Thyroid Cancer

The majority of people acknowledge and sympathize with Elizabeth Edwards, wife of the presidential candidate, John Edwards. Hers is the story of successful recovery from the primary breast cancer, only to wake up a few years later to find out the cancer had metastasized to her bone and to her liver. We have additionally learned that although the metastasized cancer can be treated, there no longer is any hope of cure.

Although we hear more about breast cancer, colon cancer and prostrate cancer, the cancer that is the fastest growing in the United States is thyroid cancer, and it affects more women than men by about 2:1.

"Perchlorate is well known as a major component in rocket fuel, but the chemical also forms naturally. In sufficient amounts, perchlorate disrupts the thyroid by inhibiting the uptake of iodide, an essential component of thyroid hormones."

Mary Shoman, in the Thyroid Disease Guide, reports that "... thyroid cancer patients face a 30% increased risk of second primary cancer, when compared to the general population. It is important to note that these are not metastases -- a spread -- of the initial thyroid cancer -- but instead, appearance of an entirely new cancer."