Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid cancer. Significant exposure to radiation can increase a person’s risk of this type of thyroid cancer, says endocrine surgeon James Wu, MD. Some families have genetic mutations that put them at greater risk for thyroid cancer, which is why family health history is important to discuss with your provider.
Most patients haven’t been exposed to radiation and they don’t have a family health history of thyroid problems. In these cases, it’s unknown exactly what causes thyroid cancer. Several studies have looked at smoking, obesity, pesticides and other factors, but the data isn’t strong enough to prove a direct correlation to thyroid cancer.
No matter the cause, long-term outcomes for most thyroid cancer patients at UCLA Health are excellent. If you have questions about your thyroid cancer risk, talk to your health care provider or endocrinologist. Learn more about the UCLA Health Endocrine Center: [ Ссылка ]
