Thyroid Cancer: Symptoms and Remedies | |
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Thyroid Cancer
What Is Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer is the growth of malignant cells in the thyroid, a gland comprising two large lobes flanking the windpipe (trachea) at the base of the neck. There are four basic types of thyroid cancer: papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. Papillary carcinoma accounts for over 80 percent of thyroid cancers. Such tumors tend to grow very slowly and often take years to spread to other sites. Follicular carcinoma, the second most common type, is also slow growing, but like papillary carcinoma, it can spread to the lungs and to bone tissue. Medullary carcinomas are considerably more rare; they are aggressive but curable if detected and treated while still confined exclusively to the thyroid. Anaplastic carcinomas are highly malignant-death usually occurs within six months of diagnosis. Fortunately, they are the least common form of thyroid cancer. The majority of cases of thyroid cancer occur between ages 25 and 65, and women are more commonly affected than men. While the prognosis depends heavily upon the type of malignancy involved and the age of the patient, the outlook is generally quite good, and the mortality rate is low.
Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
- A firm or hard, usually painless lump in the
front of the neck.
- Swelling in the neck (goiter).
- Swallowing difficulty.
- Hoarseness or changes in the voice.
- Cough, possibly bloody.
- Breathing difficulty.
- Unexplained bone fractures (can occur with
follicular carcinoma).
- Severe flushing or diarrhea (can occur with
medullary carcinoma).
What Causes Thyroid Cancer
- The cause of thyroid cancer is unknown, but previous radiation therapy to the thyroid area (for acne, enlarged thymus gland, tonsils, or adenoids) is a significant risk factor, especially if it was administered during infancy or early childhood. Malignancies may appear as early as five years or as late as 30 years after radiation.
- Exposure to radioactive fallout is associated with an increased incidence of thyroid cancer.
- Medullary carcinoma frequently occurs as a genetic disorder in members of the same family. Familial medullary carcinoma is often associated with a type of adrenal tumor (see Pheochromocytoma for more information) and overgrowth of the parathyroid glands (see Hyperparathyroidism).
- Papillary and follicular carcinoma (the two most common types) also appear to be linked to hereditary factors.
Prevention of Thyroid Cancer
- Patients with a history of head and neck radiation should be screened for thyroid abnormalities, including nodules and hypothyroidism.
- Frequent screening for elevated calcitonin levels and DNA testing are recommended (see Diagnosis below) in family members of patients with medullary cancer.
Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer
- Patient history should include any childhood radiation treatments, as well as any family history of thyroid cancer.
- Physical examination of the nodule to identify whether it is solitary or part of a cluster, common in benign goiters (see Goiter and Thyroid Nodules).
- A fine-needle biopsy (use of a small-gauge needle and syringe to take a tissue sample for examination under a microscope) may identify malignant cells.
- When medullary carcinoma is suspected, blood levels of calcitonin, a thyroid hormone, are measured. (High calcitonin levels may indicate medullary carcinoma.) Genetic testing is now available to determine susceptibility in family members of patients with medullary carcinoma.
- Radioiodine thyroid scanning may be used to determine if the nodule is "cold," or nonfunctioning; 10 percent of cold nodules are malignant.
- Ultrasound may determine the consistency of the tumor or mass.
- Suppressive doses of thyroid hormone may be given to see whether the nodule shrinks or disappears, indicating a benign tumor.
How To Treat Thyroid Cancer
- Near-total surgical removal of the thyroid (thyroidectomy) is done in almost all cases. Removal of surrounding lymph nodes and other tissues may also be warranted.
- The absence of thyroid tissue following thyroidectomy requires lifetime supplementation with thyroid hormone (thyroxine), which also reduces the risk of cancer recurrence.
- Radioactive iodine therapy may be used to destroy thyroid tissue left behind after thyroidectomy or to treat thyroid cancer that has spread to the lungs or the bones.
- Treatment for rare anaplastic carcinoma primarily involves supportive therapy to make the patient as comfortable as possible.
When To Call A Doctor
- Call a doctor as soon as you detect an unusual lump in your neck, especially if it rapidly increases in size. Although thyroid cancer is rare, all such growths warrant examination.
For more information on Thyroid Cancer and related conditions, click on this link -- Johns Hopkins Health Alerts: Healthy Living
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