A Few Things to Know About Thyroid Cancer 

A Few Things to Know About Thyroid Cancer 

The thyroid is really interesting because it controls almost every function in the body. It’s incredibly sensitive and responds to stress, toxins, and nutritional deficiencies more than almost any other organ. Because of this, our thyroid health and thyroid hormone levels can tell us a lot about whether our environment, diets, lifestyles are supporting us or not.  Thyroid cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers today, yet it remains one of the least deadly. Despite its vulnerability, thyroid cancer tends to grow slowly and have positive outcomes.

While thyroid cancer is often treatable, the approach to management should be carefully considered. Total thyroidectomy, the complete removal of the gland, is common but comes with lifelong dependency on hormone replacement. It’s important to evaluate whether surgery is truly necessary, especially for small, slow-growing tumors that may not pose an immediate threat. Supporting the thyroid through proper nutrition, stress management, and reducing exposure to endocrine disruptors are all important for prevention and recovery.

While thyroid cancer is increasingly diagnosed, we have not seen increases in mortality. The surge in diagnoses (211% from 1970’s-2013) has largely been due to improved imaging techniques (like ultrasounds) finding tiny, slow-growing tumors that would have never been noticed before. Interestingly, these microcarcinomas can often sit quietly in the thyroid for decades without causing harm.

Surgery is the primary treatment, with total thyroidectomy being the most common procedure. Surgery is done to remove as much of the cancer as possible. The bigger the lump, the more of the thyroid gland must be removed. Often, the entire gland is taken out.

Some things to know about thyroid cancer: 

• Unlike the gut or skin, where cells rapidly renew, thyroid follicular cells function for long periods before needing replacement, so even when they become cancerous, they are usually slow growing. 
• Most thyroid cancers, especially papillary thyroid carcinoma (the most common type, ~80-85% of cases), tend to form well-encapsulated tumors that grow locally rather than aggressively invading other tissues. This makes them more predictable and less prone to rapid metastasis.
• Studies have shown that 5% to 36% of people who die from unrelated causes have small, undiagnosed thyroid cancers upon autopsy. This means a significant percentage of the population carries thyroid cancer without ever knowing it, experiencing symptoms, or dying from it. 
• Many thyroid cancers remain responsive to thyroid hormones, meaning they still “listen” to biological feedback mechanisms. Unlike aggressive cancers that sever their connection to normal growth signals, thyroid tumors often stay partially regulated, limiting their growth and spread. 

Low thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (below 0.4) are protective against thyroid cancer. 

TSH actually functions as a growth signal for thyroid cells, stimulating them to produce and release thyroid hormones. However, this stimulatory effect extends to cancerous thyroid cells as well, particularly in well-differentiated types like papillary and follicular thyroid cancer. Since these cancer cells retain the ability to respond to TSH just like normal thyroid cells, elevated TSH levels can increase tumor growth and increase the risk of recurrence after treatment. This is why thyroid cancer management often includes TSH suppression therapy, using high doses of thyroid hormone to keep TSH levels low and deprive any remaining cancerous cells of their primary growth signal.

Some drivers of thyroid cancer besides TSH: 

1. Polyunsaturated fats. The TSH receptor is located on thyroid cells and is essential for stimulating hormone production. PUFAs incorporate into cell membranes, making them more fluid and unstable, which reduces the receptor’s ability to properly bind to TSH. This weakens the thyroid’s response to TSH, leading to reduced production of thyroid hormones. The body then responds by increasing TSH even more to compensate for lack. 
2. Dental X-rays. According to the American Thyroid Association, repeated exposure to dental X-rays may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, especially when the thyroid is not properly shielded. They warn that repeated low-dose radiation to such a sensitive area particularly over time, can damage thyroid cells, potentially leading to cancerous changes. While modern X-ray technology uses lower radiation doses than in the past, the cumulative effect of frequent imaging, especially in childhood raises concerns. Using a thyroid collar during or opting out of unnecessary dental X-rays can help minimize radiation exposure to the gland.

3. Excess estrogen. Estrogen plays a major role in thyroid function and cancer risk, primarily by increasing thyroid-binding globulin (TBG), raising TSH levels, and promoting thyroid cell proliferation. Excess estrogen binds to estrogen receptors in thyroid tissue, stimulating growth and making thyroid cells more susceptible to mutations and cancerous changes. Additionally, estrogen dominance (too much estrogen relative to progesterone) is linked to thyroid nodules, goiter, and autoimmune thyroid disorders. This may explain why thyroid cancer is three to four times more common in women than in men, particularly during reproductive years when estrogen levels are highest.
4. Hashimoto’s. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the most common autoimmune thyroid condition, is strongly linked to estrogen imbalance and an increased risk of thyroid cancer. Studies suggest that people with Hashimoto’s have a higher risk of developing papillary thyroid carcinoma, the most common type of thyroid cancer. There is a strong estrogen component in immune dysfunction and uninhibited cellular growth which may explain why women with estrogen dominance are more prone to both Hashimoto’s and thyroid cancer.

Treatment and Prevention: 

Because thyroid cancers tend to be slow growing, many people with thyroid cancer die from unrelated causes, and it has a good prognosis (98 percent survival rate after 5 years), I believe aggressive treatment (like entire removal of the gland) may not always be the best approach. Of course it depends on the case, but there are significant consequences to removing the thyroid because it is so critical for energy production throughout the entire body. 

Some strategies for treatment and prevention:

• Keeping TSH low 
• T3 and T4 supplementation
• Progesterone or DHT to counter the effects of estrogen 
• A low PUFA diet 
• Keeping stress and cortisol low
• B-vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacinamide etc.) 
• Adequate vitamin D3/vitamin K2

Hormones with anti-estrogenic effects may help treat thyroid cancer. 

Even though the thyroid is an endocrine (hormone-secreting) gland, mainstream medicine has long suggested that thyroid cancer is not influenced by hormones, similar to receptor-negative breast cancer or “castration-resistant” prostate cancer. However, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) may have therapeutic potential in thyroid cancer. Unlike testosterone, DHT does not aromatize into estradiol (estrogen), which is known to support the growth of many cancers. Estradiol has been linked to increased thyroid cell proliferation and autoimmunity, whereas DHT may have the opposite effect, suppressing cancer growth by restoring cellular metabolism and promoting differentiation. Some research suggests that thyroid cancer cells are more aggressive in high-estrogen environments, while androgens like DHT may slow their progression.

If you do need to remove the gland:

If you need a thyroidectomy (removal of the thyroid gland), it’s important to supplement with both T3 and T4 to keep TSH levels low. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, so it can still be elevated even if the thyroid is removed. 

High TSH levels can stimulate the release of prolactin and other hormones linked to cancer, creating a pro-growth environment. TSH acts as a stress signal in the body, signaling metabolic distress. To prevent this, thyroid hormone therapy should be optimized to fully suppress TSH, mimicking the body’s natural hormone levels. 

Since the thyroid drives energy production, supporting mitochondria becomes even more important. This includes getting enough magnesium, vitamin K, vitamin B1, and adequate carbohydrates to fuel cellular energy. Keeping stress low, estrogen balanced, and the liver healthy are all really important considerations after removal.