Body Temperature and Thyroid Problems

When your thyroid hormone is working properly inside cells you will make 65% energy and 35% heat as you burn calories for fuel. Thyroid hormone is governing your basal metabolic rate, orchestrating the idling speed at which all cells make energy and thus heat. A classic symptom of poor thyroid function is being too cold. And conversely, a classic symptom of hyperthyroidism is being too hot (making too much heat). However, many people with slow thyroid are too hot, a seeming paradox that I will explain shortly.

Generally, you know all too well if you fit into the too cold category. You always want the thermostat set higher than everyone else or you have on an extra layer of clothes. You go to bed with socks on your feet or you want extra layers of blankets. When this type of coldness matches up with the symptoms of thyroid-related fatigue, you fall into the classic pattern of sluggish or hypothyroid.

In many cases of poor thyroid function a cold feeling is not quite so obvious. Dr. Broda Barnes pioneered the use of the basal temperature test to help identify sluggish thyroid function. This is done by placing a thermometer (not digital) under your arm for ten minutes before getting out of bed. This should be done ten days in a row, averaging the daily reading. Menstruating women should start their ten day test when their menstrual cycle begins, as basal temperature naturally rises 2 degrees at ovulation. If your waking temperature averages from 97.8 to 98.2 degrees it is normal. Less than 97.8 reflects sluggish thyroid function.

It should be noted that there are other factors besides thyroid that can make a person run too cold. Common ones include:

A) Protein malnutrition that is resulting in a loss of muscle. Individuals with borderline thyroid should eat at least ½ their ideal weight in grams of protein per day (avoiding excessive intake of soy protein).

B) Nutrients lacking for cellular energy production (co-enzyme B vitamins, Q10, magnesium).

C) Nutrients lacking to implement cellular DNA thyroid instructions (iron or zinc).

D) Excessive stress, which pools blood around central organs and makes hands and feet cold. Anti-inflammatory nutrients are required to fix this, along with stress management. Fish oil and squalene are very helpful.

E) A viral infection, even a subclinical viral infection. Viruses hijack cellular energy production, shutting down energy and heat production, and making excess lactic acid. This leaves one feeling cold and achy from the lactic acid. This is why you get the chills from the flu. Many viruses, like Epstein-Barr or cytomegalovirus, can operate on a low grade basis – enough to make a person cold, tired, and achy. Such individuals often wake up with a sore throat in the morning. Monolaurin is a top choice for nutrient support.

These coldness issues can masquerade as thyroid problems, and in some cases may in fact be the primary cause of the hypothyroid symptoms. The proof of the source of the problem is in the solution. Whatever helps get energy on and temperature up is what is needed. Sometimes this means thyroid support nutrition. Sometimes it is addressing any issue in A-E above. And many times it is some combination of approaches, including thyroid support.

Many individuals with hypothyroid symptoms are not cold and may even be hot. Remember, normal cell energy production is 65% energy and 35% heat. In classic low thyroid both numbers drop. However, if thyroid hormone is still signaling cells to go, but cells lack nutrients to properly make energy, then a person may make 50% energy and 50% heat. If the problem worsens a person could make 35% energy and 65% heat (and lots of anxiety). Such a problem will present itself as low thyroid, but it is really a deficiency in energy-producing nutrients like co-enzyme B vitamins, Q10, magnesium, and antioxidants.

The most common reason for true low thyroid with excess heat occurs in the overweight individual. In this case the body is trying to dispose of surplus fat calories by converting them to 100% heat. Even though cells are not making adequate energy or heat, the heat is coming from the desperate attempt of the body to get rid of fat so it doesn’t clog organs, cells, and arteries. Eating according to the Leptin Diet solves this problem. Since excess heat produces too many free radicals, extra antioxidants are a good idea.

As thyroid problems deteriorate a person becomes both heat and cold intolerant. Hot humid days are stressful; frigid winter days are stressful. The body’s heat regulating system simply struggles to keep up with environmental demands, especially when they are more extreme. Aging is generally associated with deteriorating thyroid function and troubles regulating body temperature.

Understanding your body’s heating and cooling system is central to effectively managing thyroid health.

