Radiation and Thyroid Issues

American Thyroid Association

Thyroid cancer is more common in people who have a history of exposure to high doses of radiation, have a family history of thyroid cancer, and are older than 40 years of age. However, for most patients, we do not know the specific reason or reasons why thyroid cancer develops.

High dose radiation exposure, especially during childhood, increases the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Prior to the 1960s, X-ray treatments were often used for conditions such as acne, inflamed tonsils and adenoids, enlarged lymph nodes, or to treat enlargement of a gland in the chest called the thymus. All these treatments were later found to be associated with an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer later in life. Even X-ray therapy used to treat cancers such as Hodgkin's disease (cancer of the lymph nodes) or breast cancer has been associated with an increased risk for developing thyroid cancer if the treatment included exposure to the head, neck or chest. Routine X-ray exposure such as dental X-rays, chest X-rays and mammograms have not been shown to cause thyroid cancer.

Exposure to radioactivity released during nuclear disasters (1986 accident at the Chernobyl power plant in Russia or the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan) has also been associated with an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer, particularly in exposed children, and thyroid cancers can be seen in exposed individuals as many as 40 years after exposure.

You can be protected from developing thyroid cancer in the event of a nuclear disaster by taking potassium iodide (see Nuclear Radiation and the Thyroid brochure). This prevents the absorption of radioactive iodine and has been shown to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer. The American Thyroid Association recommends that anyone living within 200 miles of a nuclear accident be given potassium iodide to take prophylactically in the event of a nuclear accident. If you live near a nuclear reactor and want more information about the role of potassium iodide, check the recommendations from your state at the following link: www.thyroid.org/web-links-for-importantdocuments- about-potassium-iodide/.

We lived near the Santa Ana Reactor in 1959 when they had a leak and/or a meltdown depending on what you read. I often wonder about that. Most do think it's an environmental carcinogen thing. Well that was 50 years ago but when Bill Clinton was president he signed a bill giving survivors of the workers payouts of $150,000 if they could prove liver or kidney cancer. In those papers it says children were the most affected with thyroid disease.

People say it's easily treatable but with a little reading I learned it can spread, especially to the upper chest and respiratory system. And there are five different kinds of thyroid cancer

Hallelujah!

Marijn;

Thank you so much for your supportive comments. Yes, you could go thru brain surgery if you had to ! You'd be surprised how suddenly fearless you can become with a deadly diagnosis facing you! That was some scare I had. Now its Thanksgiving and Iam celebrating my life 7 years out from stage 4 diagnosis- no evidence of disease. Side effects and disabled galore! but still alive!

The thyroid problem has not gone way nor other serious side effects. I'm off arimdex after 7 years severve bone loss and its ineffective at this point. I will tell you all this much- look into getting a juicer and going vegan , it seems to work for me and I also created a cookbook. I do reiki and hypnosis on myself and well , the alternatives do help! If any of you want to get a free cookbook just email me thru the system.

wishing you all the best!

Marcia