Thyroid Awareness Month promotes for those to check your neck

January is Thyroid Awareness Month and the goal is to raise public awareness for those who may have thyroid conditions.

About 59 million Americans are linked to thyroid diseases and even cancers.

47 ABC spoke to a PRMC endocrinologist who says there are proactive steps to prevent thyroid cancers or diseases.

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the base of the neck. Despite being relatively small, the thyroid gland plays a huge role in your body, as it regulates your heart rate, body temperature, and your weight.

PRMC's Dr. Jorge Vivar is an endocrinologist at PRMC who says thyroid nodules are the precursors for thyroid cancer.

Patients can feel their neck to see if there are any bumps or bulges.

If you happen to notice a lump, the first step is to get an ultra sound, as the ultra sound gives some insight of what nodules are.

From there, they can detect the size and the characteristics of the nodules, as well figure out if it is benign or malignant through a needle biopsy.

And besides the neck check, another way to find out if you have thyroid disease or cancer is through symptoms.

Dr. Vivar says, "You have increase fatigue, weight gain, you're having constipation, dry skin, hair loss. You can have an under thyroid gland, if you have on the other hand unexplained weight loss, palpitations."

For women, these diseases or cancers may be directed towards them, as one of out six females may have nodules on their thyroid.

If you happen to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer or disease, going to an endocrinologist can put you in the best hands for help.

Dr. Vivar tells 47 ABC, "We determine if you're going to be those patients that are cure or the really well, or you're going to be the patient that we need to be more careful and eventually need more surgery or we have to keep you in the office more frequently just to make sure you're not getting  into trouble."