生活的醫療，甲狀腺癌與女性人格特質的關聯

Everyday healthcare - The relationship between thyroid cancer and female personality traits

Region: Ji'an Township, Hualien County, Taiwan
Category: Social Concerns, Life & Entertainment
Tags: Hualien Mennonite, Mennonite Christian Hospital, Thyroid Cancer, Special OPD of Thyroid Gland

新聞編採：
志工譯者：謝安琪（Volunteer Translator: Angela Hsieh）

嗯？癌症跟「性別」與「個性」有甚麼相互關聯呢？

Oh? Is there a relationship between cancer, “gender” and “personalities”?

可能發生在人類身上的癌症有很多，大家可能不知道某些癌症跟「性別」還有「個性」有著高度的關聯，這次的門諾Peopo新聞，特別邀請門諾核子醫學科的游冬齡醫師，來這裡跟大家分享，為何「甲狀腺癌」跟「性別」還有「個性」有著高度的相關性吧！也提醒女性朋友,平常要多多關愛自己的身體健康。甲狀腺在哪裡呢？它就位於頸部的前下方，形狀像一隻展翅停在氣管前的蝴蝶，甲狀腺分泌的甲狀腺素，主要的功能是調節人體新陳代謝速率，是維持生命必需的重要賀爾蒙，而好發於女性的原因，醫師說可能跟女性分泌賀爾蒙比較旺盛有所關聯，而醫師提到「認真的女人最美麗，但也是甲狀腺癌好發族群」這件事，大家可以聽聽看醫師怎麼說喔！

Many types of cancer might occur in human beings. However, you may not have realized that some types of cancer have high degree of correlation with “gender” and “personalities”. The Mennonite Peopo News has invited Dr. Dong-Ling You, a physician in the Department of Nuclear Medicine in Mennonite Christian Hospital, to share the reason behind the high degree of correlation between thyroid cancer, “gender” and “personalities”! It is also a reminder to all our female friends to pay more attention and care for their own health in everyday life.

Where is the thyroid gland? It sits low on the front of the neck, like a butterfly opening out its wings stays along the front of the windpipe (also called the trachea).The main role of the thyroid hormones secreted from thyroid gland is to regulate human body’s metabolic rate, one kind of vital and essential hormone for life. However, the reason that thyroid cancer is more common in women than men may be because females secrete more hormones. Doctors say “The most meticulous women may be the most beautiful, but they are also the high risk group for thyroid cancer”!

根據國健局2010年的癌症登記資料顯示，「甲狀腺癌」的發生率為每10萬人有17.1人，(其中女性則為約12.9人；男性約4.02人），雖然甲狀腺癌在女性好發癌別中僅排名的第5位，但已經有逐年增加的趨勢。

According to the cancer registration data from the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, the thyroid cancer incidence was 17.1 per 100,000 man and women (about 12.9 in women; 4.02 in men). Although thyroid cancer is only the fifth most common cancer in women, the incidence rate has been increasing in recent years.

甲狀腺癌雖然可發生於任何年紀的男性或女性，但根據統計顯示主要好發於20~45歲左右的女性朋友，而大部分甲狀腺癌的預後良好，通常治療後的甲狀腺乳突癌的20年存活率可超過90%以上。甲狀腺癌發生的成因尚未清楚，但一般認為跟生活環境（壓力緊張）以及個性（A型人格特質）以及遺傳有關。至於甚麼是A型（不是血型喔！）人格的心理特質呢？門諾Peopo也在這裡整理給大家了參考一下喔。

Thyroid cancer can occur in all age groups of men and women, but the statistics has shown that it mainly occurs in women between 20 – 45 years of age. Overall thyroid cancer prognosis is excellent. The overall relative 20-year survival rate for papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) can reach higher than 90%.

The thyroid cancer triggers(etiopathology) are still unclear. However, it’s believed to be relevant to the living environment (with pressure and tension), personality (Type A personality) and hereditary factors. As to physiological characteristics of Type A (not the blood type!) personality, Mennonite Peopo News has sorted out some information for your reference.

