Thyroid Cancer Risk Factors  

The main causative factors for thyroid cancer include:  

• Age - thyroid cancer tends to affect especially people aged between 25 and 65; however, the median age at diagnosis is 48 years of age.  
• Sex - women are more victim of thyroid cancer; the incidence is almost three times more in women than in men. 
• Environment - living close to a nuclear power plant 
• Family History of thyroid cancer - if you have a family history of medullary thyroid cancer, you are at greater risk than the rest of the population.  
• Diet - persistent excess or deficiency of iodine in your diet may also contribute to the development of thyroid cancer.  
• History of goiter - goiter is a non cancerous inflammation of thyroid gland often due to iodine deficiency, however, chronic swelling in the thyroid gland can lead to thyroid cancer.  
• Exposure to high levels of radiation – prolonged exposure to radioactive materials may also promote the development of thyroid cancer. If you have been undergoing radiation treatment to the head and neck, you may have exposed to high levels of radiation.  

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