Friday, October 28, 2011

That other cancer

This is October so its all about that pinked stuff. But there is my other cancer - thyroid cancer. When I had thyroid cancer, there were something like 12,000 cases each year. Now there are a lot more, I think just under 40,000. According to the National Cancer Institute, in the 1970s there were less than 5 cases per 100,000 people, now there are more than 12 cases per 100,000 people. So take that fact and the increased population and basically the number of cases has at least tripled in the  past 30 years.

Thyroid cancer rates in young women are increasing the most. It is not really understood why the rates are increasing so much. Yes it is a treatable cancer, often called the 'good' cancer not that any cancer can ever be good - those people who call it the good cancer, deserve a smack in the head. The common treatment for thyroid cancer is to remove the thyroid.This is a very important gland in your body and regulates many things. While synthetic thyroid hormones are available, you are never quite the same.

Thyroid cancer deserves more recognition as it is increasing in incidence, not decreasing as many cancers are.

1 comment:

Elisa Franco said...

We must be reminded that everyday people of this society is fighting a different kind of cancer battle. May this month be not just a reminder of Breast Cancer awareness but everyday reminder that cancer is just there and we need to be aware of that, whatever it may be.

I Started a New Blog

I started this blog when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. Blogging really helped me cope with my cancer and its treatment. Howe...