5 Tips to Prevent Thyroid Cancer

Up until relatively recently, thyroid cancer was the disease with the highest rate of growth in the United States. This was primarily attributable to the fact that we are able to detect cancers so effectively (Ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, etc.). Cancer of the thyroid is the fifth most common form of cancer in women. The number of people diagnosed with thyroid cancer has increased by a factor of two since the 1970s. The overall survival rate for people diagnosed with thyroid cancer at five years is 98 percent, and the survival rate at five years and beyond is 95 percent or higher.

Screening, diagnosis at an early stage, and prevention are all extremely important when dealing with any type of cancer. There is no doubt that lowering the risk of developing thyroid cancer and making a diagnosis of the disease at an earlier stage are both very beneficial. In the following paragraphs, we will go over the top five things a person can do to reduce their risk of developing thyroid cancer (or avoid delaying the diagnosis).

Tips #1: Minimize Radiation Exposure

Significant radiation exposure is clearly one of the two key risk factors for thyroid cancer. Large quantities of radiation exposure to the head/neck region or chest, generally following treatment of another disease (lymphoma, breast cancer, etc.) increases the chance of thyroid cancer. Some persons also obtain exposure owing to their line of work (x-ray technician, fluoroscopy technician, etc). (x-ray technician, fluoroscopy technician, etc.).

Your job may also put you in danger from radiation. There are a lot of medical professionals who deal with radiation on a daily basis. To protect the thyroid gland from harmful radiation, it is critical that you wear a radiation thyroid shield whenever you are in an exposed position. Others are exposed to radiation or work with radioactive substances on a daily basis. You should wear a thyroid shield and monitor exposure with a dosimeter if this sounds like your job (device that tracks harmful radiation exposure).

Tips #2: Know Your Family History

Genetics, like all other malignancies, has a role. While part of the genetics of thyroid cancer include changes in genes at the cellular level (mutations), inherited genetic risk with thyroid cancer does arise on occasion. A close family member’s (parent, grandparent, sibling, or kid) thyroid cancer history raises the chance of thyroid cancer. This happens even if no known genetic disease, syndrome, or change (mutation) causes thyroid cancer. In most cases, we do not know which inherited gene or gene mutation raises the risk of thyroid cancer in families.

Tips #3: Perform Self-Examinations or Have Your Doctor Examine You

Self-examinations are an essential element of cancer screening and prevention. Self-checks of the neck, like breast and testicular cancer, can aid in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. The great majority of thyroid tumors are mild and generate no symptoms. Furthermore, a blood test cannot detect 95 percent or more of thyroid malignancies.

Tips #4: Get an Ultrasound

The basis of evaluating and diagnosing thyroid cancer is a thyroid ultrasound performed by a professional and experienced team. Because many thyroid tumors have a highly distinct look on ultrasound, a quality ultrasound is often sufficient to make a cancer diagnosis. During the ultrasound, the technician must extensively check the thyroid and all lymph node locations on both sides of the neck that might be associated with thyroid cancer. Cancer may be overlooked if your ultrasound is not complete and does not contain these critical components (and left behind after surgery).

Tips #5: Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

It is critical to control the components of your health and lifestyle that you can in order to prevent thyroid cancer. Diet, exercise, and the avoidance or cessation of smoking are all key modifiable risk factors for thyroid cancer. As we all know, smoking is linked to an increased risk of acquiring a variety of chronic diseases and malignancies, including thyroid cancer. Obesity is also connected to a variety of chronic conditions and an increased risk of cancer. Obesity, unsurprisingly, raises your chance of thyroid cancer.

Final thoughts

Thyroid cancer must be screened for, prevented from occurring, and detected as early as possible. Anti-thyroid cancer measures include a variety of methods. Limiting radiation exposure, understanding your family’s medical history, doing self-checks and frequent doctor’s appointments, having an expert thyroid and neck ultrasound, and keeping a healthy lifestyle are all essential. Entrust your thyroid health and screening exclusively to the most qualified professionals.