"Is it depression or low thyroid?

In the last 25 years a great many good research studies have shown that up to 40% of what psychiatrists diagnose as depression, is actually thyroid imbalance. Many depressions, as well as instances of bipolar, that are refractory to standard psychiatric medicines are actually much better and more successfully treated with thyroid hormone. Dr. Shames further explained that, "Treatment with thyroid hormone is much less expensive and carries much less in the way of risks and side effects than the more standard treatment with Prozac or Zoloft, especially when mental sluggishness of low thyroid is mis-diagnosed as clinical depression."

Better ways of making a more accurate distinction between thyroid problems and depression now exist. Improved diagnostic technology is currently available via quality home test kits ordered by doctors or patients themselves through the internet. (www.CanaryClub.org) Dr. Shames applauds this innovation, since regular thyroid blood tests are so distressingly unreliable. According to this thyroid doctor, "The medical climate is ripe for change."

Richard Shames, MD is a practicing physician, teacher and author. He graduated Harvard and University of Pennsylvania, did research at the National Institutes of Health with Nobel Prize winner Marshall Nirenberg, and has been in private practice for twenty five years. In addition to his medical office work, he has been a member of the Clinical Faculty of the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco, a founding member of the American Holistic Medical Association, a participant in the Carl Menninger Foundation, and a member of Who's Who in California as well as nationally. He has served as Adjunct Faculty at Florida Atlantic University.

Dr. Shames has published a number of health-related books. In addition, he is a popular speaker and local media personality, and has created his own audio and video tape series. The author is well known for his prominence and pioneering work in the holistic field. His newest book is Thyroid Mind Power.

For more information please contact Julie Dietz at Preventive Medical Center of Marin l ocated at 25 Mitchell Blvd # 8 San Rafael, CA 94903. She can be reached at 415-472-2343 extension 7. For further information about Dr. Shames, visit www.thyroidpower.com

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What is Thyroid-Related Fatigue?

Energy is the backbone of life. All systems in your body need energy to function properly. How you produce and distribute energy is complex; thyroid hormone function has a major impact on all of your energy systems. However, not all fatigue or tiredness is due to thyroid malfunction. 


How do you tell the difference?

Thyroid hormone governs the basal metabolic rate, which is like the idling speed of a car engine. Even when you are sitting in a chair or sleeping your 100 trillion cells keep making energy. This type of energy production is the foundation for all other energy and hormonal systems. If it is not up to par, no other system in your body works as well as it should.

When you step on the gas pedal during the day, this is not thyroid hormone that goes into action. Increased activity of any kind is controlled by adrenaline, muscle activity, increased calorie burning, and an increased speed at which your cells make energy. If you have a sluggish thyroid you may still be able to make yourself have the energy to do things based on adrenaline-driven necessity. You may also notice that you have too much reliance on stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, or cigarettes.

A demanding day may deplete muscles of fuel and induce enough wear and tear so that natural tiredness follows. Such fatigue is normal and why we need to sleep. Even pushing it day after day and cutting sleep short may not be a thyroid problem. However, such a poor lifestyle is pushing your system and you may eventually develop a thyroid problem as a result. Getting less than seven hours of sleep per night is asking for trouble.

Thyroid-related fatigue starts to show up when you cannot sustain energy long enough, especially when compared to a past level of fitness or ability. If the thyroid foundation is weak, sustaining energy output is difficult. You will notice you just don’t seem to have the energy to do the things you used to be able to do.

The menstrual cycle, pregnancy, exercise, stress, and physical demands are all examples of increased energy demands requiring increased energy output. Thus, PMS is almost always a thyroid problem to a degree. The increased energy demands of the menstrual cycle are simply too much, partly due to an underlying thyroid weakness. Pregnancy is always a major test of the thyroid, as one’s thyroid is called upon to do metabolic work for two bodies. This is why thyroid issues often flare up during or following pregnancy.

Thyroid hormone is synergistic with growth hormone in muscles, and when these two are working properly together then muscles feel fit. Exercise conditions thyroid hormone to work properly to assist general energy production and a lack of exercise contributes to poor thyroid function. The more fit your muscles feel, the less likely thyroid-related fatigue will be an issue for you. If you have poor thyroid function you frequently feel like you don’t have the energy to exercise and usually don’t on a consistent basis. Muscle weakness is a classic hypothyroid symptom.

