The thyroid gland is a gland in the neck situated in front of the windpipe, just below the Adam’s apple. It resembles a butterfly, with a lobe on the right and a lobe on the left side connected with a bridge of tissue. The thyroid gland produces a hormone called thyroxine, which is necessary for metabolism. Thyroxine helps the cells function at the right speed. So, if too much of the hormone is produced, the cells work faster and the body starts working faster. If too little of the hormone is produced the body slows down. When a person is affected with thyroid cancer, the body generally tends to slow down. Preventative measures for thyroid cancer may be almost impossible if the cancer reaches an advanced stage.

What is thyroid cancer?
Most of the people affected with thyroid cancer show symptoms of a painless lump in the place of the thyroid gland. If the cells of the thyroid gland start to divide uncontrollably, that is considered as thyroid cancer. The hypothalamus, which is located below the brain, secretes a hormone called thyrotropin into the hypophyseal portal system. This portal system is a network of capillaries linking the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary then releases a hormone of its own, called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).

Thyroid gland
The thyroid gland has small follicles. These follicles are hollow and are lined with follicular cells. Follicular cells convert thyroglobulin, which is a protein found in follicles, into two iodine-containing hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).

Once the hormones T3 and T4 are released from the thyroid gland, they enter into the blood and bind to circulating plasma proteins. Only a small amount of T3 and T4 will travel unbound in the blood, and these two hormones get picked up by nearly every cell in the body. Inside the cell, T4 is then converted to T3.

Two simple ways to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer:
Listed below are some preventative measures for thyroid cancer.

Regular check ups: The first preventative measure for thyroid cancer is to perform a regular thyroid check. This is a basic test that could detect swelling, bumps, and lumps on your thyroid if a person experiences them on the surface of his neck. However, in some of the cases, bumps and nodes cannot be seen or felt over the surface.

Avoid smoking: Research says that smoking induces not just thyroid cancer but any type of cancer. Terminating a smoking habit may not be an easy task, so it’s best to have your physician involved. There are numerous convenient options available to help you quit smoking. Doing away with your habit of smoking is one of the best preventative measures for thyroid cancer.