1.性格較為壓抑，防禦性高，不善與人表露與分享情緒。
2.對自我充滿信心，期待獲得較高的社會期許。
3.說話速度很快，大聲，好爭辯，話語充滿情緒字眼。

1. Depressed (dejected) personality, highly defensive, not good in expressing & sharing feelings with other people.

2. Self-confidence, expect to receive a higher social recognition.

3. Fast & loud speaker, being competitive & aggressive, utterance is full of passionate wordings.

上面幾項，大家不知道符合了哪些特質呢？游冬齡醫師常常從反向思考去鼓勵病人，他建議把「甲狀腺癌」當成上天給我們的禮物，因為這讓我們有機會可以試著改變自己的A型人格特質，朝向更適合的方向，畢竟心靈的寬鬆也是輔助治療的重要關鍵因素之一。

How many characteristics from above-mentioned items do you match?  Dr. Dong-Ling You often encourages patients with a kind of reverse thinking. He suggests taking the "thyroid cancer" as a gift from God, because it provides opportunities for us to change our Type A personality towards a better direction. After all, relaxation in spirit and mood is also a crucial factor to assist in therapy.

（游冬齡醫師與大家分享女性通常在甚麼狀況下前來就診。）
[Mennonite PEOPO Video] Sharing a case on detecting thyroid cancer in everyday life

Dr. Dong-Ling You shared his experiences regarding the common scenario where women visit a doctor.

甲狀腺癌的確是不常聽見，大家應該也會覺得甲狀腺癌是一種「挺冷門」的癌別，因為它同時也很容易被忽略，所以當被發現時，通常已經是後期的症狀，尤其在地廣人稀的花蓮地區，南北醫療資源不均而被忽略。

It is indeed uncommon to hear about thyroid cancer. People may believe that thyroid cancer is a kind of "lesser known" cancer, because, at the same time, it is easy overlooked. Therefore, when the cancer is detected, it has usually progressed to an advanced stage. Especially in the less populated areas like Hualien County, it is overlooked due to the imbalance medical resources distributed between north and south regions.

而甲狀腺癌通常是如何被發現的呢？游冬齡醫師跟大家分享過去轉介到這裡的個案。他說來就診的許多的女性當中，有許多是在擦拭化妝品時摸到脖頸間有不痛不養的異常硬塊；或是在洗頭髮，躺臥時趕到喉頭不適等等狀況，因為擔心而前來就診，才被診斷出是甲狀腺癌。而一般人聽到自己罹癌，通常的反應是一種晴天霹靂的哀愁，醫師這時候也常常會安慰病人，甲狀腺癌是一種「高好發率」、但也「高治癒率」的一種癌症。因此，游醫師也說，女性保養自己皮膚的時候，就可以順便注意脖頸部有甚麼異常的狀態，保養皮膚也可以順便保養人生，這樣不是一舉兩得嗎？

But how thyroid cancer could be detected? Dr. Dong-Ling You shared the cases who were referred to Mennonite Hospital in the past. He said that among those women who came to the hospital, many of them felt an abnormal nodule, neither painful nor irritated, in the neck when they applied cosmetic products, or their throats felt uncomfortable laying on the salon chair during hair wash, and etc. Out of concern about the situation, they came to hospital and were diagnosed with thyroid cancer. However, when people heard about that diagnosis, they usually feel shock and sadness like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Nevertheless, at that time, the doctor usually comforts patients that thyroid cancer is a kind of cancer with "high incidence" but also with "high cure rate". For that reason, Dr. You also suggested that women can pay attention to any abnormal status at the neck area when applying skin care products that can keep the skin beautiful while caring for health at the same time. Two birds with one stone, isn't it?

[Mennonite PEOPO Video] Simple palpation also can help to detect syndrome(s) in thyroid gland.

（游冬齡醫師說，平日簡單脖頸部的觸診，也是早期發現的一個好方法，門諾醫院也特別在花東率先成立了甲狀腺癌特別門診。）

(Dr. Dong-Ling You said, simple palpation in neck during everyday life is also a good method for early detection. Mennonite Christian Hospital has taken the lead in establishing the special OPD of thyroid gland/cancer in Hualien and Taitung area.)

認真的女人最美麗，但是美麗與智慧的兼俱之餘，但還是要多多關注自己的身體健康喔！一邊保養美麗，一邊保養人生，一舉兼顧！

The most meticulous women may be the most beautiful. Yet, apart from beauty and intelligence, it is also important to take care of one's own health! Keep physical beauty on the one hand; maintain health on the other hand! Both in one fell swoop!

