Thyroid Cancer Awareness

Along with prostate cancer awareness month, ovarian cancer awareness month, World Go Day, and more, September also marks Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the throat. The gland uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods and in iodized salt, to help make several hormones that control heart rate, body temperature, metabolism, and the amount of calcium in the blood.

According to the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, 43,800 people living in the United States will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2022.

There are four main types of thyroid cancer: papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer.

• Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid cancer, accounting for roughly 85 percent of all diagnoses, according to the National Cancer Institute. If diagnosed early, the cure rates for this type of thyroid cancer are high.
• Follicular thyroid cancer is the second most diagnosed type of thyroid cancer, accounting for approximately 10 percent of diagnoses. It begins in follicular cells and usually grows slowly. This type of cancer is also highly treatable if diagnosed early enough.
• Medullary thyroid cancer is a rare cancer occurs in nearly everyone with a certain gene mutation. Genetic testing can usually detect the presence of this altered gene. @INHERET helps easily facilitate the testing through reference laboratories.
• Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a very rare and aggressive type of thyroid cancer that usually affects those over age 60. This type of cancer grows and spreads quickly and is difficult to treat.

Exposure to radiation and a family history of thyroid issues are risk factors for thyroid cancer. Women are diagnosed with thyroid cancer significantly more than men.

That’s why @INHERET screens for risk factors associated with ALL hereditary cancers not just the more common hereditary diseases and cancers.  INHERET is dedicated to providing the tools necessary to easily assess hereditary risk and utilizes the most comprehensive set of guidelines, including NCCN Guidelines®, to ensure that people at risk are not missed.

#ThyroidCancerAwarenessMonth #ThereIsPowerInKnowing #HereditaryCancerWeek

#ProstateCancerAwarenessMonth #OvarianCancerAwarenessMonth #WorldGoDay