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THE PROBLEM WITH BEING TOO CAUTIOUS How Often Should You Screen for Thyroid Cancers?
could contribute to cancer forming, as stress, anxiety, and depression all lead to a compromised immune system. Essentially, if a person is always worried about cancer, it might increase the likelihood of being diagnosed with cancer. This is why we should worry about overscreening. False positives are common and can lead to a great deal of anxiety and as unnecessary invasive procedures. Perhaps it would be a different story if overscreening made a difference when it comes to cancer-related deaths, but this doesn’t seem to be the case. A few years back, South Korea instituted a nationwide screening process for thyroid cancer. Since then, the number of diagnosed thyroid cancers increased by 15 percent! However, in that same time, the death rate due to thyroid cancer didn’t change. Diagnosing more cases of cancer didn’t reduce the number of people dying from it. In the case of thyroid cancer, the majority of early diagnoses will likely never cause symptoms or lead to death. In 1947, pathologists recognized that thyroid cancer was frequently found during autopsies, but it was rarely a cause of death. However, we know the worry of cancer can have a negative impact on a patient’s health. While detecting cancer early can save a person’s life, the risks associated with overscreening can be detrimental to a person’s health. It’s up to doctors, patients, and medical professionals to find a healthy balance between caution and worry. Talk to your ENT doctor about how often you should be screened for thyroid cancer and what options you should keep in mind.
There’s nothing quite so frightening to a person’s ears than hearing their doctor say the word “cancer.” Our fear of this disease has led to a massive increase in cancer screenings, including in ENT offices, where doctors check for thyroid cancers. However, experts suspect we’ve begun to overscreen, and we may soon pay for the dangers associated with this habit. Researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway ran a two-year study on over 60,000 people. They were looking into whether having a positive or negative outlook on life could impact the likelihood of a person developing cancer. Their findings suggested that psychological factors
LAUGH! HAVE A
Thai Spaghetti Squash With Peanut Sauce Craving pad thai but anxious about the carbs? Try this lighter version of a classic, delicious dish.
Ingredients
(Recipe inspired by Leelalicious.com.)
Peanut sauce: •
• • •
2 tablespoons white vinegar 2 teaspoons sesame oil 2 teaspoons red curry paste
• • • • • •
1 medium spaghetti squash
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk ¾ cup unsweetened peanut butter ¼ cup coconut sugar 2 tablespoons soy sauce
Olive oil
Salt
•
1 garlic clove, minced ¼ cup chopped parsley 2 tablespoons crushed peanuts
• •
Directions
6. Add spaghetti squash
4. Place sauce ingredients in saucepan and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. 5. Heat skillet over medium
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Half squash and scoop out seeds. 2. Drizzle inside of squash
and crushed peanuts. Stir to combine until heated through, about 2 minutes. Once served, drizzle with more peanut sauce.
with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place squash on baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes.
heat. Add garlic, parsley, and 1/4 of the peanut sauce and combine.
3. Let cool. Using a fork,
scrape out spaghetti squash strands.
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