The thyroid gland at the base your neck produces hormones which regulates your body temperature, blood pressure and weight. It is important to maintain this gland’s health.while thyroid cancer is rare. However, rates are increasing. This gland can be affected by a variety of cancers, some aggressive and others that grow slowly. Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to curing almost all cancers. The symptoms can be vague and people may not recognize them until it’s too late. It may not show any symptoms in the early stages. Be alert for swelling and pain in your neck, as this can be an indication of thyroid cancer. This type of cancer can be caused by many things. A new study from the University of Bergen has shown that thyroid cancer may be related to exposures in utero.
More common among women than men
Thyroid cancer occurs at an earlier age than other malignancies, and is more common in women. is only caused by childhood exposure to ionizing radioactivity and obesity. So far, only a few risk factors in utero and during early childhood have been identified. Conditions such as maternal hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and goiter increase the risk.
Conditions that can cause thyroid cancer
Researchers conducted a case-control study nested using data from national registry systems in four Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The study included 2,437 cases of thyroid cancer and 24,362 controls aged 0-48 from 1967-2015. Researchers found that benign thyroid conditions in mothers, such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism or benign thyroid neoplasms, were strongly linked to thyroid cancer risk. High birth weight, congenital hyperthyroidism and a history in the mother were also associated with an increased risk.
The study confirms a link between exposures in utero and an increased thyroid cancer risk later in life. Researchers believe that these findings will encourage further research on early life exposures that may cause thyroid cancer.
Symptoms thyroid cancer
A lump or nodule on the neck that can be felt by feeling your skin and changes to your voice are signs of cancer. can cause you to have difficulty swallowing and a pain around the throat and neck. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for a better outcome.
Risk factors
You are at higher risk for this type of cancer if you’re a woman. Radiation to the head and neck may increase your risk. Genetic conditions such as familial thyroid cancer, multiple neuroendocrine tumors, Cowden’s Syndrome, and familial polyposis can also increase the risk of this cancer.
