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RO9 ThyroidThy thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland found at the base of the neck that is rich with blood vessels. A healthy thyroid secretes hormone collectively called thyroid hormones that act throughout the body, influencing metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature. During infancy and childhood, adequate thyroid hormone is also crucial for brain development. When the thyroid is harmed, this could also affect the body including changes in weight and appearance, fatigue and skipping of period for women.

Thyroid cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the thyroid gland. This type of cancer might not cause any symptoms at first, but as it grows, it can cause pain and swelling in the neck. In line with the celebration of International Thyroid Cancer Awareness Week on the fourth Week of September, the whole month of September is also celebrated as National Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month in the Philippines by virtue of Republic Act No. 10786 to raise awareness on the prevention of thyroid disorders and encourage those affected to seek early medical consultations once signs and symptoms are observed.

According to studies, women are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men. In fact, based from the data of the Department of Health (DOH), thyroid cancer ranks 7th in the Philippines, 4th in females and 17th in males.  This is probably due to the roles of hormones, which are different in females than males. Common warning signals for thyroid cancer are a hard mass in the anterior neck, nodules of the thyroid of men, rapid enlargement of a long-standing goiter in older patients, cervical lymph node enlargement, hoarseness, and difficulty of breathing associated with goiter. If you happen to see or feel any of these symptoms, you must need to seek prompt medical attention.

But worry less if you or you know someone who have this condition because most cases of thyroid cancer can be cured with treatment. Common treatments are radioactive iodine, a surgery to remove part or all the thyroid gland, and life-long hormone replacement when all of the thyroid is removed.  But since precaution is better than cure, taking preventive measures are better to avoid experiencing any of these treatments.  Here are healthy eating habit tips that you can follow to protect yourself from thyroid cancer:

Eat variety of nutritious foods and consume enough iodine. Eat plenty and variety of fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole-grain food to improve your overall health. You also need iodine for a healthy thyroid which fish, shrimp, seaweed and iodized salt are the great sources, but avoid excessive amounts from iodine-rich sources like kelp (large brown algae) as this could potentially alter your thyroid hormone level.

Cut down on "bad" fats and simple carbohydrates. Some dietary fats contribute to heart disease and some forms of cancer. Limit saturated fats from animal products such as meat and cheese from hydrogenated oils like margarines. Choose monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats instead from vegetable oils and omega-3 fatty acids found in certain kind of fish. Choose also complex carbohydrates found in whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables and minimize soft drinks, potato chips, candy and other junk foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients.

Avoid Smoking. Cigarette smoke contain toxins that may affect your thyroid. Thiocyanate, in particular, disrupts iodine uptake, which in turn can block the production of thyroid hormones. In general, smoking can cause elevated thyroxine (T4) levels and a slight decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

Do the thyroid neck check.  One of the best early detection is to frequently perform a thyroid neck check. All you need for this simple screening is a glass of water and a mirror, if you feel or see anything out of ordinary like lumps, bumps and swelling on your thyroid, be sure to see your doctor right away.

Following a nutritious diet for your thyroid not only makes you feel good once your thyroid levels are normal, but it also keeps your digestive system function smoothly and your heart pump efficiently for a healthy metabolism. Early detection is also very important for you to be able to seek a rapid medication to avoid worsening of this disease.

 

NO I Angelica O. Pajulas

 

References:

https://www.doh.gov.ph/Health-Advisory/Thyroid-Cancer

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/healthy-eating-for-a-healty-thyroid

https://www.verywellhealth.com/ways-to-reduce-thyroid-disease-risk-3233225