Can Thyroid Cancer Be Prevented?

Most people with thyroid cancer have no known risk factors that can be changed, so it isn’t possible to prevent most of these cancers.

Avoiding or limiting radiation exposure

Radiation exposure, especially in childhood, is a known thyroid cancer risk factor. Because of this, doctors try to avoid giving radiation to the head and neck area unless it’s absolutely needed (such as when it’s a necessary part of treating another type of cancer).

Imaging tests such as x-rays, CT scans, and PET scans also expose children to radiation, but at much lower doses, so it’s not clear how much this might raise the risk of thyroid cancer (or other cancers).

If there is an increased risk, it’s most likely small. But to be safe, doctors try to avoid using these tests in children unless absolutely necessary. When these types of imaging tests are needed, they should be done using the lowest dose of radiation that still provides a clear picture.

For people at increased risk of thyroid cancer

Some people are born with a very high risk of getting thyroid cancer because of a gene change they inherited from a parent.

One example is people with the familial (inherited) form of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). This form of thyroid cancer is often the result of having multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). If a person has MEN2, they are at a very high risk of getting MTC, starting at an early age.

Most of these cancers can be prevented or treated early by removing the thyroid gland. If MTC is known to run in a family, family members can be tested at a very early age for the mutated gene that causes it.

If you have a family history of MTC, it’s important to see a doctor who is familiar with the latest advances in genetic counseling and genetic testing for this disease.