Have you ever felt a lump in the front of your neck, just below your collarbone? Or do you feel things like a change in your voice, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath? Although we may not pay much attention to these things, they can be signs of a rare but more common type of cancer . Today we are going to talk about a rare but concerning cancer that develops in our thyroid gland. That is Hürthle Cell Carcinoma.
What is Hürthle Cell Carcinoma?
Simply put, this is a rare and fast-growing type of cancer that develops in the thyroid gland . You know, the thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of our neck. The hormones it secretes help control many important functions in our body, especially metabolism.
So, when this Hürthle Cell Carcinoma develops, things like thyroid nodules can form. When these nodules grow, they can make it difficult for us to speak or even breathe. If not treated properly, this cancer can spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, and bones . Doctors usually treat this cancer by performing surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.
How does this condition affect my body?
Just think, some people may not notice any changes in their body in the early stages even if they have Hürthle Cell Carcinoma. Sometimes it is discovered incidentally during tests for another disease.
But when symptoms start to appear, they may first appear as small lumps in the front of the neck, where the thyroid gland is. As these tumors grow, they can press on our esophagus, making it difficult to swallow food, and on our trachea, making it difficult to breathe. Also, if these tumors press on our vocal cords, there may be a change in our voice. It may feel like your voice becomes hoarse when you have a cold .
Are Hürthle Cell Tumors Always Cancer?
Here's an important point. Hürthle cell tumors can be noncancerous or cancerous . Surprisingly, the symptoms of both types can be very similar. Therefore, sometimes it is difficult for doctors to tell for sure whether a tumor is cancerous or not just by looking at it. To be sure, they must examine cells from the tumor under a microscope .
Who is more likely to develop this disease?
Actually, Hürthle Cell Carcinoma can develop in anyone. However, it is most common in people over the age of 55. It is also said that women are more likely to develop this disease than men.
Is this a common situation?
No, this is not a very common condition . On average, about 14 people per 100,000 are reported to develop thyroid cancer each year. Among all these thyroid cancers, this Hürthle Cell Carcinoma is found in only a very small percentage, about 3% . That means it is a bit rare.
What are the symptoms of Hürthle Cell Carcinoma?
Often, people with this condition do not experience symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to affect other parts of the body . For example, a change in voice occurs when the tumor presses on the vocal cords. Other symptoms may include:
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing (dysphagia) . It may feel like something is stuck in your throat.
- Feeling like your throat is blocked.
- A painful lump in the front of the neck, below the Adam's apple.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Feeling tired all the time (Fatigue).
- Becoming thin without intention or reason .
What causes this cancer?
Medical researchers have not yet been able to find a definitive cause for this condition. However, they have identified some risk factors that increase the risk of developing the disease. These include:
- Having a family history of thyroid cancer : This means if your mother, father, or siblings have had thyroid cancer.
- Long-term iodine deficiency : Iodine is an essential mineral that our body needs to make thyroid hormones. We get it from the foods we eat.
- Exposure to radiation : Many doctors believe that exposure to X-rays or radiation therapy for things like cancer also increases the risk of developing Hürthle Cell Carcinoma.
How do doctors diagnose this disease?
Doctors diagnose this condition by first examining you, asking about your symptoms, your medical history, and your family medical history. They may then do tests such as:
- Blood tests : A healthy thyroid gland produces a protein called thyroglobulin. Doctors will check the level of this thyroglobulin in your blood. If this level is high, it could be a sign of Hürthle Cell Carcinoma.
- Thyroid uptake scan : This test checks for cancer cells in your thyroid gland. In this test, a small amount of radioactive iodine is injected into your bloodstream. This iodine collects in the cancerous tissue in your thyroid gland. Then, a positron emission tomography scan (PET scan) is done to find the locations of the cancer cells.
- Laryngoscopy : This test allows doctors to examine your vocal cords.
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA) : In this procedure, a doctor uses a very thin, small needle to remove a sample of tissue from your thyroid gland. The tissue is then examined under a microscope to check for signs of cancer. This is sometimes called a needle biopsy .
- Lobectomy : Sometimes, the results of the FNA test are not enough for doctors to reach a definitive conclusion. In that case, they will perform surgery to remove the part of the thyroid gland that they think is cancerous and examine it.
- CT scan : If tests confirm that you have Hürthle Cell Carcinoma, doctors will do other imaging tests, such as a CT scan, to see if the cancer has spread to other areas.
