Thyroid cancer is the fastest increasing type of cancer in the nation, and medical researchers don't know why. The upswing comes as the rates for most cancers have been declining. The Workshop’s seven-part story and multimedia package sheds new light on the mystery. Over the past two decades, scientists said the increasing rate was a reflection of better diagnostic procedures. However, new research proves there's more to the story than better detection. Although radiation is the only known cause of thyroid cancer, doctors and researchers now point to the increased use of CT scans, chemicals in the environment and benign thyroid disease as risk factors. The Workshop reported on the medical community's about-face regarding the increase, how thyroid cancer is no longer just a “chick's disease" and treatment options and outlook for thyroid cancer patients. The Thyroid 101 guide offers facts, figures and definitions. Thyroid cancer survivors share their stories during video interviews.
See the archived story and contest questionnaire in which the reporter writes about how this story was written.