Thyroid Cancer: Risk Factors

What is a risk factor?


Things you should know about risk factors for cancer:


  • Some people with 1 or more risk factors never get cancer. Other people can get cancer but have no risk factors.



Who is at risk for thyroid cancer?

Risk factors for thyroid cancer include:

  • Gender. Women have 3 times the risk of getting thyroid cancer than men.

  • Age. Thyroid cancer can occur at any age. But it is more common in women in their 40s and 50s, and men in their 60s and 70s.

  • History of radiation exposure. Your risk is higher if you had radiation to your throat area as a child. It’s also higher if you were exposed to nuclear fallout from power plant accidents or nuclear weapons.

  • Iodine deficiency. Your risk is higher if you have a diet low in the mineral iodine.

  • Family history. Thyroid cancer and thyroid disease can run in families. Also people with some inherited genetic syndromes that are passed down in families are at higher risk.


What are your risk factors?
