Who is more likely to get thyroid cancer
Anyone can get thyroid cancer. It's not always clear what causes it.
You might be more likely to get it if:
- you're a woman and have not been through the menopause
- you have a condition that affects the thyroid such as a swollen thyroid (goitre), Hashimoto's disease or nodules (non-cancerous lumps) in or on your thyroid
- you have a brother, sister, parent or child who has had thyroid cancer
- you were exposed to a lot of radiation or had radiotherapy treatment in the past, especially if it was when you were a child
- you've had certain cancers before such as breast cancer, oesophageal cancer, testicular cancer or non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Many thyroid cancers are also linked to your lifestyle.
How to lower your chance of getting thyroid cancer
You cannot always prevent thyroid cancer. But making healthy changes can lower your chances of getting it and other types of cancer.
Do
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try to lose weight if you are overweight
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try to cut down on alcohol – avoid drinking more than 14 units a week
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try to quit smoking
Information:
It's important to get any symptoms of thyroid cancer checked by a GP.