The Risk Factors of Thyroid Cancer

Serving the needs of patients in Valley Stream, New York, Dr. Rajiv Datta is a respected surgical oncologist with extensive knowledge of cancer treatments. Among Dr. Rajiv Datta’s areas of focus is thyroid cancer, which is often linked to genetics. 

Risk Factors for thyroid cancer include radiation exposure at an early age, which increases the chances of papillary thyroid cancer. Radiation exposure can be from a radiation fall-out, such as in Chernobyl or getting radiation treatment for other cancers in the head &neck region. 

At the same time, inherited conditions such as multiple colon growths can create elevated risk. Approximately 5 percent of patients have a family history of thyroid cancer.

People of Ashkenazi Jewish decent or with a family history of ovarian or breast cancer are also vulnerable. Thyroid cancer is three times more likely to occur in women than in men, and the disease has been associated with people who maintain a low-iodine diet. Genetic counseling is recommended for those with an elevated risk of contracting the disease.