Are there stages of Hürthle Cell Carcinoma?
Yes, absolutely. Doctors use these cancer staging systems to plan treatment for cancer. They use the TNM staging system to classify Hürthle Cell Carcinoma. (T stands for Tumor. N stands for Lymph Node Involvement. M stands for Metastasis.) There are stages of this cancer from I (one) to IV (four).
Doctors also consider the patient's age when determining these stages. People diagnosed with the disease at age 55 or younger, regardless of the size of the tumor, if it has affected lymph nodes, and if it has not spread to distant sites, are classified as stage I (one). However, if the tumor has spread to distant lymph nodes or other organs, people 55 or younger are classified as stage II (two).
Simply put:
Tumor size (T - Tumor)
This tells you how big the cancer is and whether it has spread beyond the thyroid gland. This varies from small tumors (e.g., less than 2 centimeters - `TI`) to large tumors (`TIVa`, `TIVb`) that have spread to nearby tissues in the neck, trachea, or esophagus.
Effect on lymph nodes (N - Lymph Node)
This looks at whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes (`N0` - not spread, `NI` - spread). If it has spread, it also looks at whether it is in the middle of the neck (`NIa`) or on the sides (`NIb`).
Spread of cancer (M - Metastasis)
This tells you whether the cancer has spread beyond the thyroid gland and nearby lymph nodes to distant organs in the body (e.g. lungs, bones) . (`M0` - no distant spread, `MI` - distant spread).
The doctor uses this ``(TNM)`` information to determine the final stage of your cancer (Stage I, II, III, or IV). This is very important for planning treatment.
How do doctors treat this?
The main and most common treatment for this condition is surgery . Depending on your condition, surgeons may remove all or part of your thyroid gland. They may also remove lymph nodes where the cancer has spread. This thyroid surgery can completely remove the cancer.
After surgery, you may be given medication to stop your thyroid gland from producing hormones to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back . In addition, there are other treatments, such as:
- Hormone therapy : This destroys cancer cells or stops them from growing.
- Radioactive iodine therapy : This treatment destroys thyroid cancer cells.
Can Hürthle Cell Carcinoma be completely cured?
Yes, this is a curable condition . Surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland will eliminate the cancer. However, if you have this surgery, you will need to take medication for the rest of your life to make enough thyroid hormones for your body.
How can you reduce the risk of developing this disease?
There is no specific way to reduce your risk of developing this condition. Some people develop this condition because their family has a history of thyroid cancer. If you have this condition, it is best to talk to your doctor about symptoms that could be signs of Hürthle Cell Carcinoma.
What is the survival rate for this disease?
A recent study showed that 95% of people with this condition are still alive five years after diagnosis . And the same study showed that 93% are still alive ten years later . That's really reassuring, isn't it?
How do I take care of myself? / What happens after treatment?
Depending on your treatment, you may need to take thyroid hormone replacement medication for the rest of your life . Also, Hürthle Cell Carcinoma can sometimes come back. So, ask your doctor what symptoms might indicate a recurrence .
Hürthle Cell Carcinoma is a rare type of thyroid cancer. If you have symptoms, your doctor may need to perform thyroid surgery to confirm that you have the condition. In most cases, surgery to diagnose the condition will resolve the problem . However, surgery alone will not resolve all of the problems caused by Hürthle Cell Carcinoma.
People who have had thyroid surgery will need to take hormone medications for the rest of their lives. Also, this cancer can come back after treatment. If you have this condition, please remember that your doctors are always there to help and support you , especially if the disease recurs.
The most important things to remember in this article
Okay, so let's summarize some of the most important things you need to remember from what we've talked about:
- Hürthle Cell Carcinoma is a rare, but slightly more aggressive type of thyroid cancer .
- It is important to seek medical advice if you have symptoms such as neck lumps, changes in voice, or difficulty swallowing.
- A biopsy is needed to know for sure whether this is cancer or not.
- The main treatment is surgical removal of the thyroid gland .
- After surgery, you may have to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of your life .
- There is a chance that the cancer will recur, so you need to be aware of that as well .
- Your medical team is always ready to support you.
I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to talk to your doctor.
` Hürthle Cell Carcinoma, Thyroid Cancer, Neck Tumors, Thyroid Surgery, Cancer Symptoms, Cancer Treatment, Hürthle Cell Carcinoma
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න