The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that is situated at the base of your neck, just below your Adam’s apple. Thyroid cancer develops in the thyroid’s cells. Your thyroid produces hormones that control your body’s temperature, weight, blood pressure, and heart rate.
Despite the fact that thyroid cancer is uncommon in the US, rates appear to be rising. Doctors believe that this is because modern technology has made it possible for them to detect tiny thyroid tumours that may not have previously been detected.
Treatment for thyroid cancer can usually cure the disease.
Symptoms
Thymus Gland
Early in the disease, thyroid carcinoma often shows no signs or symptoms. As thyroid cancer spreads, it could result in:
- A lump that can be felt through the skin on your neck
- Changes to your voice, including increasing hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain in your neck and throat
- Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
-
Diagnosis
- The following tests and techniques are used to identify thyroid cancer:
exam of the body.
Your doctor will examine your thyroid physically and inquire about your risk factors, such as high radiation exposure and a family history of thyroid cancers.
- a blood test. Blood tests can be used to check the thyroid gland’s health.
removing some thyroid tissue for analysis.
Your doctor will inject a lengthy, thin needle into the thyroid nodule through your skin during a fine-needle biopsy. The needle is frequently carefully guided into the nodule using ultrasound imaging. The needle is used by your doctor to take samples of thyroid tissue that appears suspect. In a lab analysis, the material is examined for cancerous cells. - imaging exams To assist your doctor in determining whether your cancer has progressed outside of the thyroid, you can have one or more imaging tests. Ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET), and computed tomography (CT) scans are a few examples of imaging exams.
- genetic analysis Genetic alterations in some medullary thyroid carcinoma patients may be linked to other endocrine tumors. Your doctor can suggest genetic testing to look for genes that raise your chance of developing cancer-based
Treatment
Your thyroid cancer treatment options depend on the type and stage of your thyroid cancer, your overall health, and your preferences.
Treatment for thyroid cancer can usually cure the disease.
Surgery
Glandular Parathyroid
Most thyroid cancer patients have their thyroid completely or largely removed during surgery. The following procedures are used to treat thyroid cancer:
thyroid surgery to remove all or most of it (thyroidectomy). When treating thyroid cancer, doctors typically advise total thyroid removal. To access your thyroid, your surgeon creates an incision at the base of your neck.
To lessen the chance of parathyroid injury, the surgeon typically leaves thin rims of thyroid tissue surrounding the parathyroid glands. This is sometimes referred to as a near-total thyroidectomy by surgeons.
removing the neck’s lymph nodes. Your neck’s swollen lymph nodes may be removed by the surgeon after thyroid removal in order to be examined for cancer cells.
removing a little amount of thyroid (thyroid lobectomy). Your doctor might advise merely having one side (lobe) of your thyroid removed in some circumstances where the thyroid cancer is very tiny.
There is a chance of bleeding and infection after thyroid surgery. Additionally, surgery can harm your parathyroid glands, which can cause low calcium levels in your body. Additionally, there is a chance that you could inadvertently harm your vocal cords’ nerves, which could result in breathing difficulties, hoarseness, a quiet voice, or vocal cord paralysis.
Thyroid Hormone Therapy
Levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, and others) is a thyroid hormone that you must take for the rest of your life after a thyroidectomy.
This drug has two advantages: it replaces the hormone your thyroid would normally generate when it is absent, and it reduces the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) your pituitary gland releases. High TSH levels might encourage the growth of any cancer cells still present.
Until your doctor determines the right dosage for you, you’ll probably undergo blood tests every few months to evaluate your thyroid hormone levels. Annual blood testing are possible.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a medication that destroys cancer cells by using chemicals. Chemotherapy is frequently administered as an intravenous infusion. The chemicals permeate your body and kill rapidly proliferating cells, including cancer cells.
Although chemotherapy is not frequently used to treat thyroid cancer, it may be helpful for some patients who don’t react to other treatments. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may be administered concurrently to patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Targeted Drug Therapy
Drugs used in targeted drug therapy target particular weaknesses in your cancer cells.
Among the targeted medicines used to treat thyroid cancer are:
Cabozantinib (Cometriq) (Cometriq)
Sorafenib (Nexavar) (Nexavar)
Vandetanib (Caprelsa) (Caprelsa)