The Thyroid

Last week Daymond John, the Shark Tank star revealed on Good Morning America that he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.  The CEO of FUBU underwent surgery to remove the nodule on his thyroid that was discovered during an extensive physical.  John decided to be more proactive about his health and decided on a comprehensive physical as opposed to the regular annual examination.  This decision may have saved his life.

In a sit-down interview with Robin Roberts Daymond disclosed that it was stage 2 cancer on his thyroid.  He went on to emphasize the importance of early detection in fighting cancer.

So what exactly is the thyroid?  The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck below the Adams apple. The thyroid gland uses iodine (mostly from the diet in foods such as salt and seafood) to produce thyroid hormones.  These hormones help to regulate the body’s metabolism and controls many functions in the body, including how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats.

Diseases of the thyroid causes this organ to make either too much or too little of the hormone. Depending on the amount of hormone the thyroid produces, symptoms vary from fatigue or restlessness and weight gain or loss.  Women are more likely than men to have thyroid diseases, especially right after pregnancy and after menopause.

I decided to focus on John’s story because it exemplifies the importance of taking responsibility for your own health.  John stated he had no symptoms yet he had cancer. I’m using this platform to raise awareness on the importance of early detection and regular screening and diagnostics, such as mammograms.

Tomorrow I will provide you with information on the best diet for an underactive thyroid.