One of the key symptoms of thyroid fatigue is a heavy or tired head, especially in the afternoon. Thyroid hormone activity is regulated differently in the brain than anywhere else in the body, as brain cells themselves convert T4 to T3 (active thyroid hormone). Your head is a very sensitive indicator of thyroid hormone status. This is different than low blood sugar symptoms from not having eaten for a while. The head just feels sluggish or tired, lacking clarity or sharpness. When this head tiredness occurs too many hours in the day then you will feel like you want to sleep all the time and you will feel depressed, signs of more advanced thyroid-related fatigue.

Another key sign of thyroid fatigue is conking out as soon as you sit down and don’t actually have to do something (there is no necessity making you have to do something). In this case it feels like your body is a car idling too slowly at a stop sign and it just stalls and goes to sleep. This is a clear sign of thyroid fatigue.

You either do or don’t have the symptoms of thyroid-related fatigue. If you wake up energized, maintain decent energy throughout the day, are able to maintain mental alertness/sharpness, have energy as needed to meet demands, and your muscles feel fit, you do not have thyroid-related fatigue. The more you don’t feel this way, the greater the problem. No lab test is needed. In many cases thyroid lab tests may still be normal, even though you clearly are not. The symptoms tell the story and they never lie.

A New Healthy You 2012 and Beyond

To keep up with the pace of a new year, ready to confront all its challenges, one needs to be prepared. But preparedness requires being armed against the enemies of health and wellness, namely, pollution, stress and chemical toxicity. If life is a gift, then we need to treasure it. And one of the best ways to do so is to nurture our body, mind and spirit.

Here are some helpful suggestions.

Jump-start your life

There is no better way to do this than to simply make up your mind to join the wellness bandwagon. It has now advanced from fad to lifestyle. It’s what you do from day to day that will enable you to successfully handle every task you decide to take on.

You weaken your internal system when these actions continuously become your daily habits:

• Sugar overload—Whether or not you give in to an occasional dessert craving after meals, little do you know that your hidden sugar intake is high. This comes in the form of canned juices, sauces, breads, dressings, mixed drinks and alcohol. In fact, just about everything you consume contains some kind of sweetness, whether it’s honey or sugar (white, brown, muscovado, etc.).

Overloading on sugar will slow you down eventually, even if you seem wired within the first 20 minutes of consuming it. Eventually, your sugar high will taper off and the merry-go-round repeats when the brain signals the need for yet another high. Thus, the sugar craving.

To neutralize the sugars within, take alpha lipoic acid, a sugar antioxidant, and eat leafy greens with every meal to prevent the need for sugar. Note: add more bitter gourd or ampalaya to your diet; this is a known high-blood sugar tonic. Its potency comes from the bitterness, due to the presence of momordicin. Data shows that it has an overall hypoglycemic effect on the blood, thus lowering blood glucose levels.

• Sleeplessness—If you can rule out emotional problems, stress, and alcohol or food bingeing late in the evening, then it’s probably your lifestyle that is causing you to sleep less. Anywhere from six to eight hours daily is the recommended length of sleep daily. If you go without sleep or with less sleep than you should, then your nervous system is working on over-drive. Less sleep, less energy.

• No exercise—There is an alarming upswing in the incidence of Type 2 diabetes in the world. This and other lifestyle diseases like cancer, heart disease and hypertension are directly connected to a sedentary and neglectful lifestyle. Exercise is also connected to the brain and the beauty factor. Through resistance or weight training, the human growth hormone is released. Simultaneously, it lowers stress and cortisol, the stress hormone. So, get moving today and every day. You will only look and feel better.

• Stress out—While stress is good to a certain extent, that it reassures you are still alive, repeated daily stress will wear your body out. Your adrenal glands will become exhausted until you are without energy. Manage your stress by doing simple things to calm you. Try to find time for relaxation. Balance between work and leisure is key. Also, looking on the bright side of life is always a plus factor in determining your immune system’s resilience.

