What is Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer develops when cells change or mutate. The abnormal cells begin multiplying in your thyroid and, once there are enough of them, they form a tumor. If it’s caught early, thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. Thyroid cancer is more common in women than men. Women tend to get thyroid cancer in their 40s and 50s, while men who get it are usually in their 60s or 70s.
Types of Thyroid Cancer
- Papillary thyroid cancer. If you have thyroid cancer, you probably have this type. It’s found in up to 80% of all thyroid cancer cases. It tends to grow slowly, but often spreads to the nymph nodes in your neck. Even so, you have a good chance for a full recovery.
- Follicular thyroid cancer: makes up between 10% and 15% of all thyroid cancers in the United States. It can spread into your lymph nodes and is also more likely to spread into your blood vessels.
- Medullary cancer is found in about 4% of all thyroid cancer cases. It’s more likely to be found at an early stage because it produces a hormone called calcitonin, which doctors keep an eye out for in blood test results.
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer can be the most severe type, because it’s aggressive in spreading to other parts of the body. It’s rare, and it is the hardest to treat.
What are the Symptoms of thyroid cancer?
If you have thyroid cancer, you probably didn’t notice any signs of it in the early stages. That’s because there are very few symptoms in the beginning. But as it grows, you could notice any of the following problems:
- Neck, throat pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Vocal changes, hoarseness
- A constant cough that is not due to a cold
- A lump in the neck, sometimes growing quickly
- Trouble breathing
The above symptoms are associated with thyroid nodules of all types, not just cancerous nodules. Since most thyroid cancers develop in thyroid nodules, it’s essential to be aware of these symptoms and signs that may point to thyroid cancer. Keep in mind, however, that the majority of thyroid nodules are not cancerous, and most adults will have a thyroid nodule.
Causes of Thyroid Cancer
There is no clear reason why most people get thyroid cancer. There are certain things, though, that can raise your odds of getting it: Inherited genetic syndromes. Iodine deficiency. Radiation exposure.
Diagnosing and treatment of Thyroid Cancer
The symptoms of thyroid cancer are hard to detect. Usually the noticeable symptoms are caused not by the cancer itself but by the thyroid nodule where the thyroid cancer is developing. If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor. The doctor can make a definitive diagnosis with various tests. A type of blood test known as a thyroid function test will measure the hormone levels in your blood and rule out or confirm other thyroid problems. If nothing else seems to be causing the lump in your thyroid, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is used. Further testing may be required if the FNAC results are inconclusive, or if more information is needed to make your treatment more effective.
The recommended treatment plan will depend on the type and grade of your cancer. Different types of thyroid cancers are treated using a surgery (to remove the thyroid gland), chemotherapy and radiotherapy that destroys any remaining cancer cells and prevents the thyroid cancer returning.
Reference:
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/thyroid-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html
https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/thyroid-cancer/symptoms
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/what-is-thyroid-cancer#1
https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid-cancer/thyroid-cancer-symptoms
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/cancer/cancer-types-in-adults/thyroid-cancer
https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/thyroid-cancer/treatments
