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THYROID CANCER
This gland located in the centre of neck, the thyroid plays an important role in a person's well-being. The thyroid generates hormones that control the body's heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and metabolism.
Thyroid cancer develops when cells of the thyroid grow uncontrollably. Fortunately, most thyroid tumors are benign (non-cancerous).
Cancer of the thyroid is rare , accounting for about 1% of all cancers diagnosed. However, it has become the 8th most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Fortunately for those with the disease, there's hope as patient with advanced disease can live long with proper treatment. Early detection, accurate diagnosis, precise treatment and scheduled follow-up can result in a healthy future.
Types of thyroid cancer include:
- Papillary thyroid cancer
- Follicular thyroid cancer
- Medullary thyroid cancer
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer
In the early stages of thyroid cancer, no symptoms are present. As the cancer develops, symptoms may include:
- Lump in the front of the neck
- Voice changes or hoarseness
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Recurring or constant pain in the throat and/or neck
It is recommended that anyone with these symptoms should see a cancer specialist to diagnose the problem as soon as possible.
To better understand the symptoms that may suggest thyroid cancer, u may be asked for a series of questions regarding personal and family medical history. One or more of the following tests may also be performed:
- Physical exam: Your doctor feels your thyroid for lumps (nodules). Your doctor also checks your neck and nearby lymph nodes for growths or swelling.
- Blood tests: Your doctor may check for abnormal levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood. Too much or too little TSH means the thyroid is not working well.
- Ultrasound of neck
- FNAC : is the only sure way to diagnose thyroid cancer
Staging
Staging of thyroid cancer consists of analyzing the size of the nodule, whether the cancer has spread, and if so, to what other parts of the body. Thyroid cancer spreads most often to the lymph nodes, lungs, and bones. When cancer spreads from its original place to another part of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of cancer cells and the same name as the original cancer. Doctors call the new tumor "distant" or metastatic disease.
Staging may involve one or more of these tests:
- Ultrasound
- CT scan neck/thorax
- MRI
- Chest X-ray
People with thyroid cancer have many treatment options.
The choice of treatment depends on:
- Type of thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, medullary, or anaplastic)
- Size of the nodule
- Patient's age
- Stage of cancer
Surgery
Most people with thyroid cancer have surgery. The surgeon may remove all or part of the thyroid along with lymph glands in the neck. The following are possible types of surgeries to treat thyroid cancer:
Total thyroidectomy: Complete removal of the entire thyroid through an incision in the neck.
Lobectomy: Some people with follicular or papillary thyroid cancer may have only part of the thyroid removed. The surgeon removes one lobe and the isthmus. Some people who have a lobectomy later have a second surgery to remove the rest of the thyroid.
Less often, the remaining thyroid tissue is destroyed by radioactive iodine therapy.The patients may require
Thyroid Hormone Treatment , Radioactive Iodine Therapy is given for destroying remaining thyroid tissue and any metastatic disease, External Radiation Therapy & Chemotherapy might be only option in anaplastic varity of thyroid cancer .
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