Thyroid watch

It weighs only an ounce and lies in the neck, just below the larynx, your voice box. The thyroid gland may be small, but its role in your health is big. Responsible for producing thyroxine and triiodothyronine, the thyroid (part of the endocrine glands) controls the body’s oxygen consumption (thereby, the metabolic rate), promotes growth and is needed for proper brain development. When it produces too much hormones, the metabolism speeds up, but when it produces too little, the metabolic process slows down. Thus, if you are having difficulty losing or gaining weight, have your thyroid checked.

Hypothyroidism is the main culprit in the weight problems experienced by men and women in their 50s.Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, is the main suspect in the sudden weight loss conditions of people in the 40s-50s age range. In either case, tiredness and exhaustion and mild palpitations are experienced by those with thyroid conditions. Left untreated, these could lead to more serious health concerns like diabetes.

In his book “Hypothyroidism: The Unexpected Illness,” Broda O. Barnes, M.D., explains that people with diabetes have low basal temperatures. If you think your thyroid may be over or under functioning, here’s a test you can do at home.

Before retiring, place a thermometer by your bedside. Upon waking up, take your temperature. For 10 minutes, keep the thermometer in your armpit. If your temperature is not within the normal range of 97.8-98.2°F, then you may have a thyroid condition. A temperature below this range by one to three degrees is indicative of hypothyroidism. If you’re one to three degrees above normal, then you could have hypothyroidism. In any case, pay your doctor a visit.

Self-empowerment

No matter what roadblocks may lay ahead or setbacks you could be facing, always remember that there is an invincible energy source within you. The indestructible part of who you are, your spirit and heart, respond to an immortal God. Thus, the empowerment of the self is not an impossibility; it is in our own soul’s DNA.

So, reach deep within yourself. Find your reserves. Open the gates. And unleash your indefatigable energy  for the entire world to see.

Affirm today: “I am on my way to a healthy new me"

Often No Symptoms Alert Thyroid Cancer Patients

Thyroid cancer doesn't often alert you to its presence until a lump in your neck becomes noticeable. Some lumps are harmless growths called nodules, while others can be due to conditions unrelated to the thyroid gland.

The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck, so you might think that if a tumor is growing the symptoms would be obvious. Unfortunately, thyroid cancer doesn't usually cause any symptoms — until the cancer has grown large enough to show itself in the form of a lump. Complicating the picture even more, not all thyroid growths are thyroid cancer.

"A lump in the thyroid is the most common sign of a thyroid cancer," says Matthew Old, MD, of The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus. Often the lump is hard to the touch and appears on the front or side of the neck.

It may be easier to notice the lump while you're eating — in fact, someone else may spot the lump moving up and down, says Mira Milas, MD, director of the Thyroid Center at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. And that may be all you notice in the early stages of thyroid cancer, says Dr. Milas.

But don't brush it off as nothing suspicious or serious; pay attention to the lump and how it changes. "Any persistent lump (lasting over two weeks) in the thyroid or neck should be promptly evaluated," says Dr. Old.

Variations in Thyroid Cancer Symptoms

"Symptoms between individuals can vary widely," adds Old. Most people have no symptoms, while others can have thyroid cancer symptoms significant enough to be life-threatening, such as breathing problems.

The vast difference in symptoms from person to person really depends on what type of thyroid cancer they have. Papillary thyroid cancer, the most common type, rarely causes any symptoms at all. But anaplastic thyroid cancer, which is extremely rare and deadly, can cause significant symptoms and life-threatening issues, says Old.

Advanced Thyroid Cancer Symptoms

"Thyroid cancer can be quite advanced before causing any symptoms," says Old. Signs of advanced thyroid cancer may include:

• Swollen neck
• Swollen thyroid gland
• Lump on the gland
• Losing weight
• Coughing
• Pain in the neck
• Hoarse voice
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing

Could It Be Something Else?

It's important to know that even a lump in your neck doesn’t automatically mean that you have thyroid cancer. Because most cancers of the thyroid do not cause any symptoms, it’s more likely that the lump is a benign thyroid nodule — a non-cancerous growth.

