Increased Cancer Risk with Radioactive Iodine

Do you take thyroid medication? If so, you may be interested to learn that there is an increased risk of cancer associated with radioactive iodine medication - a drug commonly given to thyroid patients by doctors.

According to the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery Foundation Washington, D.C., October 2000: researchers declared a connection between post-surgical administration of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatments for thyroid cancer and the development of breast cancer later on. Using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, they found that young women ages 30 - 34 years of age who had thyroid cancer were shown as having the greatest potential for developing breast cancer.

Women between the ages of 40 and 44 at initial diagnosis of thyroid cancer were believed to be at a significantly higher risk of developing the disease - with the greatest risk appearing 15 - 20 years after the appearance of thyroid cancer.

The conclusion of the study found that adult Caucasian women in pre-menopausal years treated for differentiated thyroid cancer show higher risks of breast cancer development - anywhere from 5 to 20 years later. This discovery depicts a clear connection of increased breast cancer risk after thyroid cancer to the thyroid cancer treatment itself - radioactive iodine, then, is the suspected culprit for boosting the cancer risk development.

Diet and lifestyle always play a part in the development of disease and illness. There are ways to prevent the development of fatal illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and auto-immune disorders. Paying close attention to eating healthy foods, getting adequate rest and stress relief, and minimizing exposure to toxins is key. However, people who have auto-immune disorders such as thyroid problems (as well as others such as lupus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and others) can benefit tremendously from and in many cases have their symptoms greatly reduced or eliminated simply by seeing a knowledgeable health care practitioner who can determine the underlying cause of the disorder. Auto-immune disorders are usually related to heavy metal toxification, parasites, or a viral infection and can often be cleared up with homeopathic, naturopathic, or other complimentary medical treatment.

For more information on these disorders, visit a knowledgeable health care practitioner who is willing to implement alternative and complimentary treatments and considerations such as an osteopath, acupuncturist/Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioner, naturopath, homeopath, chiropractor, or nutritional therapist.