The Thyroid-Breast Cancer Connection

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The Thyroid-Breast Cancer Connection

Iodine deficiency can lead to thyroid issues and eventually breast cancer. 

In coaching hundreds of women on  "The 7 Essentials System" for healing the body naturally, over half of them have "low thyroids" and many have been diagnosed with "thyroid cancer."

Indeed, it's estimated today that 27 million Americans, 80% of them women, suffer from "thyroid disease" (a.k.a. hypothyroidism) and that more than 60,000 were diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid last year. What exactly is causing this epidemic of weak thyroids and how does this relate to breast cancer?

Iodine Deficiency Leads to a Weak Thyroid

First, let's talk about what causes a weak and poor-functioning thyroid in general. I am not an endocrinologist so for simplicity's sake, I will focus on the thyroid gland itself rather than all the many connections the thyroid has with other parts of the endocrine system and the body.

Basically, thyroids are weaker these days because the average American diet is extremely deficient in Iodine. It has been estimated that 90% of the world's population is iodine deficient. As shocking as this may seem, I can tell you that 99% of every man and woman that I have tested in the last 3 years have been Iodine deficient.

Iodine is necessary for the healthy function of all glandular tissues, including the breasts, the uterus, the prostate, the ovaries, and the thyroid. All of these glandular tissues concentrate iodine in order to maintain healthy cell architecture.

So what happens to your thyroid when you don't have enough Iodine? If there is not enough of this important mineral in your body, the cell matrix will transform into cyst-like structures. It will develop nodules and cysts and the result is fibrocystic breasts, polycystic ovaries and uterine fibroids.

If cyst growth continues and the cysts themselves become nodular and develop hyperplasia (increased cell growth), this can lead to cancer.

[Important Note: Thyroid cancer is highly overdiagnosed and one must be extremely careful today taking any cancer diagnosis at face value. Read Sayer Ji article, "Thyroid Cancer Epidemic Caused by Misinformation, Not Cancer," and Dr. Jeffrey Dach, MD's article,"Is The Epidemic of Thyroid Nodule 'Cancers' A Medical Illusion?", for more information.]

Thyroid Medication Increases Your Risk of Breast Cancer

Breast tissue has a "trapping" system for iodine, very similar to that of the thyroid gland itself; in a sense, it competes with the thyroid for iodine. Medicating a woman for a low-functioning thyroid is like adding gasoline to a fire since most thyroid medication increases the risk of developing breast cancer, as well as lung cancer. Studies have shown that women taking medication for their thyroid are twice as likely to develop breast cancer.

 

Iodine is an Anti-Oxidant

Iodine is an anti-oxidant and anti-cancer agent. It is also a requisite for the growth and maintenance of normal breast tissue. When there is iodine deficiency, there are changes in DNA/RNA ratios as well as changes in estrogen receptor proteins. You guessed it ─ these changes can lead to Breast Cancer.  

Iodine is also necessary for proper immune function, especially since your immune cells are engulfing and ingesting bacteria and other unhealthy cells all the time. As an anti-oxidant, iodine displaces mercury, aluminum, lead, and halides like bromide and fluoride. Bromide is a flame retardant and is found in all electronics like IPads, cell phones and computers as well as clothing, carpeting and furniture.

With all the radiation that we are exposed to these days (especially after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011), maintaining adequate amounts of Iodine in the body is vital for the healthy functioning of the thyroid gland and other glandular tissues.

Endocrinologist Dr. Guy Abraham has studied the iodine-thyroid connection for over 25 years and is convinced that iodine supplementation is absolutely necessary to replenish deficiencies.

"The benefits of [Iodine] supplementation within the range used in FDB (fibrocystic disease of the breast) outweigh the risks,"

Dr. Abraham's said in regards to his recent study of the effects of Iodine supplementation on this condition.

The great news is that when tissues are nourished with enough iodine, depleted cells can revert back to healthy, normal cells. Supplementation with products that contain both iodine and potassium iodide can be very beneficial.  In order to determine how much iodine you need to take, do a 24 hour iodine loading test to insure that you will supplement with the proper amounts.

If you have any of these symptoms, consider the possibility of being iodine deficient:

  • Fibrocystic breasts
  • Nodules on your thyroid
  • Hypothyroid
  • Polycystic ovaries
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Breast cancer
  • Enlarged prostate
  • Prostate Cancer

Breast Cancer prevention includes taking steps to ensure proper thyroid function ─ and a healthy thyroid begins with proper amounts of iodine in the body. Get an iodine screening today and take measures to keep your thyroid healthy, happy and working properly for the health of your breasts and your system overall.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of GreenMedInfo or its staff.

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