Check Your Neck

Did you know that September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month? I didn't either, until Henry was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer is one of the few cancers that has increased in incidence over the past few years. Statistics show that just over 37,000 people will be diagnosed in the United States each year. Even though thyroid cancer is incredibly treatable, roughly 1600 people a year die from thyroid cancer.

One of the difficulties in diagnosing thyroid cancer is that it is typically asymptomatic. Most people who are diagnosed with thyroid cancer feel fine, with the only sign that anything is wrong is a lump in their neck.

As far as children go, thyroid cancer accounts for less than 1% of all pediatric cancers in the 5-9 year old age group. For a child under 10, the chance of contracting thyroid cancer is about 1 in 1,000,000. Children with thyroid cancer typically respond very well to treatment, although the cancer tends to be more aggressive and faster-growing.

If you see or notice a lump in your neck, get it checked. Please.

For more information about thyroid cancer, check out www.thyca.org or www.checkyourneck.com.