On Wednesday, Dr. Oz had a show on the fastest growing cancer in women, thyroid cancer. It was a very interesting program and he mentioned that the increase could possibly be related to the use of dental x-rays and mammograms. He demonstrated that on the apron the dentist puts on you for your dental x-rays there is a little flap that can be lifted up and wrapped around your neck. Many dentists don't bother to use it. Also, there is something called a "thyroid guard" for use during mammograms. By coincidence, I had my yearly mammogram yesterday. I felt a little silly, but I asked about the guard and sure enough, the technician had one in a drawer. I asked why it wasn't routinely used. Answer: "I don't know. You have to ask for it." Well, if I hadn't seen the show, how would I have known to ask?

週三的Dr Oz 節目中，奧茲醫生提到近年來甲狀腺癌在婦女快速成長的發病率，很可能和牙科X光及婦科乳房X光攝影（mammograms）有關。奧茲醫生說大部分的牙科X光圍罩上有一塊褶片，可以於攝影時翻出來圍繞保護頸部。但大部分牙醫都沒有使用它。另外也有一種叫做甲狀腺保護罩（thyroid guard）的動作，供婦科乳房X光攝影時使用。剛巧昨天我去年度婦科乳房X光攝影，我有點不好意思的問攝影師，他果然在抽屜裡有。我問他為什麼沒有固定的使用它，他說他也不知道。所以如果你要保護你的甲狀腺，請於婦科乳房X光攝影要求用保護罩。