Things you need to know about thyroid cancer

Have you ever heard of thyroid cancer? Maybe a friend or family member has had this condition. Or you may have seen it in a newspaper or on the Internet. Although it is a bit of a scary word, it is very important to have a clear understanding of it. Today, we will talk about what thyroid cancer is, how it develops, what are the symptoms, and what are the treatments. Don't worry, I think this will give you a great understanding.

What is the thyroid gland and thyroid cancer?

Simply put, the thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck. It is very important because it produces hormones that control how your body uses energy, or metabolism . These hormones also help control body temperature , blood pressure, and heart rate .

So, thyroid cancer is when the cells in the thyroid gland start to grow abnormally and uncontrollably. It is classified as an endocrine cancer. But the best thing is that in most cases, it is a very treatable and curable type of cancer. The cure rate is also very high.

How common is this thyroid cancer?

Now you might be wondering how many people this affects. If you look at the data in the United States, approximately 53,000 new cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed each year. That means it's not that rare. But as mentioned earlier, most types of thyroid cancer are very treatable . However, we also need to remember that about 2,000 people die from this disease each year.

Another thing is that women are about three times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men. It is usually diagnosed in women in their 40s and 50s, and in men in their 60s and 70s. Don't be surprised, sometimes even young children can develop this disease.

What are the main types of thyroid cancer?

Doctors classify thyroid cancer based on the type of cells from which the cancer develops. There are several main types:

• Papillary carcinoma : This type accounts for about 80 percent of all thyroid cancers. It grows very slowly. Papillary carcinoma, although it can spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, responds very well to treatment. This means that the chances of cure are very high and the risk of life-threatening complications is very low.
• Follicular cancer: This type accounts for about 15 percent of thyroid cancers. It is more likely to spread to the bones and internal organs, such as the lungs. Once it spreads, it can be more challenging to treat ( metastatic cancer ).
• Medullary cancer: This type accounts for about 2 percent of thyroid cancers. About a quarter of people with medullary cancer have a family history of the disease. This means that a genetic mutation may be the cause.
• Anaplastic carcinoma: This is the most difficult and aggressive type to treat . It grows very quickly and spreads quickly to surrounding tissues and other parts of the body. However, it is very rare, accounting for about 2 percent of thyroid cancers.

How are the stages of thyroid cancer determined?

Doctors use a method to see how far a cancer has spread, called cancer stages. Typically, when thyroid cancer cells spread (metastasize) first to nearby tissues and lymph nodes. Then they can spread to distant lymph nodes, organs, and bones.

There are stages of thyroid cancer, from one (I) to four (IV). Simply put, the higher the number, the more extensive the cancer has spread. If you want to know more about this, it's best to talk to your doctor.

What are the warning signs of thyroid cancer?

You or your doctor may feel a lump or a small growth in your neck. We call this a thyroid nodule. But shouldn't you be alarmed by the presence of a lump? Most of these lumps are not cancerous (benign) . On average, about 3 out of 20 thyroid nodules are cancerous (malignant).

There may also be other symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing .
• Voice change, hoarseness .
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

What are the symptoms if the cancer has spread?

Sometimes thyroid cancer can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. If this happens, symptoms such as:

• Feeling tired all the time.
• Food is tasteless .
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Being thin for no reason.

What are the causes of thyroid cancer?

Experts are not sure exactly why some cells become malignant and attack the thyroid gland. However, some factors have been found to increase the risk. For example, exposure to radiation, a diet low in iodine, and certain genetic factors.

Here are some other risk factors:

• Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter).
• Having a family history of thyroid disease or thyroid cancer.
• Thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid gland.
• Endocrine diseases are caused by certain gene mutations. For example, conditions such as Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) or type 2B (MEN2B).
• Insufficient iodine in the diet.
• Obesity (high Body Mass Index).
• Having received radiation therapy for cancer of the head and neck area, especially during childhood.
• Exposure to radioactive materials released from nuclear weapons or power plant accidents.

How is thyroid cancer diagnosed?

If you have an enlarged thyroid nodule or other symptoms, your doctor may do one or more of these tests:

• Blood tests: These can check thyroid hormone levels to see if the gland is working properly.
• Biopsy: This involves taking a small sample of cells from the thyroid gland using a fine-needle aspiration to check for cancer cells. Sometimes, a sentinel node biopsy is also done to check for spread to lymph nodes. Ultrasound is also used to help find the exact location of the cancer during this biopsy.
• Radioiodine scan: This can find out if the cancer is there and if it has spread. You swallow a small pill that contains a safe amount of radioactive iodine. Your thyroid gland absorbs the iodine over a few hours. Then a special device measures how much radioactivity is in the gland. If there are areas where the radioactivity is low, further testing is needed to see if there is cancer in those areas.
• Other imaging scans: Radioactive iodine scans, computed tomography (CT) scans, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans can detect thyroid cancer and determine whether it has spread.

How is thyroid cancer treated?

