What is Thyroid Cancer?
Thyroid cancer is a disease where the cells of the thyroid gland become abnormal, grow uncontrollably, and form a mass of cells called a tumor.
Thyroid cancer is grouped into four types based on how its cells appear under a microscope. The types are papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancers. They grow at different rates and can spread to other parts of the body if not treated.
Women are three times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men. Although the disease affects teenagers and young adults, most people that develop thyroid cancer are over 50 years of age.
What is a Thyroid?
The thyroid is a hormone-producing butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck at the base of the throat. It has two lobes, the left and the right. The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods, to make several of its hormones. Thyroid hormones regulate essential body processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, metabolism; and affect the nervous system, muscles and other organs. These hormones also play an important role in regulating childhood growth and development.
Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
Symptoms are rare so the lump is not usually painful. The symptoms of thyroid nodules are:
- a lump or nodule that can be felt in the neck is the most frequent sign of thyroid cancer.
- the lymph nodes may be swollen and the voice may become hoarse because the tumor presses on the nerves
leading to the voice box.
- some patients experience a tight or full feeling in the neck and have difficulty breathing or swallowing.
What is the treatment for Thyroid Cancer?
Like most cancers, cancer of the thyroid is best treated when it is found early by a physician. Treatment depends on the type of cancer and its stage. Four types of treatment are used: surgical removal, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy. Surgical removal is the usual treatment if the cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body.
The surgeon may remove the side or lobe of the thyroid where the cancer is found (lobectomy) or all of it (total thyroidectomy). If the adjoining lymph nodes are affected, they may also be removed during surgery. When the thyroid gland is removed and levels of thyroid hormones decrease, the pituitary gland starts to produce TSH that stimulates the thyroid cells to grow.
What causes Thyroid Cancer?
The exact cause of thyroid cancer is not known; but it is more common in whites than in African Americans. It has been proven that exposure to radiation in childhood is a risk factor for thyroid cancer.
