Thyroid cancer is highly prevalent. Do you know where the root cause lies?

Thyroid cancer is on the rise every year. What are the factors that cause it? The exact cause is still difficult to determine, but from epidemiological surveys, tumor experimental studies and clinical observations, the occurrence of thyroid cancer may be related to the following factors.

1. Radioactive damage

In clinical practice, many facts show that the occurrence of thyroid cancer is related to the effects of radiation. It is particularly noteworthy that children who have received upper diaphragm or neck radiotherapy for thymic enlargement or lymphadenoid hyperplasia in infancy are particularly prone to thyroid cancer. This is because the cells of children and adolescents proliferate vigorously, and radiation is an additional stimulus that can easily promote the formation of tumors. For example, after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant leak in the former Soviet Union in 1986, the incidence of thyroid cancer in children living in Ukraine and Belarus was 100 times that of other places. The chance of adults developing thyroid cancer after receiving neck radiotherapy is rare.

2. Excessive or insufficient iodine intake

Excessive or insufficient iodine intake can change the structure and function of the thyroid gland. For example, the incidence of thyroid cancer in the endemic area of ​​thyroid hyperplasia in Switzerland is 2‰, which is 20 times higher than that in non-endemic areas such as Berlin. On the contrary, a high-iodine diet is also prone to induce thyroid cancer. Iceland and Japan are countries with the highest iodine intake, and their thyroid cancer incidence is higher than other countries. Residents living in coastal cities usually consume more seafood and love to eat pickled seafood, which can not only cause thyroid-related diseases, but also lay the groundwork for thyroid cancer.

3. Genetic factors

5% to 10% of medullary thyroid carcinomas have a clear family history and are often associated with pheochromocytoma. It is speculated that the occurrence of this type of cancer may be related to chromosomal genetic factors.

4. Modern lifestyle

(1) Desk work Most young white-collar workers now work at desks facing computers for a long time. This causes blood circulation disorders in the neck and blood stagnation in the neck, which not only leads to cervical spondylosis and periarthritis of the shoulder, but also affects the blood circulation of the thyroid gland, which may eventually lead to tumors.

(2) Mental stress. In modern society, young people have to bear pressure from many aspects of society and family. In addition to working during the day, some people have to stay up late at night. This overdrawn lifestyle, coupled with the lack of long-term emotional relief, makes it difficult for thyroid cells to be properly repaired and metabolized. In the long run, it will cause damage to the thyroid gland and cause disease.

(3) Radiation damage: With the development of science and technology, we are exposed to more and more radiation in our daily lives, such as electromagnetic radiation, microwave radiation, and ionizing radiation caused by medical examinations. These radiations will naturally damage normal cells in the human body and cause mutations in thyroid cells.

(4) Abuse of hormones: Large amounts of hormone-rich foods can cause endocrine disorders in adolescents. Excessive intake of various hormones is also one of the triggering factors for thyroid cancer.