Treatment depends on the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread. There are several main treatment options:

• Surgery: This is the most common treatment . Depending on the size and location of the tumor, the surgeon removes either part of the thyroid gland (lobectomy) or the entire gland (thyroidectomy). They may also remove nearby lymph nodes where the cancer cells have spread.
• Radioiodine therapy: Like the radioiodine scan, this involves giving a pill or liquid containing radioactive iodine. However, the dose is higher than that given for the scan. This iodine shrinks and destroys the diseased thyroid gland and cancer cells. This treatment is very safe. The thyroid gland absorbs most of the iodine, leaving the rest of the body exposed to very little radiation.
• Radiation therapy: Radiation kills cancer cells and stops them from growing. In external radiation therapy, a machine directs powerful beams of radiation directly to the cancer. In internal radiation therapy, small radioactive seeds are placed in or around the cancer.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs, given intravenously or orally, kill cancer cells and stop the cancer from growing. However, most people with thyroid cancer do not need chemotherapy.
• Hormone therapy: This treatment works by stopping the release of hormones that help the cancer spread or grow back.

What are the complications of thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, or bones. If the cancer is detected and treated early, the risk of this spreading can be reduced.

Even after thyroid cancer is cured, it can sometimes come back (recur) . Because thyroid cancer grows slowly, it can take up to 20 years for it to come back. About 30 percent of thyroid cancer patients will come back.

The most important thing is that after thyroid surgery or treatment, your body needs thyroid hormones. Therefore, you will have to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of your life. For example, synthetic hormones such as `(levothyroxine)` are given. These take the place of hormones that the body does not produce naturally. These usually do not cause major side effects, but you will need to go for regular medical checkups to monitor your health.

How does thyroid cancer affect pregnancy?

Surprisingly, thyroid cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed during pregnancy (after breast cancer). About 10 percent of thyroid cancers develop during pregnancy or within the first year after giving birth. Experts believe that this may be due to the changing hormone levels during pregnancy.

If you are diagnosed with thyroid cancer during pregnancy, your doctor will talk to you about treatment options. Depending on the type and severity of the cancer, treatment may be delayed until after the baby is born. If that is not possible, most people can safely have surgery to remove the cancerous gland. However, it is not recommended to have radiation tests or treatments during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

How long does it take to recover from thyroid cancer treatment?

The time it takes for this to happen varies from person to person. Many factors affect this, including your age, the size of the tumor, the stage of the cancer, and the type of treatment you received. Talk to your doctor about what to expect during and after your treatment.

Can thyroid cancer be prevented?

Many people develop thyroid cancer for no apparent reason, so it's difficult to completely prevent it. However, if you know you're at risk for thyroid cancer, there are steps you can take.

• Preventive (prophylactic) surgery: Genetic tests can find out if you have a mutation in a gene that increases your risk of developing conditions such as medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia. If you have the gene, you may be able to have prophylactic surgery to remove the thyroid gland before cancer develops.
• Potassium iodide: If you are exposed to radiation from a nuclear accident (such as the 2011 Fukushima accident in Japan), taking potassium iodide (Pima®) within 24 hours may reduce your risk of developing thyroid cancer later in life. Potassium iodide works by preventing the thyroid gland from absorbing too much radioactive iodine, which helps keep the gland healthy.

What is the cure rate for thyroid cancer?

Eight out of ten people with thyroid cancer have the previously mentioned papillary type. When papillary thyroid cancer is localized (localized) within the gland, the five-year survival rate is close to 100 percent. When the cancer has spread (metastasized), the rate is closer to 80 percent. This means that, on average, someone with widespread papillary thyroid cancer has an 80 percent chance of surviving at least five years after diagnosis, compared to someone without the disease.

Here are the five-year survival rates for other types of thyroid cancer:

• Follicular: Close to 100% if confined to the gland; about 63% if widespread.
• Medullary: Close to 100% if confined to the gland; about 40% if widespread.
• Anaplastic: About 31% if confined to the gland; about 4% if widespread.

Can thyroid cancer be completely cured?

Yes, most types of thyroid cancer can be completely cured with treatment, especially if the cancer cells have not spread to distant parts of the body. Even if treatment does not completely cure the cancer, your doctor will create a treatment plan to destroy as much of the cancer as possible and prevent it from growing back or spreading.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have thyroid cancer, see your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms:

• A new lump appears on the neck.
• Increased heart rate.
• Becoming thin or fat for no reason.
• Feeling very tired.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

If you have thyroid cancer, it's a good idea to ask your doctor some questions like these:

• Why did I get thyroid cancer?
• What type of thyroid cancer do I have?
• Has the cancer spread outside my thyroid gland?
• What is the best treatment for this type of cancer?
• What are the risks and side effects of treatment?
• Will I need thyroid hormone replacement therapy?
• Is my family at risk for this type of cancer? If so, should we get genetic tests?
• Can I get thyroid cancer again?
• Am I at risk of developing other types of cancer?
• What follow-up care do I need after treatment?
• Should I be concerned about symptoms of complications?

Finally, I have to say… (Take-Home Message)

It's normal to feel scared and anxious when you're diagnosed with cancer. This is true no matter what type of cancer it is. The good news is that most thyroid cancers respond very well to treatment and have a high chance of being cured. Your doctor will explain the best treatment options for your type of thyroid cancer.

After treatment, you may need to take synthetic thyroid hormones for the rest of your life. These hormones are essential for many important functions in the body. They usually do not cause major side effects. However, it is important to have regular check-ups to monitor your health. Stay positive, follow your doctor's instructions, and you can cope with this condition successfully.