"Most lumps or nodules of the thyroid are not cancer. The thyroid may enlarge and develop into a goiter, which is [also] not cancer," says Old. "Many things can cause lumps in the neck, ranging from benign congenital abnormalities to infections to cancers not related to the thyroid."

Even something as harmless as a toothache, a sinus infection, or some other infection could mimic thyroid cancer symptoms, says Milas, adding, "People who have lymphoma also have lumps or masses in the neck that might mimic thyroid cancer."

Testing, which includes an ultrasound of your thyroid gland to show the location of the lump, is the only sure way to determine if you have thyroid cancer.

Last Updated: 09/28/2010

FREE WORKSHOP: Safe Self-Care For Cancer Patients & Survivors

WHEN: January 26, 2012   6:00PM to 8:00PM

WHERE: The Fine Grind - A Coffee Bar  

                 101 Newark Pompton Turnpike, 
                 Suite 8, Little Falls NJ 

WHAT: Free Workshop Safe Self-Care For Cancer Patients & Survivors

Author and Cinco Vidas Founder Britta Aragon will be the guest speaker in this lecture on topics like safe self care during and after cancer, managing difficult life transitions after cancer, how to care for compromised skin and more!

Britta Aragon has been featured at Gilda’s Club Cancer Community Support Center, Life and Liberty Cancer Events, and more, she enjoys spreading the word about raising the standard of safe self care. We hope you will join us!

Find out “how chemical smart” you are and how to keep away from products that contain harsh and potentially harmful ingredients. You'll leave with more knowledge so that you can make decisions about your own self care.

FREE REGISTRATION  http://www.facebook.com/events/238344769561572

About Our Guest Speaker: Britta Aragon, natural beauty expert, author and entrepreneur, discovered her passion for promoting safe self-care through her experience as a caregiver during her father's eight-year battle with cancer. A survivor herself of Hodgkin’s Disease at the age of 16, she sought solutions for the difficult side effects her father suffered on his hair, skin and nails, but was disheartened by the lack of straightforward information or effective products. 

She learned that even when she tried products specifically touted for “sensitive skin,” they were often laden with potentially harmful chemicals that actually irritated her father’s fragile skin. For the first time, she became acutely aware of how devastating the side effects from drugs and medical treatments could be. 

Inspired and determined to help others, Britta Aragon founded Cinco Vidas in 2008, and dedicated her work to her father's legacy. A lifestyle brand of products and services, Cinco Vidas provides expert resources and safe solutions to those experiencing side effects from chemotherapy, radiation or medication, and those who experience skin conditions like eczema, sensitivity and chronic dryness. With the goal of fostering prevention and encouraging change, Cinco Vidas also works to increase awareness of potential carcinogens in food, personal care products, and the environment. 

Britta lectures on Safe Self-Care for Compromised Skin in the New York Metro Area,  where she shares all the knowledge she has gathered as a result of her unique personal experience and years working as a makeup artist and skincare expert. Her blog, Cinco Vidas, is a popular resource and community support center for those dealing with medical treatment side effects and difficult skin conditions. She is also the author of WHEN CANCER HITS, a hand-holding guide for the newly diagnosed cancer patient, and the creator of CV Skin Labs, a safe, non-toxic range of products to soothe and repair damaged skin without harmful chemicals. 

Her book When Cancer Hits was released in September 2011, and CV Skin Labs launches February 2012. Both will be available through her website at www.cincovidas.com

Foods That May Affect Your Thyroid Health

As you know thyroid cancer patients and survivors must routinely follow a low iodine diet prior to a Radioactive Iodine Scan. What many people don't know is that what we eat or don't eat on a regular basis does affect our overall thyroid health and how effectively our thyroid hormone replacement therapy works.

Here are 2 basic lists to consider and discuss with your doctor or better yet a nutritionist.

Foods that May Speed Up a Slow Thyroid

1. Sea Weed:  Naturally rich in iodine as well as trace minerals, sea weed has long been considered a food that supports thyroid function.   Indeed, native peoples subsisting on their traditional diets often went to very great lengths to obtain sea vegetables in effort to avoid goiter.   Iodine is critical to thyroid health and function.   Without adequate dietary iodine, your body is unable to manufacture the thyroid hormones.   Of course, excess intake of iodine-rich foods is also implicated in thyroid disease.   Remember: moderation is the key, not excess.   (Want to up your sea vegetable intake?   Try my coconut milk kanten with wild plums or my cucumber and daikon radish salad with hijiki.)

