Sign 5: Unexplained Weight Changes – The Scales Tip Unfairly
The final sign in our quintet is unexplained weight changes. This might sound fairly commonplace. After all, who hasn’t experienced their weight fluctuating at some point? But when it comes to thyroid cancer recurrence, the key is in the word “unexplained”.
The thyroid gland plays a crucial role in your body’s metabolism. Any disruption in its function due to a returning tumor can lead to unexpected changes in weight. Whether it’s a surprising loss or an unexplained gain, any significant shift in weight without a corresponding change in diet or exercise can be a signal from your body.
This isn’t your regular holiday weight gain or the couple of pounds you lose when you’re stressed. This is weight change that’s inexplicable, like a mystery novel with missing pages. Despite maintaining your usual eating habits and physical activity levels, you notice the numbers on the scale moving up or down.
Weight loss might sound like a welcome surprise for some, but when it comes without any changes to your lifestyle, it’s not something to celebrate. It’s your body’s cryptic way of saying that something might be amiss with your thyroid gland.
Similarly, unexplained weight gain can be more than just a nuisance that makes your jeans feel tight. It might be your body’s subtle way of signaling a potential problem. It’s not about body image or the perfect fit. It’s about your body trying to communicate potential health issues through unanticipated changes in weight. (5)
