The link between thyroid cancer & lifestyle

Thyroid cancer can be a scary diagnosis to receive. But there is a lot you can do for your thyroid cancer - and I don’t just mean surgery and treatment! The lifestyle that you lead can have a massive influence on your thyroid cancer and how well you recover from treatment.

Let’s dive into the links between thyroid cancer and lifestyle, as well as some tips on how you can make improvements starting today.

Lifestyle considerations for thyroid cancer

Stress & stress management

One of the most common drivers behind any chronic health condition is stress. We are all exposed to stress on a daily basis - but it’s not just about the amount of stress you experience. It’s more to do with how you and your body cope and process those experiences.

Stress can increase inflammation, throw off immune function, deplete nutrients that keep your cells healthy and disrupt other supportive factors (e.g. sleep, exercise, eating a healthy diet).

And on top of that, you have the additional stress of your diagnosis, treatment and other implications - job security, financial concerns, even the strain on your family. That’s why stress management is top of the list for every single person with thyroid cancer!

Need some tips to get you started? Find them right here.

Sleep

Another major consideration is sleep - both in terms of quality and quantity. One of the known risk factors for thyroid cancer is circadian rhythm disruption. This disruption can occur due to:

  • Shift work

  • Night work

  • Regular jet lag

  • Exposure to bright light at night time

  • A combination of the above

Poor sleep can have countless negative effects on the body. It can interfere with blood glucose and insulin levels, increase stress hormones, feed into inflammation and impair the body’s repair efforts. So when it comes to thyroid cancer, prioritising sleep is a must.

Need to work on your sleep? Get started with these simple ideas.

Exercise

Physical activity has countless health benefits, and thyroid cancer is no exception. Although moving your body might be the last thing you want to do, research suggests that it’s a good idea.

One study found that 12 weeks of home-based exercise led to:

  • Reduction in both fatigue and anxiety

  • Improved quality of life

  • Increased natural killer cells (white blood cells that can destroy cancer cells)

Now of course, you shouldn’t jump straight into an intense workout plan or begin exercising days after your surgery! You want to consult with your surgeon and endocrinologist first, as they can guide you as to when to begin and what types of movement are safe. But including regular physical activity is a pillar of thyroid cancer prevention and management.

Environmental exposures

The thyroid gland is particularly vulnerable to environmental toxins and chemicals. So you want to be aware of what you’ve been exposed to previously, but also what you are still exposed to!

Some of the problematic substances for the thyroid include:

  • Endocrine disruptors

  • Radiation

  • Heavy metals

  • Cigarettes and smoking

  • Recreational drugs

Some prescription medications can also interfere with thyroid function and/or hormone conversion.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to be living near a nuclear power plant to be exposed! For example, many endocrine-disrupting compounds are added to everyday cleaning products, personal care products and beauty products. That’s why I recommend using natural alternatives whenever possible.

What about genetics?

There can be a genetic factor at play with thyroid cancer. However, it isn’t a case of ‘I have this gene, so I will get thyroid cancer’. The research into the genes behind thyroid cancer is still in its infancy - we simply don’t know the bigger picture yet. But what we do know is that some genes can increase risk of thyroid cancer.

A common analogy is that your genes are like a loaded gun - it’s not dangerous by itself, and it needs something to pull the trigger. In this case, diet & lifestyle factors are what end up pulling the trigger. That’s why being aware of the effects of diet and lifestyle is critical for long-term protection.

NEED SOME GUIDANCE TO MANAGE YOUR POST-CANCER HYPOTHYROIDISM?

Don’t be fooled by the name - my Hypothyroidism & Hashimoto’s Recovery Program can help with post-cancer care as well!

This comprehensive program includes:

  • 6 modules covering the most important information you need to understand hypothyroidism and how to support it naturally

  • Resources on thyroid testing and which tests will give you the best overview of your thyroid function/thyroid hormone balance

  • Steps to help you identify triggers and avoid thyroid flares

  • 6 restorative Naturopathic Yoga sessions

  • Thyroid meditations

  • A BONUS 4 step gut healing protocol (because many of the triggers for thyroid conditions are found in the gut!)

Join my Hypothyroidism & Hashimoto’s Recovery Program here.

Important note:

This information is not a substitute for medical advice or personalised support from a healthcare practitioner. I always recommend consulting your healthcare professional before making changes to medications, adding supplements, changing your diet or altering your lifestyle.

Thyroid ConditionsTara Nelsonthyroid cancer, thyroid disease