The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ that is found at the bottom or base of the neck. Its function is to release hormones that control metabolism in the body. Metabolism is the way the body uses energy. It regulates the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and body weight. Thyroid cancers occur in the cells of the thyroid due to genetic changes or mutations. These cells grow rapidly forming a tumor and invade nearby tissues and other parts of the body. As the cause is still unknown, preventive measures for thyroid cancer are based on the risk category and other factors.

Eating a healthy diet, high in fruits and vegetables, and low in animal fat is recommended to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer. There is a choice for people to have their thyroid removed as a preventive measure for thyroid cancer.

Risk factors for thyroid cancer:

• Family history
  This type of cancer is said to run in families sometimes. There is an increased risk of developing medullary thyroid cancer if an abnormal gene is inherited.
• Radiation exposure
  Thyroid cancer can develop due to radiation treatments to the head and neck, especially during childhood. The fallout from a nuclear power plant could also cause exposure to radiation.
• Lack of iodine
  For the thyroid gland, to produce the thyroid hormone, iodine is very necessary. Lack of iodine in the diets of people in countries like central Asia and central Africa is the common cause of thyroid cancer in those countries.
• Goiter
  An enlargement of the thyroid gland is a risk factor to develop thyroid cancer.
• Gender
  More than men, women are three times more likely to develop thyroid cancer.
• Age
  In rare cases when men are diagnosed with thyroid cancer, most often it would occur in their 60s or 70s only. Whereas in women, it is diagnosed in their 40s and 50s itself.

The prevention of thyroid cancer is still debatable, as to whether it is possible or not. However, there are some proven ways to reduce or eliminate the risk of thyroid cancer.

A healthy diet
Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in animal fat is said to greatly reduce the risk of not only thyroid cancer but also other types of cancer too. Eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day is recommended by the American Cancer Society. Foods that are rich in unsaturated fats help fight against cancer. Omega – 3 fatty acid found in salmon and other fish is especially good in reducing the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight is advised to protect against not only thyroid cancer but also many other diseases.

Prophylactic surgery
This is an extreme method of reducing the risk of developing thyroid cancer. However, when there are changes in certain genes, there is an increased risk of thyroid cancer. In such cases, a person can choose to have their thyroid removed to prevent the development of cancer in the thyroid.

In most cases of thyroid cancer, there are no known risk factors and therefore difficult to prevent. The best option would be to begin therapy in the early stages of cancer growth. Iodine levels in the diet and radiation exposure have been linked to thyroid cancer, especially during childhood.