By Dr. Brownstein

Recently, I received this email question:

“Dr. Brownstein stated something in his June, 2014 Natural Way To Health newsletter (http://brownsteinhealth.com/) that caused quite a stir. He said, “Studies have shown that women who take thyroid hormone for more than 15 years have a higher risk of breast cancer than those who have not taken thyroid hormone.”

My question is this: Is the thyroid hormone you are referring to I this statement synthetic hormone or is both synthetic and natural, desiccated thyroid hormone that is causing the cancer?

Thank you for clarifying this. There are a lot of people across many Facebook and Curzone thyroid groups who are quite concerned and we would all like a clarification on this statement, please.

Than you,

Karen D

Karen,

Unfortunately, it is true: there is an association between long-term thyroid hormone use and breast cancer. (1) However, I have a typo in the original article, which I apologize for (no excuses for this one—I looked at the wrong graph). However, the typo does not detract from my explanation of why women who take thyroid hormone have an increased risk of breast cancer.

The study found a 200% (not a 50%) increase risk of breast cancer in women who took thyroid hormone for at least 15 years as compared to women who did not take thyroid hormone.  You read that correctly: a 200% increase risk of breast cancer in women who took thyroid hormone as compared to women who did not take thyroid hormone.

How could that be? The answer is simple: The increased breast risk in thyroid supplemented women is due to iodine deficiency. If the majority of the women were deficient in iodine, then taking thyroid hormone would be the wrong treatment. Thyroid supplementation increases the body’s metabolic needs and therefore increases the body’s need for iodine. If someone is iodine deficient and is prescribed thyroid hormone, thyroid supplementation will worsen the iodine-deficiency problem. As I have stated in my newsletters and books, I believe that iodine deficiency could be responsible for why one in seven U.S. women are suffering with breast cancer.

What is the solution? If you are prescribed thyroid hormone to have your iodine levels checked. If you are low in iodine, it is best to either correct iodine deficiency first or at least take iodine concurrently with thyroid hormone.  Iodine is needed by the breast tissue to maintain a normal breast architecture free of cysts, nodules and cancer.

What if you are already taking thyroid hormone and you are not supplementing with iodine?   It is never too late to have your iodine levels tested. Keep in mind that the thyroid gland often improves its’ function when iodine deficiency is rectified. Therefore, if you are already taking thyroid hormone, starting iodine supplementation may require you to lower your dose of thyroid hormone. An iodine-knowledgeable health care provider can help you with this.

Folks, iodine deficiency is occurring at epidemic rates. I (along with my partners) have tested over 6,000 patients for their iodine status. I can unequivocally state that iodine deficiency is alive and well in the 21^st Century as over 96% of my patients have tested for iodine deficiency—the vast majority significantly deficient.

The original JAMA article did not distinguish between which brands of thyroid hormone were taken. I do not feel it would matter which thyroid hormone prescription was taken as all supplemental thyroid hormones—both natural and synthetic forms—increase the body’s metabolic needs for more iodine.

More information about this can be found in the latest edition (5^th) my book, Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It.  

JAMA. 9.6.1976. Vol. 236, N. 10. 1124

Read the full article here.

Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness
by Dr. Broda Barnes

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