Increase in Thyroid Cancer Puzzles Experts

I am 60, live in Baltimore, and immigrated from Kharkiv (Ukraine) 21 years ago. Last week, I had total thyroidectomy. My best friend who is also 60, currently residing in San Francisco, and with whom we unseparable in Kharkiv back in 1986 (the time of Chernobyl explosion) had a similar surgery half a year ago. Another woman from Kharkiv and of our age, who also lives in the USA, had her thyroid removed a few months ago.

All our tumors were discovered by accident and luckily, at early stages.

I'm afraid there is more than a mere coincidence for a rare disease like thyroid cancer.

I believe, being from Ukraine or Belorussia should be included in US guidelines for primary care physicians as a risk factor for thyroid cancer. Then it will be easier for researchers to determine causes of possible bumps of the disease.

Lana of MD 12:58PM August 07, 2009