Dr. Bouvet Discusses Risk Factors for Thyroid Cancer

Michael Bouvet, MD, professor of surgery, University of California, San Diego, discusses risk factors for thyroid cancer.

The causes of most thyroid cancers are unknown, says Bouvet. There are several risk factors for thyroid cancer including radiation exposure. A history of radiation exposure, such as a radiation disaster like Chernobyl and Fukushima, can heighten the likelihood of developing thyroid cancer, among other malignancies.

Additionally, some people may have a higher risk of thyroid cancer due to family history. However, Bouvet says that there is greater awareness for thyroid cancer now, and it remains to be a very curable cancer.