When malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the thyroid gland, it is termed as thyroid cancer.. The most common types of thyroid cancer, papillary and follicular, respond exceptionally well to therapies. Infact majority of thyroid cancer are quite easily treatable.
Where is the Thyroid Gland Located?
Under the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple), near the front of the neck, is where the thyroid gland is located. The thyroid cannot typically be felt or seen. Its two lobes, the right lobe and the left lobe, are connected by a short segment of gland known as the isthmus, giving it the appearance of a butterfly. The thyroid gland creates hormones that control metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature.
Where does Thyroid Cancer Originate?
The thyroid gland, which is situated at the front base of your throat, is where thyroid cancer typically manifests as a nodule, or lump. When rogue cells proliferate too quickly for the immune system to handle, cancer develops.
Types of Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer is mainly of 4 types including-
Thyroid Papillary Cancer– Between 80% and 85% of thyroid cancer diagnoses are of papillary thyroid cancer, making it by far the most prevalent type. It's one of the malignancies that are treatable.
Thyroid Follicular Cancer– This group includes between 10 and 15% of thyroid cancer cases. It is more aggressive than papillary thyroid cancer and can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Hurthle cell cancer, a rare kind of follicular thyroid cancer, is particularly aggressive.
Thyroid Medullary Cancer– According to reports, medullary thyroid cancer only accounts for fewer than 3% of thyroid malignancies. Lymph nodes are typically the site of its propagation.
Thyroid Anaplastic Cancer– The prognosis for this type of cancer is worse, and it often develops chemo resistance over time. Less than 2% of thyroid malignancies, according to the American Thyroid Association, fall into this category. The fastest-growing and most aggressive type of thyroid cancer is anaplastic.
What Are the Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer?
A thyroid nodule, often known as a lump or growth, can be felt by you or your healthcare practitioner in your neck. If you have a thyroid nodule, don't become anxious. Nodules are often benign (not cancer). Only approximately three out of every twenty thyroid nodules turn out to be cancerous.
Thyroid cancer symptoms are:
- Problem in breathing
- Swallowing issues
- Change of voice
- Hoarseness
- Swollen neck lymph nodes
- Cough
What are the causes and risk factors of thyroid cancer?
Causes of thyroid cancer are unknown. Experts are not sure why some cells get cancerous (malignant) and attack the thyroid. However, risk can be raised by a number of factors. There are several recognized possible risk factors; some can be changed, while others cannot.
- Being a woman
- Being in the age range of 25 to 65 (median age of papillary thyroid cancer patients is 50)
- Radiation exposure
- A low-iodine diet
- Genetic defects
How is thyroid cancer diagnosed?
You can anticipate having a thyroid gland biopsy, more particularly, a procedure known as a fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), if you are referred to a specialist to be checked for potential thyroid cancer. To establish if a nodule is malignant or benign, the sample is next examined under a microscope. A pathologist will identify the type and stage of the cancer if a nodule is malignant.
How is thyroid cancer managed or treated?
The size of the tumour and whether and how much the cancer has spread determines the course of treatment for thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer treatments include:
Surgery– The most frequent form of treatment for thyroid cancer is surgery. Your surgeon can do a lobectomy or a whole thyroidectomy depending on the size and location of the tumour. Additionally, any surrounding lymph nodes where cancer cells have spread are also removed by your surgeon.
Radiation therapy– Radiation therapy destroys cancer cells and prevents their growth. A machine is used in external radiation therapy to direct potent energy beams at the tumour spot. Placing radioactive seeds into or around the tumour is known as internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy).
Radioiodine therapy– Radioactive iodine (radioiodine) therapy is a type of radiation therapy that can find and destroy thyroid cells not removed by surgery and those that have spread beyond the thyroid. A larger dose of radioactive iodine than that used in a diagnostic radioiodine scan is used in radioiodine therapy, which involves swallowing a pill or liquid. The radioiodine shrinks and kills cancerous cells in addition to the damaged thyroid gland. Be calm; this procedure is extremely safe. Most of the radioiodine is absorbed by your thyroid gland. There is very little radiation exposure to the rest of your body.
Chemotherapy– Cancer cell death and tumour growth inhibition are achieved by intravenous or oral chemotherapy medicines. Chemotherapy is rarely necessary for thyroid cancer patients.
How does thyroid cancer affect pregnant women?
Thyroid cancer is one of the common cancers found during pregnancy. The first year following childbirth or during pregnancy account for about 10% of thyroid cancer cases. According to experts, during pregnancy, the thyroid gland experiences extraordinary alterations.
If you are diagnosed with thyroid cancer while pregnant, your doctor can go over your treatment choices. He can advise you deferring treatment until after you give birth, depending on the type and severity of the cancer. Most women can safely undergo surgery to remove the malignant gland if therapy is required right away. When pregnant or nursing, you shouldn't receive radioactive diagnostic procedures or treatments.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
