Diet for Thyroid Carcinoma

The thyroid gland is at the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. It controls the production of certain regulatory hormones, including those that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight.

Thyroid cancer (also known as papillary carcinoma, from the Latin "papilio," meaning butterfly, because the thyroid is butterfly-shaped) is a relatively uncommon affliction in the United States, affecting around 37,000 people annually.There is some research suggesting that diet can affect the incidence of thyroid cancer.

Thyroid Cancer Treatments

• The most common of traditional treatments for thyroid cancer is thyroidectomy, an operation that removes some or all of the thyroid gland. Such a procedure will be accompanied by a lifelong course of thyroid hormone replacement drugs, such as Levothroid or Synthroid, which will provide your body with the hormones that your thyroid would otherwise have replaced.

  Another common treatment is radioactive iodine therapy. Thyroid cells absorb iodine in the bloodstream, and such a treatment will kill thyroid cells. This is an alternative to thyroidectomy that can kill the cancer cells without requiring complete removal of the thyroid.

  External radiation and chemotherapy treatments are also available. And there are some clinical trials of new medications that you may be eligible for; consult your doctor for more information.

Diet and Thyroid Cancer

• There is some scientific evidence that certain dietary habits can increase the risk of thyroid cancer. Studies have shown that in increase in the production of TSH, or thyroid-stimulating hormone, can heighten the risk of thyroid cancer. The two dietary factors that can increase production of TSH are a low iodine intake and a high "goitrogen" intake.

  Around the time of World War I, many young Americans were viewed as unfit for service due to low iodine. As a result, "iodized" salt began to be produced, which went a long way to addressing iodine deficiency. If your iodine is low, consider adding iodized salt to your diet, or taking an iodine supplement.

  Goitrogens are substances found in cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, Brussels sprouts and rutabaga, as well as soybeans, peanuts, peaches, strawberries, and a few other foods. Limiting goitrogen intake may help lower the risk of thyroid cancer.

  However, there is some dispute in the scientific community over the importance of TSH in causing thyroid cancer. As a result, there is uncertainty about these findings.

  If you're afflicted with thyroid cancer, there is no known dietary means of curing the disease, but eating a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables can help keep you in good health throughout your treatment.