What is thyroid cancer?
Thyroid cancer occurs in the cells of the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland situated at the base of your neck, just below Adam’s apple. Your thyroid makes hormones that regulate your heart rate, blood pressure, body infection, and weight. This may not cause any symptoms at first. But as it grows, it can cause pain and swell in the neck.
There are several types of thyroid cancer. Some grow very slowly and others can be very violent. Most belongings of this disease can be cured with treatment. These disease rates appear to be increasing. Some doctors believe this is because new technology allows them to find small thyroid cancers that may not have been found in the past.
Types of thyroid cancer
- Papillary thyroid cancer: This disease, arises from follicular cells, which crop and store thyroid hormones. Papillary thyroid cancer can occur at any age, but most often affects people in their 30s to 50s. Doctors sometimes refer to papillary and follicular thyroid cancer collected as differentiated thyroid cancer.
- Follicular thyroid cancer: This also arises from the follicular cells of the thyroid. It usually affects societies over the age of 50. Hürthle cell cancer is a rare and potentially more aggressive type of follicular thyroid cancer.
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer: This is a rare type of thyroid cancer that begins in follicular cells. It grows quickly and is very difficult to treat. This usually occurs in adults 60 years of age or older.
- Medullary thyroid cancer: This begins in thyroid cells called C cells, which make the hormone calcitonin. Raised levels of calcitonin in the blood can specify medullary thyroid cancer at a very early stage. Certain genetic syndromes increase the risk of medullary thyroid cancer, although this genetic link is rare.
- Other rare types: Other very rare types of diseases that begin in the thyroid include thyroid lymphoma, which begins in cells of the thyroid immune system, and thyroid sarcoma, which begins in cells of the thyroid’s connective tissue.
Symptoms of thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer does not usually cause any signs or symptoms early in the disease. As thyroid cancer grows, it can cause:
- A lump (nodule) that can be felt through the skin on the neck
- Changes in your voice, including increased hoarseness
- Difficulty to swallow
- Pain in the neck and throat
- Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
Causes of thyroid cancer
It is not clear what causes thyroid cancer.
Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in your thyroid feel inherited changes (mutations). Mutations allow cells to grow and multiply rapidly. Cells also lose the aptitude to die, as normal cells would. The accumulation of abnormal thyroid cells forms a tumour. The abnormal cells can invade nearby tissue and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Factors that can escalation your risk of thyroid cancer include:
- Gender: This disease happens more often in females than in men.
- Exposure to high levels of radiation: Radiation therapy treatments to the head and neck intensification the risk for this disease.
- Certain inherited genetic syndromes: Genetic syndromes that increase the risk of thyroid cancer contain familial medullary thyroid cancer, numerous endocrine neoplasia, Cowden syndrome, and familial adenomatous polyposis.
Diagnosis of thyroid cancer
Tests and processes used to diagnose thyroid cancer include:
- Physical exam: Your doctor will observe your neck to feel for physical changes in your thyroid, such as thyroid nodules. They may also ask you about your risk factors, such as past radiation exposure and a family history of thyroid tumours.
- Blood test: Blood tests help determine if the thyroid gland is working normally.
- Ultrasound images: Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of body structures. To create an image of the thyroid, the ultrasound transducer is placed on the lower part of the neck. The arrival of your thyroid on ultrasound helps your doctor determine if a thyroid nodule is likely not cancerous (benign) or if there is a risk that it is cancerous.
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