How To Understand Facts about Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer is a rare type of thyroid disease but is also rapidly increasing in incidence worldwide. The majority of thyroid disorders are not thyroid cancer but thyroid cancer is a potentially serious disorder and people who suspect they might have it need to see a doctor immediately. The earlier thyroid cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis.

1. Thyroid cancer presents as tumors on the thyroid gland called thyroid nodules. When cancer is detected in the thyroid, it will first be discovered as a tumor or several tumors in the gland (also called nodules). These may be discovered by the person who has the nodule or may be found by a doctor who is giving a patient a physical examination. The nodules will be felt on the outside of the throat, just under the Adam’s apple, where the thyroid gland is located, which is called “detection by palpation” (feel). Other times, a thyroid nodule will be growing toward the inside of the throat, and the person will feel it as a lump when swallowing. If the nodule is malignant, and it is an aggressive type of cancer, the nodule can grow large enough to obstruct breathing and swallowing.

2. When thyroid nodules are found, further testing may be done to evaluate them. If a nodule is found on the thyroid gland and a doctor believes it is large enough or has a firmness to it (solid nodule), that makes it a risk for containing cancer and the doctor will refer the patient for further testing. The additional tests may include a Thyroid Ultrasound (sound wave imaging) or radiological scans, such as a CT Scan, an MRI, or a Thyroid Uptake Scan. A biopsy of the thyroid nodule might also be performed. Biopsies of thyroid nodules might be surgically performed or tissue from the nodule might be obtained by inserting a needle into the nodule to extract a sample, which is referred to as a “Fine Needle Aspiration.”

3. When nodules are found to contain malignancy, the patient will then undergo a thyroidectomy. This surgical procedure can involve removing part or all of the thyroid gland. Partial removal of the thyroid gland is called a “partial thyroidectomy,” while complete removal of the entire gland is called “total thyroidectomy.” Which type of surgical procedure is to be performed is determined by how much of the gland is affected by the cancer and how far progressed the cancer is. Another factor in determining the type of surgery that will be performed depends upon the type of cancer that is present in the gland. There are several types of thyroid cancer and some are more aggressive and progress more rapidly. With these types of cancer, a total thyroidectomy is always recommended. When thyroidectomies are performed, sometimes lymph nodes that surround the thyroid gland will also be removed and analyzed to see if the cancer has progressed through the lymphatic system.

4. Post-operative treatments for thyroid cancer may also be needed. Following thyroid cancer surgery, the patient might need to undergo chemotherapy to ensure that the cancer cells have been thoroughly eradicated from the body. Patients might also be treated with radioactive iodine, which when administered, will destroy any remaining thyroid tissue that was left behind when the thyroidectomy was performed. Patients will afterward need to be treated with thyroid hormone replacement medication because losing all or part of the thyroid gland will leave the patient's thyroid hormone levels diminished to varying degrees. The dose of thyroid hormone given to these patients is then monitored through repeat blood testing so as to properly regulate their metabolism.

Anyone who detects a lump in his throat, in the area of the thyroid gland, needs to visit his doctor to have it evaluated.