, this cancer can be fatal, the American Cancer Society reports. People who have relatives with this type of cancer should check to see if they have the mutation, too, since it is genetic.

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Standardized screening tests have not improved thyroid cancer outcomes much, the University of Texas’ MD Anderson Cancer Center states. Nonetheless, doctors recommend having your neck examined twice a year, and one of exams those should include a cancer screening. Sometimes cancer can be detected in its early stages if it looks like a thyroid nodule.

Most thyroid cancer patients develop it between the ages of 20 and 55 and are three times likely to be women, the Cancer Center adds. Iodine deficiency is also a risk factor for developing the cancer, but this condition is rare in the United States.

Though it's not possible to prevent most cases of thyroid cancer, maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle is one of the best things you can do to lower your risk for cancer.

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