Thyroid Awareness

Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month

Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month - observed worldwide during the month of September - raises thyroid cancer awareness for:

• the early detection of thyroid cancer;

• optimal care based on expert standards; and

• increased research to achieve cures for all forms of thyroid cancer.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland in the lower front of the neck. It has important functions in the body: the hormones produced by the thyroid gland are essential for cellular differentiation, growth and metabolism.

Unfortunately, as with most body organs, a number of things can go wrong with the thyroid gland. There are several types of thyroid disease, such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), goitre (enlarged thyroid), thyroid nodules (lumps) and thyroid cancer. These conditions can cause a wide variety of - sometimes debilitating - symptoms.

Thyroid disease is reasonably common, in New Zealand and in the world. It is estimated that worldwide hundreds of millions of people are suffering from some form of thyroid condition. It affects women and men, adults and children, of all ethnicities and all social backgrounds. Thyroid disease does not discriminate. All people can get it, although some are more likely to get it than others. For example, thyroid conditions are more common in women than in men.

Links to more information about the different types of thyroid disease, including their symptoms and treatment, can be found on our web page about thyroid conditions.

Adequate treatment of thyroid conditions can significantly improve your quality of life. If a thyroid condition is not, or not properly, treated, it may lead to increased cholesterol levels and serious medical conditions, such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and infertility.

Early detection of thyroid cancer can save your life (as can the proper, life-long follow-up if you are diagnosed with thyroid cancer). A helpful tool for early detection is the neck-check.

There are some signs to look out for:

• lumps in your neck (which are benign in most cases);

• lymph node swellings;

• fullness in the neck;

• voice changes; or

• difficulty breathing or swallowing.

We recommend that you do the neck-check regularly. If you have any of the above signs, please, visit your doctor. If you suffer from one or more other symptoms of thyroid disease, again, see your doctor.

Every year, international thyroid awareness week highlights a special topic. In 2023, the topic is “Thyroid and Genetics”.

Thyroid disease is not only very common, it also tends to run in the family. Thyroid patients often have one or more family members with thyroid disease. The same applies to autoimmune disease. Patients with an autoimmune disease often have relatives with an autoimmune disease. This doesn't have to be the same autoimmune disease (for example, one family member may have autoimmune thyroid disease and another family member type 1 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis). On top of that, patients with one autoimmune disease are at greater risk of developing one or more other autoimmune diseases. Similarly, there may also be a family link in case of thyroid cancer, because of the presence of a disease-causing gene mutation that can lead to one or more types of cancer.

It's important to know your family history of thyroid disease, autoimmune disease and (thyroid) cancer and inform your doctor about it, if you are not feeling well. This may help your doctor to order the right tests, come to a timely diagnosis and start you on treatment before you experience any complications from (autoimmune) thyroid disease or cancer. 

Articles with more information:

• Thyroid Disease May Run in Your Family — and You Might Not Know It (Cleveland Clinic, Health Essentials, 2020)

• Is hyperthyroidism genetic? (Medical News Today, 2022)

• Is hypothyroidism genetic? (Verywellhealth, 2022)