What is thyroid cancer?
thyroid cancer is a form of cancer that occurs in the thyroid gland, the butterfly gland located on the base of the neck. The prognosis for patients with thyroid cancer is often quite good, especially if the condition is diagnosed in time. In addition to the group of tumors that attack the thyroid gland, there is a form of lymphoma that focuses on the thyroid gland, sometimes also in medical practice. Anaplastic is the most aggressive form and can quickly metastasize to the neighboring trachea and lungs unless it is captured soon. Fortunately, a very small part of the thyroid cancer is anaplastic, with 95% of patients developing follicular or papillary thyroid cancer. While the vast majority of thyroid nodes are benign, MAY doctor decide to test the knot and confirm it, usually using a biopsy in which a small node sample is taken and sent for testing. Patients can also complain about neck pain, hoarseness or difficulty breathing and swallowing, and some also experience enlarged lymph nodes.
If the biopsy confirms that the patient has thyroid cancer, treatment is the surgical removal of the thyroid gland, followed by radioactive iodine. The thyroid easily absorbs iodine, so the radioactive material will be quickly absorbed by any remaining thyroid tissue in the body and kills cancer cells. Patients can also regularly undergo thyroid scanning, in which the doctor checks the cancer recurrence. Finally, because the thyroid gland produces hormones that are decisive for physical function, patients with thyroid cancer must take spare hormones for the rest of their lives. Without substitutes, patients develop hypothyroidism, a condition caused by insufficient hormone production.
The primary risk factor for thyroid cancer is a family history, followed by an exposure to radiation. Women are more likely to develop this condition than men, and usually occursAfter the age of 30. Some genetic conditions may also predisure patients with a risk of thyroid cancer. Doctors may recommend family testing if the patient develops thyroid cancer to determine whether other family members are endangered by a condition. People with a family history of thyroid cancer should discuss this with their doctors to determine which steps, if existed, should be undertaken to monitor thyroid health.