Can thyroid cancer be prevented?
Most people with thyroid cancer have no known risk factors; therefore, it is not possible to prevent most cases of this disease. Some doctors have suggested that the increase in thyroid cancers may be due to x-ray testing of young children. This has not been proven, but it is a good idea for children to avoid x-rays that aren’t necessary. Because of the genetic blood tests now available, most of the familial cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) can be treated early or prevented. Once the disease is discovered in a family, the rest of the family can be tested. If you have a family history of MTC, it is important that you see a doctor who is familiar with the latest advances in genetic counseling and genetic testing for this disease. Removing the thyroid gland in children who carry the abnormal gene will prevent a cancer that might otherwise be fatal.
You cannot prevent thyroid cancer. One rare type of thyroid cancer, called medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), runs in families. A genetic test can tell you if you have a greater chance of getting MTC. If this test shows that you have an increased risk, you can have your thyroid gland removed to prevent thyroid cancer later in life.
Most people with thyroid cancer have no known risk factors; therefore, it is not possible to prevent most cases of this disease. Some doctors have suggested that the increase in thyroid cancers may be due to x-ray testing of young children. This has not been proven, but it is a good idea for children to avoid x-rays that arent necessary. Because of the genetic blood tests now available, most of the familial cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) can be treated early or prevented. Once the disease is discovered in a family, the rest of the family can be tested. If you have a family history of MTC, it is important that you see a doctor who is familiar with the latest advances in genetic counseling and genetic testing for this disease. Removing the thyroid gland in children who carry the abnormal gene will prevent a cancer that might otherwise be fatal.
Unfortunately, since most people with thyroid cancer have no known risk factors, it is very difficult to prevent most cases of thyroid cancer. Can Thyroid Cancer be treated? Yes. The treatment for thyroid cancer depends on the type and stage of disease, as well as the age and overall health of the patient. Types of treatment used are: surgery (removal of the diseased part of the thyroid), chemotherapy, radioactive iodine therapy and/or hormone therapy. Effects of Treatment Thyroid Cancer Statistics • Each year in the U.S.A. there are about 15,600 people diagnosed with thyroid cancer. • About 1,200 people die from it each year in the United States. • Women are affected about three times more than men. • Thyroid cancer is more common in people of Asian descent.
In many cases, it is not possible to prevent thyroid cancer. However, the following might help reduce or eliminate the risk of thyroid cancer: • Having preventive (prophylactic) surgery—A person with an RET gene mutation might choose to have the thyroid removed with surgery. • Taking potassium iodide tablets after exposure to large amounts of radioactive iodine—Potassium iodide protects the thyroid gland from iodine 131, though not from other radioactive material. People who have multi-nodular goiter, Graves’ disease, or autoimmune thyroiditis should not take potassium iodide tablets. • Eating healthy foods—A diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in animal fat can reduce your risk of many types of cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Unsaturated fats (omega-3 fatty acids), especially those found in salmon and other fish, might help protect against cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight can also help protect
