A Worldwide Rise in Thyroid Cancer: Is Your Risk Increasing Too?

There has been a tremendous rise in the rates of thyroid cancer at a faster rate than any other cancer across the world. The thyroid gland, present at the base of the neck - just below the Adam's apple, releases hormones that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight. According to experts, thyroid cancer occurs when the cells within the thyroid gland start to grow and divide uncontrollably, forming a tumour. These abnormal cells can invade surrounding tissues and potentially spread to other parts of the body. Even though most of the cases of thyroid cancer are curable, doctors are concerned about how quickly rates of the disease are spiking, especially among youngsters. According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End

Results (SEER) database from the United States, the incidence of thyroid cancer in the US alone has tripled between 1980 and 2016 – spiking from 2.39 to 7.54 per 100,000 in men, and 6.15 to 21.28 per 100,000 in women.

What is causing an uptick in thyroid cancer cases?

According to the BBC, since exposure to large amounts of radiation in childhood can lead to thyroid cancer, cases across the world have proven the data. After the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986, there were a large number of children across Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Similarly, studies say nearly 40 per cent of thyroid cancer patients were among Japanese atomic-bomb survivors due to childhood radiation exposure. However, in other parts of the world where the number of thyroid cancers is high, like the US, there were other reasons. Earlier, doctors would feel the thyroid gland to look for nodules, but with the advancement of medical techniques like ultrasonography, doctors could pick up smaller nodules and then biopsy them. This led to a rise in the detection of small-sized papillary thyroid cancers that in the past wouldn't have been felt through the hands. Another important reason for the thyroid cancer spike is obesity, which has been rising, especially among children. Studies say there is a significant link between excess weight and thyroid cancer risk, as those with a high BMI are more than 50 per cent more likely to go on to be diagnosed.

Overdiagnosis can be dangerous

According to experts, small papillary thyroid cancers are slow-growing and not necessarily dangerous since they respond well to treatment. Overdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary medical interventions, which include the total removal of the thyroid gland. Also, in many people, surgery is conducted, which in the future can lead to vocal cord paralysis, while other forms of treatment, like radioactive iodine, can increase the risk of other cancers.

What is thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland at the base of the neck that regulates metabolism. It is often characterized by a lump or swelling in the neck, voice changes, and difficulty swallowing, though it may not cause symptoms at first. The four main types are papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic, based on how the cells look under a microscope.

Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer

The first sign of thyroid cancer is usually a painless lump in your neck known as a thyroid nodule. While most nodules are not cancerous, you need to get them thoroughly investigated. A few symptoms associated with thyroid cancer include:

• Neck swelling or swollen lymph nodes
• Voice hoarseness
• Trouble breathing or swallowing