Hyderabad: Hypothyroidism was found to occur in 21.5 per cent of patients with oral tongue cancer within three months of cancer treatment, according to a study by doctors in the city. A total of 705 patients were studied from 2012 to 2015.

Dr T.S. Rao, senior oncologist at Basavata-rakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute who was a part of the study said, “Hypothyroidism developed in patients within three months of treatment. Patients who underwent radiation, radio-chemotherapy after surgery were followed up and it was found that they developed hypothyroidism after the treatment. The radiation treatment destroyed the thyroid cells around the neck region leading to the incidence of hypothyroidism.”

Most of the patients who were a part of the study were treated primarily with wide local excision and neck dissection. They were followed up for 32 months after the treatment to understand the side-effects. With the identification of hypothyroidism the patient was put on medication and the progress was monitored from time to time. These patients who did not have any thyroid problems before the treatment developed it later. The gender did not matter as it was found to be the same in all cases.

Thyroid affects the metabolism of the person and all the organs are affected as the hormone is responsible for the metabolic activities of the body. Someone suffering from hypothyroidism means that the body is not able to produce enough hormone for its regular functions and has to be supported with a medicine from outside.