New ties found between estrogen and thyroid cancer

Prolonged lifetime exposure to female reproductive hormones may significantly elevate a woman’s risk of developing thyroid cancer. A major study presented by researchers from The Catholic University of Korea at the Endocrine Society annual meeting last weekend analyzed data from approximately 5.7 million women aged 40 and older and found that a longer reproductive lifespan, or the duration between the first menstrual period and menopause, was associated with a progressively higher risk of the disease. Hormone replacement therapy was also linked to increased risk. “These results show how common life events in women may influence cancer risk,” said Jinyoung Kim, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Medicine at the Catholic University of Korea.