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THYROID CANCER

What Does Thyroid Cancer Means?


Thyroid cancer is a disease that you get when abnormal cells begin
to grow in your thyroid gland . The thyroid gland is shaped like a
butterfly and is located in the front of your neck. It makes hormones
that regulate the way your body uses energy and that help your body
work normally.
Thyroid cancer is an uncommon type of cancer. Most people who
have it do very well, because the cancer is usually found early and the
treatments work well. After it is treated, thyroid cancer may come back,
sometimes many years after treatment.

Frequency of Thyroid Cancer

Last year (2016), an estimated 64,300 adults (14,950 men and


49,350 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with thyroid
cancer. Thyroid cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women.
The incidence rates of thyroid cancer in both women and men have
been increasing in recent years. In fact, it is the most rapidly
increasing cancer diagnosis in the United States. Researchers believe
that part of the reason for the increase is that new, highly sensitive
diagnostic tests are leading to increased detection of smaller cancers.
It is estimated that 1,980 deaths (910 men and 1,070 women) from
this disease will occur this year. Women are 3 times more likely to
have thyroid cancer than men, but women and men die at equal rates.
This suggests that men have a worse prognosis than women when
there is a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Prognosis is the chance of
recovery.
The 5-year survival rate tells you what percent of people live at least 5
years after the cancer is found. Percent means how many out of 100.
The 5-year survival rate for people with thyroid cancer is 98%. The
10-year survival rate and 15-year survival rate are 97% and 95%,
respectively.

However, survival rates are based on many factors, including the


specific type of thyroid cancer, and stage of disease. If the cancer is
located only in the thyroid, the 5-year survival rate is 99%. If thyroid
cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the
regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 98%. If the cancer
has spread to a distant part of the body, the 5-year survival rate is
54%.
It is important to remember that statistics on how many people
survive this type of cancer are an estimate. The estimate comes from
data based on thousands of people with this cancer in the United
States each year. So, your own risk may be different. Doctors cannot
say for sure how long anyone will live with thyroid cancer. Also,
experts measure the survival statistics every 5 years. This means that
the estimate may not show the results of better diagnosis or treatment
available for less than 5 years. Learn more about understanding
statistics.

Diagnosis And Management Of Thyroid Cancer

Radionuclide examination: by this test, the shape, location of


thyroid cancer and thyroid function can be determined;
Laboratory examination: it can identify the nature of thyroid
nodules;
Ultrasound: in addition to detect shape, size, and number of
thyroid mass, whether the mass is cystic or solid can be
determined;
Cytology: it has a high accuracy rate in diagnosing of papillary
adenocarcinoma;
X-ray: it can be mainly used to observe the relationship between
trachea and thyroid;
CT scan: it can clearly show shape, size of thyroid cancer and its
relationship with throat, trachea, esophagus, besides, the scope
of cancer infiltration can be seen.

The Traditional Treatment Methods of Thyroid Cancer


Surgery: it can remove cancer tissues and clear cervical lymph
nodes that may have metastasized.

Radio

therapy:

generally

it

is

applicable

to

follicular

adenocarcinoma.
Chemotherapy: it is often adopted as palliative treatment for
advanced cancer patients who are not applicable to surgery or
have developed distant metastases.
Traditional Chinese medicine: it can inhibit development of
tumor, improve the immune function of patients with thyroid
cancer, and reduce the toxic side effect of radiotherapy and
chemotherapy.

Thyroid Cancer Prognosis


Most thyroid cancers are very curable. In fact, the most common
types of thyroid cancer (papillary and follicular thyroid cancer)
are the most curable. In younger patients, both papillary and
follicular cancers have a more than 97% cure rate if treated
appropriately. Both papillary and follicular thyroid cancers are
typically treated with complete removal of the lobe of the thyroid

that harbors the cancer, in addition to the removal of most or all


of the other side.
The bottom line is that most thyroid cancers are papillary thyroid
cancer, and
this is one of the most curable
cancers
correctly,

of

all

cancers.

Treated

the cure rate is

extremely high.
Medullary thyroid

cancer

is

significantly less common but has

worse prognosis. Medullary cancers tend to spread to


large numbers of lymph nodes very early on, and therefore
require a much more aggressive operation than the more
localized thyroid cancers, such as papillary and follicular thyroid
cancer.
This cancer requires complete thyroid removal plus a dissection
to remove the lymph nodes of the front and sides of the neck.
The least common type of thyroid cancer is anaplastic thyroid
cancer, which has a very poor prognosis. Anaplastic thyroid
cancer tends to be found after it has spread, and it is incurable in
most cases. Note: Chief Justice William Rehnquist had anaplastic

thyroid cancer. You can read about anaplastic thyroid cancer in


our in-depth article.
It is very uncommon to survive anaplastic thyroid cancer, as
often the operation cannot remove all of the tumor. These
patients often require a tracheostomy during the treatment, and
treatment is much more aggressive than for other types of
thyroid cancer.

Prevention Of Thyroid Cancer


Radiation exposure, especially in childhood, is a known thyroid
cancer risk factor. Because of this, doctors no longer use radiation to
treat less serious diseases. Imaging tests such as x-rays and CT scans
also expose children to radiation, but at much lower doses, so its not
clear how much they might raise the risk of thyroid cancer (or other
cancers). If there is an increased risk it is likely to be small, but to be
safe, children should not have these tests unless they are absolutely
needed. When they are needed, they should be done using the lowest
dose of radiation that still provides a clear picture.
Blood tests can be done to look for the gene mutations found in
familial medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Because of this, most of the
familial cases of MTC can be prevented or treated early by removing

the thyroid gland. Once the disease is discovered in a family, the rest
of the family members can be tested for the mutated gene.
If you have a family history of MTC, it is important that you see a
doctor who is familiar with the latest advances in genetic counseling
and genetic testing for this disease. Removing the thyroid gland in
children who carry the abnormal gene will probably prevent a cancer
that might otherwise be fatal.
Most cases of thyroid cancer cannot be prevented.
You may be much more likely to getmedullary thyroid cancer (MTC) if
you have a gene carried by some families. A genetic test can show if you
carry this gene. If your test is positive for the gene, you may want to talk
with your doctor about having yourthyroid removed to prevent getting
thyroid cancer later in life.

References:
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/tc/thyroid-cancer-prevention

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/how-to-spot-andprevent-thyroid-cancer
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/thyroid-cancer/causes-risksprevention/prevention.html
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2007769-overview
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/586810_2
http://www.cancercenter.com/thyroid-cancer/
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/thyro.html
https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroidcancer/thyroid-cancer

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