Medicine has always been a passion for pediatrician Ulana Pogribina, 28, but lately she's been the patient. Last year, she knew something was wrong.
"I was tired fairly often and had trouble losing weight," said Pogribina. "Looking back now it makes sense."
Her doctor discovered a lump on her throat -- it turned out to be thyroid cancer.
The thyroid is the gland in the neck that produces critical hormones. New statistics reveal this year more than 27,000 women will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer. That's nearly three times the number of men, and an increase for women of almost six percent from last year.
Just two days after Dr. Ron Karni surgically removed Pogribina's thyroid and the cancer at Memorial Hermann Hospital, Pogribina is grateful for an early diagnosis.
"At first, when you hear it's cancer the rational side kind of goes away and you say, 'oh no!'" said Pogribina. "But it's a very high cure rate and it was caught early."
Why the number of cases is rising, particularly among women, is a medical mystery. For reasons that are not understood, women are more likely to have thyroid problems, then men, particularly women between the ages of 30 and 60.
Scientists have known radiation can cause thyroid cancer, and recent studies have shown CAT scans can produce more radiation than originally thought, even dental X-rays are being called into question.
"Usually, when you get X-rays, you will feel that heavy apron across your body and it should be placed across your thyroid as well," said Dr. Karni.
Pogribina is unique because she grew up in the Ukraine, living just hours from Chernobyl.
"Radiation is one of the few risk factors for thyroid cancer and I do have that," said Pogribina.
Doctors have no solid evidence about what causes this growing problem, but most people, like Pogribina, are cured with treatment.
If you notice a lump on your throat, or have trouble swallowing, you should contact your doctor. It's important to note, even if you have thyroid hormone problems, that does not mean you'll develop cancer.
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