2. Coconut Oil: Coconut oil also supports proper thyroid function as it slightly stimulates thyroid hormone production and the metabolism.   In this way, wise incorporation of coconut oil into the the diet is thought to support thyroid health and help sufferers of hypothyroidism to lose weight.   Coconut oil may also help to reduce cholesterol in hypothyroid patients as thyroid suppression in and of itself raises blood cholesterol levels.   Coconut oil is largely comprised of saturatef fat and saturated fat promotes thyroid function.

3. Shellfish: Shellfish, like sea vegetables, are naturally rich in iodine – the nutrient that is critically important to thyroid function as iodine molecules are used inthe production of thyroid hormones.

Foods that May Slow Down a Speedy Thyroid

1. Fermented Soy Foods: Soy is very goitrogenic. A strong suppressor of thyroid hormones, some research indicates that soy may even be more effective in thyroid suppression than anti-thyroid drugs.   Don’t forget that soy is a potent food, and that while sufferers of hyperthyroidism might welcome soy’s thyroid-suppressing effects, take care to eat soy in its fermented state in foods like tempeh and miso as soy also contains antinutrients like phytic acid which impair the body’s overall ability to absorb many nutrients.

2. Raw Cruciferous Vegetables: Raw cruciferous vegetables also suppress thyroid function.   Cruciferous vegetables like kohlrabi, cabbage, cauliflour, rapini, turnips and brussels sprouts contain goitrogens that interfere with iodine uptake and, in that way, also interfere with production of thyroid hormones.   (Want to get more raw cruciferous veggies into your diet?   Try my Simple Slaw with Flaxseed Oil & Honey.)

3. Millet: Millet, like cruciferous vegetables, contains goitrogens and interferes with iodine uptake. Cooking millet, as well as goitrogen-rich cruciferous vegetables, may mitigate its antithyroid effects to some degree.

Foods that Aren’t Doing Anyone’s Thyroid a Favor

1. Gluten-containing Grains: Recent research into autoimmune diseases and autoimmune thyroid disease in particular indicates that there’s a strong connection between celiac disease and thyroid disease.     Indeed, study published in Digestive Diseases & Science indicates that sufferers of autoimmune thyroid disease have roughly a 400% greater chance of also suffering from celiac disease than control groups.   Moreover, some research indicates that after 3-6 months on a gluten-free diet, those pesky anti-thyroid antibodies virtually disappear.   That’s a poweful case to remove wheat, barley and other gluten-containing grains from your diet if you suffer from any form of autoimmune thyroid disease.

2. Unfermented Soy: Unfermented soy foods – particularly those rich in concentrated isoflavones and genistien – contribute to autoimmune thyroid disease.   Reasearch into soy formula and its effects on babies indicates that babies fed soy formula are more likely to develope autoimmune thyroid disease and large concentrations of unfermented soy may adversely thyroid function in adults.   If you eat soy, keep to small amounts and always choose fermented forms

About the Author: Wilma Ariza is the Founder of Stevie JoEllie's Cancer Care Fund a thyroid cancer awareness, access to care and free supportive services nonprofit project of United Charitable Programs Inc., a 501(c)3 Public Charity 

Find Us @ Facebook.com/sjccfthynet

Introducing: Your Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is a major endocrine organ and the biggest gland in the neck. It is situated in the anterior (front) neck below the skin and muscle layers. The thyroid gland takes the shape of a butterfly with the two wings being represented by the left and right thyroid lobes which wrap around the trachea. 

The sole function of the thyroid is to make thyroid hormone. This hormone has an effect on nearly all tissues of the body where it increases cellular activity. The primary function of the thyroid, therefore, is to regulate the body's metabolism.

