Can thyroid cancer be prevented?
In most cases, it’s not possible to prevent thyroid cancer because experts don’t always know what causes the disease. Often, thyroid cancer doesn’t cause any signs or symptoms early on, and most people with thyroid cancer have no known risk factors.
However, there are steps you can take to protect your thyroid. Talk with your primary care doctor or one of Penn Medicine’s thyroid specialists to evaluate your risk factors. As with all cancers, early detection is crucial because many thyroid cancers are highly treatable when detected early.
Thyroid cancer risk factors
Some factors put you at higher risk for developing thyroid cancer.
As we age, our cells naturally change, and our ability to repair this damage weakens. Exposure to environmental factors throughout life can also damage our DNA. These combined effects can increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer.
Scientists think hormonal changes that occur as we get older might also play a role in thyroid cancer development. It’s important to note that age is just one factor, and thyroid cancer can occur at any age.
There’s a higher risk of thyroid cancer in people assigned female at birth compared with those assigned male at birth. This difference might be related to hormone levels, as people assigned female at birth typically have higher estrogen, which some experts believe could play a role in thyroid cancer development.
Exposure to high levels of radiation, especially during childhood, can increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer. This can come from medical treatments like radiation therapy to the head or neck, working around radiation, or environmental sources like nuclear disasters.
If you have a pre-existing thyroid condition like an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), thyroid nodules (adenomas), or Hashimoto’s disease, you may have a slightly increased risk of developing thyroid cancer. Several types of thyroid function testing can be done to determine the existence of a thyroid condition.
Reducing your risk of thyroid cancer
Most thyroid cancers develop without a known cause, but you can take steps to potentially lower your risk, including:
- Limit radiation exposure: Medical imaging plays an important role in diagnosis. However, for non-essential x-rays, discuss alternative options with your doctor or dentist to minimize radiation exposure, or request a shield that protects your head, neck, and body.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for various cancers, including thyroid cancer. Work toward a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise.
- Do regular self-checks: Learn how to perform self-checks of your thyroid gland at home which involves feeling the front of the neck for any lumps or nodules.
- Understand your family history: Certain types of thyroid cancer can be hereditary. Talk to your family members about their health history and discuss any concerns with your doctor.
- Eat a balanced diet: While no specific diet has been proven to prevent thyroid cancer, eating a well-rounded diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may help reduce the risk of thyroid cancer.
Thyroid health: Living near nuclear facilities
If you live within a 10-mile radius of nuclear facilities, consider keeping potassium iodide (KI) pills on hand as a precaution to protect your thyroid health. KI helps block the effects of radioactive iodine, a substance that could be released in a rare accident. It’s most effective if taken before or shortly after exposure. Thyroid cancer is treatable, but prevention is the best approach.
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