It is now possible to discriminate between cancers caused by intake of a radioactive material and those that arise spontaneously
Recently, scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen have identified a genetic change in thyroid cancer as a signature or fingerprint that points to a previous exposure of the thyroid to ionizing radiation.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/news/signature-radiation-induced-thyroid-cancer
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/ks-parthasarathy
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/newspaper/hindu-new-delhi
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/radiation
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/cancer
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/children
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/chernobyl-disaster
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/nuclear-power-plants
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/health-effects