Thyroid cancer, which affects about 11 people per 100,000 each year, appears to be on the rise, according to an article in the Indianapolis Star. But medical experts are unsure why.
National Cancer Institute statistics suggest that in recent years the number of cases of thyroid cancer has increased by 6.5%, making it the fastest-increasing cancer in the U.S.
"Ten years ago if I saw four new thyroid cancer patients a year, it would have been a lot," said G. Irene Minor, a radiation oncologist with Indiana University Health Central Indiana Cancer Center, told the Star. "Now sometimes I see that many in a month, and I have seen three in a week."
Experts remain divided on the cause of the increase, although some attribute it to better screening methods, which means smaller tumors are being detected more often than previously possible. Other potential causes include obesity, radiation exposure -- particularly from dental x-rays -- and diets low in fruits and vegetables, the Star noted.
Often, thyroid cancer has no symptoms but is diagnosed when a person or his or her physician notices a lump in the neck. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing or the sensation of a lump in the throat or voice changes, according to the Star.
