The thyroid is found in the lower front of the neck and is shaped like a small butterfly. Thyroid gland controls the metabolism process and also lets out hormones which paves way for many functions in the body like producing heat, consuming oxygen and using energy.
When the cells mutate or change, cancer develops. These abnormal cells then multiply in the thyroid, and when they reach a point where there are enough cells, they form a tumour. When thyroid cancer is caught early, it can be treated.
There are four major types of thyroid cancers,
- Follicular Thyroid Cancer: This type of cancer spreads into the lymph nodes and will also spread in the blood vessels.
- Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: This kind of cancer is the most hard to treat and is rare. But it also spreads aggressively to other parts of the body.
- Papillary Thyroid Cancer: This is the most common type of thyroid cancer. 80% of thyroid cancer patients are diagnosed with this type. Even though it is a slow-progressing cancer, it spreads to the lymph nodes in the neck. There is a good chance of full recovery.
- Medullary Cancer: This type of cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage as it produces a hormone known as calcitonin that can be easily recognized in a blood test by doctors.
Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
- Neck pain that extends to the ear sometimes
- Trouble in breathing
- Hoarseness
- Nodules or swelling on the neck
- Difficulty to swallow
- Lump in the throat
- Cough, which is persistent
- Changes in voice that won't go away
It is also important to note that thyroid cancer can mimic many other disease symptoms, so it is better to take tests to confirm it.
Causes of Thyroid Cancer
There is no definitive reason why a person gets thyroid cancer. Some of the causes that might increase the risk of getting thyroid cancer are,
- Radiation Exposure: As a child, some people get exposed to radiation in their neck or their head.
- Inherited Genetic Syndromes: Conditions like cancer can be passed on from the gene. 2 out of 10 patients who are diagnosed with Medullary thyroid cancer get it from the abnormal gene they inherited.
- Iodine Deficiency: Sometimes, not getting enough iodine in a person's diet cancer results in being at risk of a few types of thyroid cancer.
Treatments for Thyroid Cancer
Treatment for thyroid cancer depends on the tumour size and how much the cancer has spread. Some of the treatments include,
- Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy stops cancer cells from growing and kills them. There are two types of radiation therapy (internal and external). Internal radiation therapy is done by positioning radioactive seeds in or around the tumour.
- Hormone therapy: The hormones that can spread the cancer or make it come are blocked by this treatment.
- Radioiodine Therapy: Radioiodine therapy is a very safe treatment; it is done by taking a pill or consuming a liquid that contains a very high dose of radioactive iodine that shrinks and kills the thyroid gland affected by cancer. Almost all the radioiodine is absorbed by the thyroid gland, and the rest of the body is minimally exposed to it.
- Surgery: It is the most common treatment for thyroid cancer. Based on the location and size of the tumour, the surgeon removes a part or the whole gland along with nearby lymph nodes if they are affected by the cancer. Removing a part of the thyroid gland is called a lobectomy, and removing the whole gland is called a thyroidectomy.
- Chemotherapy: In most cases, oral or intravenous chemotherapy is enough to stop and kill the cancer cells. In very rare cases, chemotherapy is needed.
Conclusion
The thyroid gland is a part of the endocrine system, and this is where thyroid cancer develops. Metabolism, body temperature and heart rate are regulated by hormones that are produced by the thyroid gland. While most thyroid cancers can be cured, there are rare cases that don't get cured. Treatment options range from radiation, radioiodine therapy, surgery, hormone therapy and chemotherapy.