門諾Peopo健康知識：關於甲狀腺癌的種種。

Mennonite Peopo's Healthcare Knowledge: About the Thyroid Cancer

1.甲狀腺（Thyroid Carcinoma）的位置：

1. The location of the thyroid gland:

甲狀腺位於頸的底部，形狀像張開了翼的蝴蝶，屬內分泌器官之一，甲狀腺分泌甲狀腺素，甲狀腺素的主要功能在於調節人體新陳代謝，甲狀腺腫瘤是良性的，惡性腫瘤 (即甲狀腺癌) 可分為分化良好癌，分化不良癌與其他癌這三種。

The thyroid gland sits on the bottom of the neck, like a butterfly opening out its wings, one of the endocrine glands. Thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones, whose main role is to regulate human body’s metabolic rate. Thyroid tumor is benign. Carcinoma (thyroid cancer) can be categorized into 3 types: well-differentiated thyroid cancer, poorly differentiated thyroid cancer/ anaplastic carcinoma and others.

2.甲狀腺癌盛行率：

2. Thyroid Cancer Prevalence:

甲狀腺癌可發生於任何年紀的男性或女性，但主要好發於20~45歲左右的女性朋友。甲狀腺惡性腫瘤(癌)約占所有惡性腫瘤的1%，每年每十萬人中有17個甲狀腺癌的個案，同時於過去十年資料顯示發生率有逐漸上升的趨勢。(2013年國民健康局公布2010年癌症登記資料顯示)

Thyroid cancer can occur in all age groups of men and women, but it mostly occurs in women between 20 – 45 years of age. Thyroid carcinoma (cancer) accounts for 1% of all carcinomata. Data shows that there are 17 newly diagnosed cases for every 100,000 men and women every year. Meanwhile, the data from the past 10 years shows the incidence rates have been increasing. (according to the 2010 cancer registration data launched by Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2013)

3.臨床表徵(常見症狀)： 若有下述情況，請進一步檢查喔！

3. Clinical manifestations (common syndromes): Please go for further examinations if flowing situation is detected! 

(1).甲狀腺局部腫大或頸部摸到硬塊。
(2).脖子腫塊日漸增大。
(3).腫塊壓迫到喉神經，造成聲音沙啞、侵犯食道時則會出現吞嚥困難。
(4).本身有甲狀腺疾病病史(如甲狀腺亢進等)。

(1) Local thyroid gland swollen or lump can be felt on your neck.
(2) The lump on your neck is daily growing.
(3) The lump oppresses the laryngeal nerve that might cause the voice to become raspy; if the lump invades the esophagus, it might cause acataposis (dyspagia).
(4) With thyroid gland related history (e.g. hyperthyroidism, etc.)

4.致病原因：

4. Triggers (Etiopathology): 

甲狀腺癌發生的原因尚未清楚，但一般認為與生活環境、個性(A型人格)及遺傳有關。

The thyroid cancer triggers (etiopathology) are still unclear. However, it’s believed to be relevant to the living environment, personality (Type A personality) and hereditary factors. 

註：【游冬齡醫師是花蓮鳳林人，目前回鄉服務於門諾醫院核子醫學科，2012年在門諾設置核子醫學科，造福花東鄉民。】

Note: Dr. Dong-Ling You was born in Fenglin Township, Huelian County. Recently he came back to his hometown to serve in the Department of Nuclear Medicine in Mennonite Christian Hospital. The Department of Nuclear Medicine has been established in Mennonite Christian Hospital in 2012 to benefit residents in Hualien and Taitung County.

生活的醫療，甲狀腺癌與女性人格特質的關聯／新聞編輯採訪：

關於Mch Public：門諾公益的編輯採訪群來自各種領域，包括醫管、電視媒體、平面媒體、出版編輯、社會工作、非營利組織的勸募工作者，大家抱持著對公益以及對偏鄉關懷的熱情，跳脫主流商業媒體的觀察，以公共議題為出發點，帶來更為深入的報導取向，讓許多無法被媒體關注的事件，從這個地方儘量的再現報導的真實，我們知道這裡的製作呈現無法追上主流媒體的豐富與精美，但我們會盡其所能，讓小角落的光傳遞的更遠，更深邃。