Recently, an equally health-fixated friend of mine passed along a chain email about an episode of Dr. Oz (the TV one, not Oz Garcia, whom I blog about incessantly) that dealt with thyroid cancer. Although it aired in September, and some of you Momoverettes perhaps even saw it, I unfortunately missed it.

But while it’s not hot off the presses, I figure it doesn’t hurt to pass along a major tip dispensed in the show. Especially since it’s easy, and can help us do our bit to keep this loathsome scourge – which is one of the fastest-growing cancers (especially among women, according to Dr. Oz) – at bay.

Because radiation has been linked to thyroid cancer, it’s hyper important that our neck area, where the thyroid resides, stay covered during routine dental Xrays and mammograms. But it almost never is. Why? Because those lead aprons we’re shielded with stop at the base of the throat.

Here’s the rub: Apparently, most of those aprons actually come with detachable neck guards that are often removed by the Xray peeps and tossed in a drawer to languish. So the next time you’re due for one of those exams, make sure to ask about it. I know I will. Not only am I naturally paranoid, but as is well-documented on this blog, I have hypothyroidism.

In fact, if I discover that my dentist and / or mammographer doesn’t keep a thyroid shield on hand, I may just nab one myself and bring it along for the next visit.

Okay, not trying to be Debbie Downer on a happy Sunday morning; some of us are just curious-slash-concerned. If you fall into that camp, I just found a bunch of great, easy-to-wrap your mind info about thyroid cancer on the good doc’s site. Check it out after your big ol’ (multi-grain, topped with healthy berries!) pancake breakfast.