Thyroid cancer affects the cells of the thyroid. The thyroid is a gland present in the base of the neck area, below the thyroid cartilage, also known as adam’s apple. It is a butterfly-shaped organ that cannot be felt or seen from the surface of the skin. The thyroid gland has two types of cells: follicular cells – help in making thyroid hormone by using iodine in the blood, and C cells – produce calcitonin, which controls calcium levels in the body. Thyroid cancer can occur in many types and growths. Thyroid cancer types can be benign (does not spread) or malignant (spreads to other areas). There are four types of thyroid cancer – papillary, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Thyroid cancer can often go unnoticed because thyroid cancer symptoms and signs are rare, at least in the early stages. Some of the common symptoms include:
It is not clear what exactly causes thyroid cancer. There can be many reasons, including:
Radiation exposure: Exposure to radiation is a known risk factor for thyroid cancer. This can include exposure to medical radiation during diagnostic procedures, as well as exposure to radiation from nuclear accidents or weapons testing. Children who are exposed to radiation are particularly vulnerable to developing thyroid cancer later in life.
The stages of thyroid cancer are based on where the tumour is located and its spread to other nearby organs. Thyroid cancer stages are as follows:
A physician performs a physical examination first to check for signs of cancer. Then various laboratory examinations are done to confirm the diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer. Some tests include CT, MRI, a biopsy of thyroid tissue, blood tests, ultrasound, and genetic testing. All of them are not required for diagnosis.
Thyroid cancer treatment depends on the stage and the type of the tumour. Surgery is most commonly done to remove the tumour. If the thyroid gland is removed fully or partially (small part), it’s called thyroidectomy. Chemotherapy, radioactive iodine, radiation therapy, supportive care, etc., are other forms of treatment. Some of the thyroid cancer treatment options include:
Most types of thyroid cancers are curable, especially if they are diagnosed at early stages. Some types of thyroid cancers grow slowly, so they can be easily treated. However, thyroid cancers, such as medullary thyroid cancer and anaplastic thyroid cancer, have low survival rates. Thyroid cancer survival rates vary from person to person based on the stage in which the cancer is diagnosed and the patient’s overall health.
Dizziness is not a direct symptom of thyroid cancer. But if the thyroid cancer cells spread to different parts of the brain such as the cerebellum, dizziness and various other brain-related symptoms may occur.
The thyroid gland is responsible for making and releasing thyroid hormones. The thyroid hormone is very important for many activities and metabolism in the body. Changes to thyroid hormone levels can sometimes cause headaches and even migraines. In thyroid cancer, if the thyroid hormone levels vary, a headache can occur.
Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid cancer with around 80% of thyroid cancers are papillary thyroid cancers. Fortunately, it is easily curable, even though it spreads to adjacent lymph nodes. This type of thyroid cancer is rarely fatal.
Yes, males can get thyroid cancer. But women tend to get thyroid cancer more commonly compared to men. Women also tend to get it in their 40’s and 50’s, whereas for men, it can be later stages of life, like in their 60’s and 70’s.
Yes, you can live without the thyroid gland. Thyroid cancers or some thyroid diseases require the removal of the thyroid gland. In such cases, supplemental thyroid hormone is given to the patients to maintain its levels in the blood. It is lifelong hormone replacement therapy. Its dose and the thyroid blood levels should be frequently monitored.
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