Thyroid Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Thyroid cancer develops in the thyroid glands, part of the endocrine system responsible for producing hormones that regulate metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. The good news is that most thyroid cancers are highly treatable with options like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, and radioiodine therapy.

Types of Thyroid Cancer

Medical experts classify thyroid cancer based on the types of cells involved:

Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Representing nearly 80% of cases, this slow-growing cancer often spreads to lymph nodes in the neck. It’s highly treatable and rarely fatal.

Follicular Thyroid Cancer: Making up approximately 15% of cases, this type may spread to organs like the lungs, making metastatic cancer harder to treat.

Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Comprising 2% of cases, about 25% of these patients have a family history or a genetic mutation that increases risk.

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: The rarest and most challenging to treat, this cancer spreads rapidly to nearby tissue and other body parts, affecting around 2% of patients.

Stages of Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer is divided into four stages (I-IV), with each stage representing a more extensive spread. In its advanced stages, cancer cells may metastasize to lymph nodes, bones, and organs.

Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer

Many thyroid cancers exhibit no early symptoms. However, as cancer progresses, signs may include:

A lump or nodule in the neck

Tightness in clothing around the neck

Voice changes (hoarseness or raspy tone)

Difficulty swallowing

Pain in the throat or neck

Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck area

Signs of metastatic thyroid cancer may include:

Persistent fatigue

Loss of appetite

Nausea and vomiting

Unexplained weight loss

Causes and Risk Factors of Thyroid Cancer

While the exact cause of thyroid cancer remains uncertain, various risk factors have been identified:

Family history of thyroid disease or cancer

Gene mutations that lead to multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN2A or MEN2B)

Low iodine intake

Obesity and high body mass index (BMI)

History of head and neck radiation exposure

Exposure to nuclear fallout

Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer

Doctors may use a combination of tests to diagnose thyroid cancer:

Blood Tests: Measure thyroid hormone levels.

Biopsy: A fine-needle aspiration biopsy checks for cancer cells in the thyroid or lymph nodes.

Radioiodine Scan: Patients ingest a safe amount of radioactive iodine to measure thyroid gland radiation levels.

Imaging Tests: CT, MRI, and PET scans help locate thyroid cancer and determine if it has spread.

Treatment Options for Thyroid Cancer

Treatment depends on the tumor size and cancer stage:

Surgery: The primary treatment includes partial or total thyroidectomy, often with nearby lymph nodes also removed if cancer has spread.

Radioiodine Therapy: A high-dose radioactive iodine pill or liquid treatment targets and shrinks the affected thyroid tissue.

Radiation Therapy: External beams or internal brachytherapy kill cancer cells at the tumor site.

Chemotherapy: Administered intravenously or orally, chemotherapy is less common but may be used in advanced cases.

Hormone Therapy: Prevents certain hormones from causing cancer recurrence.

Complications and Risks

Thyroid cancer can spread (metastasize) to organs like the liver, lungs, and bones. Early detection significantly reduces metastasis risk. Up to 30% of thyroid cancer cases experience recurrence, sometimes many years after treatment. Patients may need lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy to maintain proper hormone levels after thyroid gland removal.

Prevention of Thyroid Cancer

While thyroid cancer is not fully preventable, certain measures can help reduce risks:

Preventive Surgery: Genetic testing can identify individuals at high risk, allowing for preventive thyroid removal if necessary.

Potassium Iodide: In radiation exposure incidents, potassium iodide can reduce the risk of thyroid cancer by blocking excess radioactive iodine absorption.

Prognosis and Survival Rates

The prognosis for thyroid cancer is generally positive, especially in early stages. Survival rates vary by cancer type and stage:

Papillary Thyroid Cancer: 100% five-year survival rate if localized; 80% if metastatic.

Follicular Thyroid Cancer: Near 100% if localized; 63% if metastatic.

Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Near 100% if localized; 40% if metastatic.

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: 31% if localized; 4% if metastatic.

FAQs on Thyroid Cancer

How serious is a thyroid tumor? Papillary thyroid cancer is often highly treatable and rarely fatal. Follicular thyroid cancer can spread to bones and organs and may be harder to treat.

Is thyroid cancer treatable? Most thyroid cancers can be cured, especially if they haven’t spread. Treatment focuses on removing cancer and preventing recurrence.

What is the survival rate? Five-year survival rates are high: 99% for regional papillary cancer, 98% for regional follicular, and 92% for regional medullary cancer.

Can thyroid tumors be removed? Surgery is the main treatment in most cases, removing the tumor and all or part of the thyroid.

Is stage 4 thyroid cancer curable? Stage 4 is more challenging to treat, especially if cancer has spread significantly. However, early-stage thyroid cancers (I and II) have a nearly 100% cure rate.

Conclusion

Thyroid cancer is highly treatable, especially when diagnosed early. With Medotil’s support, patients can receive access to expert treatment options tailored to each stage and type of thyroid cancer.

For more information, contact Medotil for guidance on treatments, facilities, and specialized care.