Common Thyroid Problems

The thyroid gland is prone to several very distinct problems, some of which are extremely common. These problems can be broken down into [1] those concerning the production of hormone (too much, or too little), [2] those due to increased growth of the thyroid, causing compression of important neck structures or simply appearing as a mass in the neck, [3] the formation of nodules or lumps within the thyroid which are worrisome for the presence of thyroid cancer, and [4] those which are cancerous.

Goiters ~ A thyroid goiter is a dramatic enlargement of the thyroid gland. Goiters are often removed because of cosmetic reasons or, more commonly, because they compress other vital structures of the neck including the trachea and the esophagus making breathing and swallowing difficult. Sometimes goiters will actually grow into the chest where they can cause trouble as well. Several nice x-rays will help explain all types of thyroid goiter problems.

Thyroid Cancer ~ Thyroid cancer is a fairly common malignancy, however, the vast majority have excellent long term survival rates. In future blog posts we will continue to discuss, as we have discussed in the past,  the different  characteristics of each type of thyroid cancer and its typical treatment, follow-up, and prognosis.

Solitary Thyroid Nodules ~ There are several characteristics of solitary nodules of the thyroid which make them suspicious for malignancy. Although as many as 50% of the population will have a nodule somewhere in their thyroid, the overwhelming majority of these are benign. Occasionally, thyroid nodules can take on characteristics of malignancy and require either a needle biopsy or surgical excision.

Hyperthyroidism ~ Hyperthyroidism means too much thyroid hormone. Current methods used for treating a hyperthyroid patient are radioactive iodine, anti-thyroid drugs, or surgery. Each method has advantages and disadvantages and is selected for individual patients. Many times the situation will suggest that all three methods are appropriate, while other circumstances will dictate a single best therapeutic option. Surgery is the least common treatment selected for hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism ~ Hypothyroidism means too little thyroid hormone and is a common problem. In fact, hypothyroidism is often present for a number of years before it is recognized and treated. There are several common causes, including thyroidectomy and treatment for thyroid cancer.  However, hypothyroidism can even be associated with pregnancy. Treatment for all types of hypothyroidism is usually straightforward.

Thyroiditis ~ Thyroiditis is an inflammatory process ongoing within the thyroid gland. Thyroiditis can present with a number of symptoms such as fever and pain, but it can also present as subtle findings of hypo or hyper-thyroidism. There are a number of causes, some more common than others and your doctor is your best source information on this topic. 

A Survivor's Wellness Plan

After cancer treatment, many survivors want to find ways to reduce the chances of their cancer coming back. Some worry that the way they eat, the stress in their lives, or their exposure to chemicals may put them at risk. Cancer survivors find that this is a time when they take a good look at how they take care of themselves. This is an important start to living a healthy life.

When you meet with your doctor about follow up care, you could ask about developing a wellness plan that includes ways you can take care of your physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. The following are changes you may want to think about making.

• QUIT SMOKING:  Research shows that smoking can increase the chances of getting cancer at the same site or another site.

• CUT DOWN ON ALCOHOL: Research shows that drinking alcohol increases your chances of getting certain types of cancers.

• EAT WELL: Healthy food choices and physical activity may help reduce the risk of cancer or recurrence. Talk with your doctor or a nutrionist to find out about any special dietary needs that you may have.

The American Cancer Society and the American Institute for Cancer Research have developed similar diet and fitness guidelines that may help reduce the risk of cancer:

• Eat a plant based diet and have at least 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables daily. Try to include beans in your diet, eath whole grains such as cereals, breads and pasta several times daily.
• Choose foods that are low in fat and low in salts.
• Get to and stay at a healthy weight.

Exercise and Stay Active: Several recent reports suggest that staying active after cancer treatment can help lower the risk of recurrence and can lead to longer survival. Moderate excercise (walking, biking, swimming) for about 30 minutes every or almost everyday - can reduce anxiety and depression, improve mood and boost self esteem.

Regular exercise also reduces fatigue, nausea, pain and diarrhea. It is important to start and exercise program slowly and increase activity over time, working with your doctor or a physical therapist if needed.  If you need to stay in bed during your recovery, even small activities like stretching or moving your arms and legs can help you stay flexible, relieve muscle tension and help you feel better.

Talk with your doctor before beginning an exercise routine or changing your diet.