According to several studies conducted in the past decade, women who have undergone surgery to remove the uterus have an increased risk of developing cancer of the thyroid gland(s) within the period of time following their hysterectomy.| Take Action |
Learn more about thyroid cancer:
Thyroid cancer is a disease in which thyroid cells become abnormal, grow uncontrollably, and form a cancerous tumor. If left untreated, thyroid cancer can travel to other parts of the body.
Risk factors of developing thyroid cancer include an enlarged thyroid gland, nodules on the thyroid, radiation exposure, family history of thyroid cancer, chronic infection, or inflamed thyroid.
Symptoms include neck pain, neck mass, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and a swollen gland. |
A Finnish study conducted in the mid-1990s by a research team at the University of Tampere found that women who had undergone hysterectomy had doubled risk of developing thyroid cancer in the roughly two years after the surgery, with the risk dropping slightly after the first two years and averaging out to an overall risk of about forty percent higher than average.
The research team, led by Dr. Riitta Luoto, reviewed nearly 18,000 medical records to produce their findings. Dr. Luoto noted that while the operation itself does not increase risk, certain factors may be responsible for both the need to have a hysterectomy and thyroid cancer.
According to The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, thyroid cancer occurs roughly three to four times more often in women than in men, and the cancer is more frequently diagnosed in women who have already gone through menopause.
The exact cause of relationship between hysterectomy and thyroid cancer has remained unclear, but researchers continue to point to underlying disorders that led to the need for hysterectomy in the first place as possible culprits. Specifically, current speculation suggests that some of the bleeding disorders, such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and other medical conditions which involve heavy or abnormal bleeding from the uterus, may share a common background with thyroid cancer. It is unclear if this is true because the hormonal environment needed to cause both disorders is the same, or the abnormal activity of a cancer-prone thyroid increases the likelihood of bleeding disorders.
In light of these facts, many doctors recommend increased vigilance regarding thyroid cancers in women's postmenopausal or post-hysterectomy years. Because most cases of thyroid cancer are not associated with risk factors, there is little you can do to prevent it. However, there are some beneficial steps you can take, such as asking for a thyroid collar when getting X-rays, avoiding smoking, getting genetic blood tests to determine if you have a high risk of developing thyroid cancer, and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. This cancer can be treated very successfully depending on the stage of the disease and the age and overall health of the patient. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radioactive iodine therapy and hormone therapy.
