Thyroid Cancer
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Thyroid cancer forms in the thyroid gland, an organ at the base of the throat that makes hormones affecting heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight. It also plays a small role in regulating the body’s calcium. Papillary and follicular carcinomas are the two most common types of thyroid cancer. Additional types include medullary thyroid carcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma, and very rare forms are thyroid lymphoma and thyroid sarcoma.
Main Types
- Papillary thyroid cancer: About 80 percent of all thyroid cancers are diagnosed as papillary carcinoma. This type typically grows slowly, has a high treatment success rate, and is seldom fatal, although it sometimes spreads to the lymph nodes.
- Follicular thyroid cancer: About 10 percent of thyroid cancers are diagnosed as follicular carcinoma. It is most common in people without enough iodine. It doesn’t usually spread to the lymph nodes, but can spread to other parts of the body.
- Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC): About 4 percent of all thyroid cancers are diagnosed as MTC. It can spread to other body parts before a thyroid nodule is detected. Because it does not take in radioactive iodine, treatment is more difficult and the prognosis not as favorable.
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer: About 2 percent of all thyroid cancers are diagnosed as anaplastic thyroid cancer. This type is thought to develop from a papillary or follicular cancer. It can grow and spread quickly and is difficult to treat.
Statistics
- In 2012, 56,460 new cases of thyroid cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States.
- An estimated 1,780 Americans will die from the disease in 2012.
- In Texas, an estimated 2,513 new thyroid cancer cases will be diagnosed, and 121 Texans are expected to die from the disease in 2012.
- Approximately 80 percent of newly diagnosed thyroid cancer patients are under 65 years of age.
- The incidence rate of thyroid cancer has more than doubled since 1990.
Risk Factors
- Age: Risk of developing thyroid cancer peaks in women during their 40s or 50s while men are usually diagnosed in their 60s and 70s.
- Gender: Women are three times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men.
- Radiation: Exposure to high levels of radiation increases risk.
- Low Iodine: People who do not get enough iodine in their diet have a higher risk.
- Family history of medullary thyroid cancer: About a quarter of MTCs can be traced to an inherited abnormal gene.
- Family history of certain medical conditions: Those with a family history of goiters, colon growths, or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) have a higher risk.
- Personal history: Individuals with a goiter or benign thyroid nodules have a higher risk.
Symptoms and Signs
- Enlargement of the neck
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Persistent cough
- Hoarseness or voice changes
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- Pain or sensitivity in the neck or throat
- Noticeable lump in the neck
- Swollen lymph nodes
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Tips for Prevention
Doctors aren’t sure what causes most cases of thyroid cancer, so there’s no prevention. Those with an inherited gene mutation for familial medullary thyroid cancer may choose to have the thyroid removed to prevent a future thyroid cancer.
Treatment Options
Several factors determine the best course of treatment, including the type and stage of the cancer and the patient’s overall health. Thyroid cancer may be treated with surgery, thyroid hormone treatment, radioactive iodine therapy, radiation, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy. Most patients receive a combination of treatments.
Source: American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, and Texas Cancer Registry