The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing over time, as a result of the development of new technologies that help detect different types of cancerous tumors in the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam''s apple. It produces hormones that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight.
Types of thyroid cancer
There are several types of thyroid cancer, as follows
Papillary thyroid carcinoma
This type is the most common of all types, and it constitutes 80% of thyroid cancer cases, and it can appear at any stage of life, but it is usually diagnosed among people between the ages of 30 to 50 years.
Follicular thyroid carcinoma
This type of cancer develops in specific cells and is usually diagnosed in people over the age of 30.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma
It is believed that this type of cancer occurs as a result of one of the types of inherited genetic syndromes that cause several types of cancer.
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
This type is one of the rare types that are difficult to treat, and this type of cancer is usually diagnosed in people over 60 years old.
Thyroid Lymphoma
This type of cancer affects the immune cells in the thyroid gland, and this type is very rare, and it is diagnosed in people over the age of 70 years.
Symptoms of thyroid cancer
Most of the time, there are no symptoms of thyroid cancer in the early stages, but some symptoms may appear in advanced cases, such as the following:
A lump appears under the skin that can be felt when touching the neck area.
The appearance of changes in the voice, including hoarseness that worsens with time.
swallowing problems
Neck and throat pain.
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck area.
Causes and risk factors for thyroid cancer
The exact cause of thyroid cancer is not clear, but it develops when genetic changes occur in the cells of the thyroid gland, causing abnormal cell proliferation, which causes the growth of the cancerous tumor, and in some cases it may spread to other areas of the body.
risk factors
There are many factors that increase the risk of thyroid cancer, such as the following
Exposure to large amounts of radiation: as a result of radiotherapy in the neck and head area, or as a result of nuclear accidents and nuclear weapons tests.
Family or personal history: in the event of a family or personal history of thyroid enlargement.
Hereditary genetic syndromes: in the event of one of the types of genetic syndromes that increase the risk of thyroid cancer.
Complications of thyroid cancer
The reappearance of cancer again is one of the most important complications that may result from it despite the available treatments, such as: surgical removal of the thyroid gland, and this occurs in the event that cancer spreads to other organs and areas in the body before the removal of the thyroid gland.
Most often, thyroid cancer reappears in the following areas
lymph nodes in the neck.
Small pieces of thyroid tissue.
Other places in the body, especially in the lungs or bones.
Therefore, the doctor usually recommends periodic blood tests or thyroid scans. With the aim of looking for signs of cancer returning.
Diagnosis of thyroid cancer
Some tests are performed to diagnose thyroid cancer, such as the following
Physical examination.
blood tests
Biopsy.
Imaging examinations.
Thyroid cancer treatment
The appropriate treatment for thyroid cancer is done according to the type of disease and the patient’s health condition, as the treatment can be as follows:
Removing all or most of the thyroid gland.
Excision of the lymph nodes in the neck.
Hormonal therapy for the thyroid gland.
Radiation therapy with iodine.
Chemotherapy.
Prevention of thyroid cancer
Since the main cause of thyroid cancer is not known, there are no clear ways to prevent the disease.
In cases of living near nuclear facilities less than 15 km away or in the event of an emergency, residents can take preventive treatment with potassium iodide With the aim of blocking the effects of radiation on the thyroid gland.
Alternative therapies
In fact, there are no native therapies that have proven effective in treating thyroid cancer so far.
